Oscars shone light on engine of social progress – outcasts
This year’s Oscars placed society’s misfits and outcasts in the limelight.
For instance, Best Picture winner “The Shape of Water” is a love story between a mute cleaning lady and a monster that may be representative of aliens who are exploited by their host countries and denied their needs and wants.
Another Oscar-winner, “Call Me by Your Name”, is also a love story, between gay men who, deep down, crave social acceptance. Even “Darkest Hour” depicts the struggle of a political outcast – Winston Churchill – who had to choose between his personal beliefs and those of his allies.
Misfits and outcasts are often the ones who force us to think and see things differently. And society has always been and continues to be pushed to change by those on the margins of society. Viewed this way, perhaps we need more misfits and outcasts in our society.
Anan Pakvasa
Bangkok
