In an earlier post, I asked whether The Hurt Locker would have won top Oscars over Avatar if it had been directed by a man. Here I'll speculate about some interwoven psychological dramas that may have helped it to win, ones with implications for all of our lives.
Let's consider the following possibilities--a "film-maker's dozen":
- The Hurt Locker won not only because it was directed by a woman, but by a very specific woman, Kathryn Bigelow, the third of five wives of James Cameron, creator and director of Avatar, its main competition.
So what might be the moral of this morality tale? Often you get away with it -- the most brilliant talent wins, no matter what. But sometimes you don't, so it might be smart to think carefully about your major life choices. Otherwise you could end up shunned, regardless of how vast and innovative your talent. In any case, it's in your enlightened self-interest to live your life well. Go to the effort, put in the work. Try not to create carnage along the way. If you don't want to be tied down or can't honor and cherish your mate, don't marry (or divorce without having kids). If you don't actually want to raise children, don't have them. As a grown-up, you are free to choose. But if you decide you want these things, or even if you happen into them haphazardly, realize the challenges, sacrifices, responsibilities and renunciations involved. If you truly want to build a better society, these are the bricks, impossibly small though they may seem. Put away the "bad boy" (or "bad girl") stuff. Heed the instructive and cautionary morality tale that may have been at the heart of these Oscars.