White echoes: Rap, race and Iggy Azalea

First things first, awards season has a new function.The Grammys, the Oscars and other sparkly Sunday night telecasts where big stars compete for little trophies continue to give our culture industries an opportunity to show the rest of the world how they see themselves. But there's still a ritual illusion at work, too -- the illusion that these academy-voted prizes somehow reflect the mood and values of the greater republic.