The Academy Museum promises to modify its upcoming display on Jewish trailblazers in Hollywood to steer clear of stereotypes.
A permanent exhibit titled "Hollywoodland: Jewish Founders and the Creation of a Movie Capital" is designed to showcase the significant roles played by Jewish immigrants such as Jack and Harry Warner (founders of Warner Bros.), Harry Cohn (Columbia Pictures), Louis B. Mayer (MGM), and Adolph Zukor (Paramount Pictures) in paving the way for the Hollywood film industry. The exhibit, which took over two years to create, was launched on May 19 with the aim of celebrating these individuals' contributions.
However, it faced significant backlash from a group known as United Jewish Writers, which comprised more than 300 Hollywood executives, writers, and actors. They accused the exhibition of unfairly portraying these Jewish founders with negative terms like "tyrant," "oppressive," "womanizer," and "predator," ultimately vilifying them. They perceive the showcasing of these derogatory terms as a form of antisemitism.
In response, the Academy Museum announced that prompt modifications will be made.
"We've taken note of concerns raised by members of the Jewish community regarding some components of our exhibition," said an Academy Museum representative on behalf of the museum. "We sincerely value these perspectives and plan to make adjustments to the exhibition to address them."
The upcoming revisions are intended to ensure that the museum effectively tells these essential stories without inadvertently perpetuating stereotypes. Furthermore, an expert advisory group composed of experts from museums focused on the Jewish community, civil rights, and marginalized groups will offer their insights on contextual nuances and potential additions to the exhibit.
The Academy Museum's "Hollywoodland" display was initiated to address past criticism that the museum generally overlooked the integral roles played by Jewish pioneers in Hollywood when it first opened in 2021. The institution is situated within the Saban Building, having been launched with a $50 million contribution from Israeli-American entrepreneur Haim Saban. Notably, Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg, two prominent Jewish figures in the industry, each donated $10 million to support the museum's development.
For the past year, a group of high-profile Hollywood figures, including Tiffany Haddish, Josh Gad, David Schwimmer, and Debra Messing, signed a letter to the Academy, requesting their inclusion in the Academy's diversity and inclusion standards, and criticizing the organization for the oversight. The Academy Museum's "Hollywoodland" exhibit was created as a direct response to these criticisms.
“They want us to celebrate these incredibly visionary Jews, but at the same time, they’re telling us how not to talk about them,” said Jaffe about the controversy surrounding the exhibit. “It's a delicate balance, which is why we’re trying to strategize with people in the community to help us understand how to tell these stories in the best way possible.”
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The Academy Museum acknowledges the need to revise the "Hollywoodland" exhibit to avoid portraying Jewish pioneers in Hollywood with negative stereotypes, aiming to maintain an entertaining and respectful celebration of their contributions.
Understanding the significance of representation in entertainment, the Academy Museum will collaborate with an expert advisory group to ensure the exhibit accurately depicts the Jewish founders' histories and promotes inclusivity within the field.
