Last week, on 2 March 2025, the Oscars hosted its 97th ceremony. A question that comes to mind is: are the Oscars still relevant? To find the answer, Die Matie asked students on campus what they thought.
Jake Savage, A BCom (International Business) student shared, “I do think it’s relevant to an extent, but they are not fully representative of all films. […] It’s taken from a very Western perspective […] so that a lot of films do not get recognised while those [at the Academy Awards] do get that recognition.”
There are diverse opinions on the relevance of the Academy awards.
To quote Shawnique Barron, a third year student studying B (Education), “No, [the Oscars are not relevant]. It’s to put money into rich peoples’ pockets. Why are you getting awards for watching you on a screen?” When asked how she got to thinking that way, she replied, “Poor people are struggling, while the rich are having the time of their lives.”
In comparison, Amy Matroos, a BCom (Management Sciences) student, disagreed with that notion. “Honestly, yes [I think it’s relevant]. It shows peoples’ achievements and what they’ve been working for, just an overall representation of all their hard work.”
Another student, Juliet McFall, studying B (Social Work), expressed, “I do, yes [think that the Oscars are relevant] […] I love film and cinema, and I think it’s important to keep creating things.”
This juxtaposition of opinions begs the question, are the Oscars just another “American dream” propaganda programme with a capitalist agenda? Or an honest appreciation of film?
Meanwhile, some find what happens at the Oscars more relevant than the actual awards themselves.
Crisanto Melim, a first year BEngineering student commented, “I only watch for pop culture references and to see celebrities interact, because usually someone says something funny.”
The polarity of opinions makes for an interesting debate, but ultimately it’s prevalent that the Oscars aren’t quite as relevant to the students at Stellenbosch.
By Kerry-Lee Christensen
