Oscars 2023: What category awards have been discontinued so far? Know here

It is remarkable how many fundamental elements of the Academy Awards have remained unchanged since the very first ceremony, spanning 94 years. From the outset, a host was present, along with categories, such as Best Actor/Actress and Best Cinematography, creating a sense of continuity that appeals to casual viewers and those immersed in the awards season.

However, not all categories introduced over the years have endured as permanent fixtures of the show. While many of these have faded from public memory, it is worth recalling their existence and the reasons behind their removal.

The first Academy Awards had categories that were immediately discontinued the following year, including Best Director for Comedy and Best Director for Drama, as well as Best Unique and Artistic Direction. These categories were consolidated due to their similarities, and Best Title Writing was eliminated due to the rise of talkies, which rendered the category pointless.

During the 1930s, the Academy Awards introduced and then removed several categories. Best Short Subject – Comedy and Best Short Subject – Novelty recognized short films, but were later replaced by Best Short Subject – 1 Reel and Best Short Subject – 2 Reel, and eventually condensed into a single category.

Best Assistant Director and Best Dance Direction were also introduced but discontinued. After the 1930s, new categories were more likely to stick around, but the Oscars have still dropped categories in recent years.

During the mid-1990s, the Best Original Score category was split into two categories to recognize the genres. Best Original Dramatic Score and Best Original Musical or Comedy Score were introduced, mainly to prevent Disney’s animated musicals from dominating the category, as it was perceived that voters were swayed by the films’ musical numbers.

The Best Original Musical or Comedy Score was discontinued at the turn of the century, which turned out to be fortuitous timing as Disney’s animated musical renaissance culminated by the end of the 1990s. On the other hand, the Best Sound Editing category had a sporadic life, starting as the Best Sound Effects category and being awarded intermittently as a Special Achievement category in the 1970s and 1980s. It became a staple category in the 1990s and eventually merged back into the Academy Award for Best Sound.

This decision was met with mixed reactions from the sound effects industry, but it was ultimately necessary due to the perception of Oscar voters failing to understand the differences between Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing categories.

While the Academy Awards now have a stable number of categories, lost categories like Best Assistant Director and Best Title Writing offer insight into the history of cinema and how the Oscars continually evolve. The elimination of some categories reflects broader cinematic trends, and looking back on them provides a unique perspective on the evolution of the Academy Awards.

FAQs:

1. Where is the Oscars 2023 taking place?
   Dolby Theatre, Los Angeles
2. Who is hosting the Oscars 2023?
   Jimmy Kimmel