Circulate a list of the Best Picture Oscar winners for the past fifteen years. Have students discuss how the films reflect the social priorities and ideological concerns of the times. Have students determine which films are familiar to them. Compare the votes with the actual results immediately after they are announced. The Oscars are all about spectacle, fashion, gossip, the unexpected moment or pratfall and just plain bad taste.
Film critics are often divided about which films and actors deserve to win Oscars.
Compare the choices of two or more critics and, based on their choices and their explanations for them, try to determine their biases. Books Two of the best are also the most recent. There are numerous Web sites for the Oscars. Film Study Guides Busy teachers are always grateful for good study guides to a special television program or a feature film which their students may see in class. Over the years, I have perused many study guides to feature films.