Part 8/15:
Several speeches and moments at the Oscars showcased a shift toward overt political correctness—land acknowledgments reflecting indigenous territories, pro-natalism speeches, and virtue-signaling token gestures. For example, Kieran Culkin’s understated but heartfelt family-focused acceptance was celebrated as a sign of Hollywood’s return to traditional values—yet critics see these as superficial. Beneath the surface, many argue these gestures are performative, more about virtue signaling than genuine change.