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| Map of Oz |
L. Frank Baum wrote 13 additional "Oz" books before his death in 1919, and they were all enormously popular, although sales declined gradually over the period. Many of the greatest characters of the Land of Oz were introduced in these sequels, and would have been familiar to anyone growing up in the first half of the twentieth century: Jack Pumpkinhead, The Nome King, the Sawhorse, Professor Wogglebug, and Tik-Tok the Royal Army of Oz (he had his own modestly-successful Broadway show). Unbeknownst to many, Walt Disney acquired the rights to all the post-Wizard sequels back in the 1950's, but it wasn't until the early 1980's, when these rights were about to expire, that the Disney company showed much interest. The Disney producers brought Walter Murch, Francis Ford Coppolla's longtime film and sound editor, aboard to direct, and engaged the services of stop-motion animator Will Vinton (famous for his commercials featuring the dancing California Raisins), along with some of the Jim Henson company's muppet designers and puppeteers. Murch had in mind a much darker tone than the 1939 film, and Disney grew alarmed as they saw the production designs and early tests. It was, according to Much, only because of George Lukas's personal intervention that he was not fired from the film. Fairuza Balk, a young actress who would later become well known for her roles in indie films such as Gas, Food, and Lodging, was cast as Dorothy, and Nicol Wiliamson -- known for his role as Merlin in John Boorman's Excalibur -- was cast as the Nome King.
The movie did poorly in its initial release -- I remember seeing in at a multiplex where I was one of only two or three people in the audience -- but has gained an enormous following on VHS and DVD; many Oz fans consider it to be, by far, the most faithful adaptation of any of Baum's books for the screen.
Since then, of course, Gregory McGuire's Wicked -- a book which brilliantly re-cast and re-shaped Oz and its denizens (who else would have suspected that the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda were college roommates?), and the resulting Broadway musical has been the highest-grossing of any theatrical Oz adaptation to date. More recently, 2007's Tin Man miniseries and 2013's prequel Oz the Great and Powerful have shown that, once again, Oz is a realm capable of continual reinvention.
Kevin Alvarez
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Personally, I’ve never seen the movie “The Wizard of Oz,” nor read the book before, but after reading the first four chapters, this new journey that Dorothy is on, in a way, is exactly what she needed. The way chapter one described Kansas, and her home, everything was gray, small, and lonely. Dorothy had no friends (besides Toto), her uncle never smiled and hardly spoke, and her aunt, who had all her joy sucked out of her, basically looked at Dorothy sideways just for laughing with Toto. Dorothy's life was just dull.
When Dorothy arrived in the land of the Munchkins, the first thing she noticed was all the life that surrounded her; the green grass, trees filled with fruits, flowers, singing birds, all things she wasn’t accustomed to back in Kansas. Then on her journey to the Emerald City, she even manages to make friends. Although she is on this journey to get back home to her family, this new experience/world that she is currently in, is exactly what she needed.
Yes the adults are cast as quite dull which I imagine is often true to life when it comes to children's perceptions of adults. Like the Emperors New Clothes, children say and do things adults want to and are aware of but over time fear and conformity dulls there sense of a certain kind of truth and ability to speak it.
DeleteBrian Gilbert
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I remember watching this as a child. My brother was terrified of the flying monkeys. For me the wonder of it was the idea of Dorothy as a child portrayed as a fully realized person in her dealing with others. She had her own opinions and even in her expressions of distress at her fate once she arrived in OZ she constantly is the impetus for change and solutions to the problems and trials of those she meets. One thing mentioned in your audio lecture Professor is the lack of female "heroes" in American fantasy stories. For me I always felt a connection between Dorothy and Alice from Wonderland. Both have a sense of exasperation in the face of the ridiculous actions of those around them and show courage in the face of events that would likely cause a adult to melt down into catatonia. I personally enjoy stories that illustrate the complexity of the mind of children and their enduring ability to adapt. I would be curious if there is any connection between the two, perhaps Baum gained some inspiration from the story of Alice? Like most early fantasy one can trace so many trends and tropes. I see R2D2 as a Toto. A silent partner in mischief all the more effective without a "voice". The Sandman comics have a groundskeeper in the Dreaming who is a clear reimagining of Jack Pumpkinhead albeit with a bronx accent and attitude. A blue collar golem with a mop.
For me the magic of Oz, much like the magic of Willy Wonka, Alice, Huck Fin even is the reality that children are just is if not more dependent on circumstances as complex if not more so then the adults who rule over them. And often know better then the adults themselves. This complexity of character for children is connected also I think to our own wish through myth and story to hold onto childhood and its potential and promise.
Lewis Carroll was indeed an influence, and Baum himself wrote about this in 1909, specifically contrasting the Alice books with the stories of Andersen, saying that "Alice appealed to children more than any prince or princess Andersen created. The secret of Alice's success was that she was a real child, and any normal child could sympathize with her all through her adventures." See Baum's essay "Modern Fairy Tales."
DeleteMckenzie Desimas
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Growing up I had a pretty big obsession with the Wizard of Oz only because I loved the character Dorthy so much. I think it might have been the bright red shoes or how strong I thought she was. I thought Dorthy being plopped somewhere so random and in the middle of nowhere trying to find her way was so brave and something I could have never done. From the first watch of the movie all my school projects on someone famous were done on Judy Garland. It’s funny how into the movie I was but never got into reading the book, or discovering how many adaptations of it there really were. Listening to the lecture and hearing about the lack of “female heroes” in these American fantasies reminded me about how much I admired Dorthy’s braveness growing up.
The first chapter of the book creates this feel like things were once full of life but because of the location they lived it was now dull and grey. Life seems to be completely dark in Kansas until she steps into this magical land of Oz. Even after she sees Oz and all of its color she still wishes to go back home to her family and the dull state of Kansas which I never really understood.
I also wonder why she wanted to go back home to her gray life, instead of enjoying Oz and her new friends.
DeleteIn the book, while Dorothy is indeed eager to get home -- she says "Oh, Aunt Em, I'm so glad to be home again!" -- she doesn't say "There's no place like home." And indeed, in the sixth Oz book, she arranges for Aunt Em and Uncle Henry to move to Oz, and never returns to Kansas after that!
DeleteI am going to be honest, before this class i have never seen the movie or even read the book. I’ve seen it in different television shows of actors acting the play out. I always would think that it sounded like a boring or stupid book/movie and i never bothered to pay any attention to it. I was very wrong, i absolutely love the movie and the book as i’m currently still reading it. The movie features so many important aspects. It features an ambulance of imagination. It teaches you so many things like how to over come fears, adversity, and many hard challenges. It denotes the importance of so many things like good, caring, being supportive, and most importantly friendship.
ReplyDeleteIt teaches us to go after our goals and to never give up even if things get hard and to stay positive. I admire the character dorothy that they created. The amount of courage and being so brave is so important to give a female character. I say that because it shows that women are capable of being as brave as men or even braver.
Olivia Bradstreet
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I remember my mom used to always put this movie on for me because it was her favorite growing up. I was always so fascinated by it, I think because it was so appealing visually and like many say, it feels like a dream. However, I never really paid much attention to the characters traits and morals within. Now after reading part of the book and listening to your lecture, I have a better understanding of the movie and its concepts. For example, when I was younger, I never really noticed how bland and sad Kansas and everyone in it was compared to Oz. As soon as Dorothy and Toto (I think the only thing that kept her sane) arrived in Oz, the excitement and awe she had was so pure. Like others, I believe this is exactly what Dorothy needed to realize what else is out there besides little gray Kansas.
Then along the way she encounters so many interesting characters with their humanizing traits, and even manages to make some friends along the way. I also never realized when watching the movie that the lion, scarecrow, and tin man already possessed all the traits they were searching for, which I thought was another good touch to the movie.
In your lecture Professor, you talk about the question, “What’s the moral of the story?”. I agree that it’s not your own backyard where you will find your heart’s own desire, but it’s when you leave your house you will. Going out of your comfort zone and experiencing new things life has to offer is when you can really see what you desire. Another moral I find is that we all have qualities in us we desire, even if we can’t recognize them, therefore, we shouldn’t have to try to prove ourselves to “earn” these qualities.
Well-put, Olivia!
DeleteBreAna Durand
ReplyDeleteI have always liked the movie “The Wizard of Oz”, and I am enjoying reading the book. When I was younger, I was involved in a play production of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”. Being able to be a part of this play taught me a lot about the meaning of this movie. One of my favorite aspects was learning about Dorthy as an individual. I have always felt that Dorthy was a strong female and very mature in her decisions. Being able to face the obstacles that occurred teaches determination and bravery, which I think are two important lessons that younger people need to be taught. Another aspect that I liked learning about is friendship. Four completely different characters come together and become friends, and in seeing this it showed me that you can find the good in anyone. I think that this book teaches many valuable lessons and look forward to learning more about it.
Funny enough, I recently finished watching a short documentary of the 1939 version of the film featuring Judy Garland. It goes over how horribly the other actors and executives treated her on set, as well as all of the trauma she had to endure to keep her job. She was also going through a rough patch with her drug addiction and multiple failed marriages (again, due to how horrible to the industry treated her). Nonetheless, I want to save those comments for the film blog post.
ReplyDeleteAs for the book itself, It's a completely different story. It's amazing how a story so popular and readapted so many times can have such a dark history to it. This was back when film industries could get away with so much crap (and still do to this day). The story itself never really stuck out to me, partially because I've been retold this story so many times from school, to films, and to the many MANY parody references from every piece of modern media you could think of. That's not to say I dislike it, though. It was more so that I found it incredibly difficult for me personally to hold my attention rereading the same story for the billionth time. I don't personally feel I can add anything that hasn't been said about the film. The story of Dorothy is so ingrained into our heads that it's a shock to me that not that many people know about the many travesties behind its production.
I agree that although the book and movie may not be the most entertaining or exciting storyline due to it being told in many ways for years and years, there is a dark, interesting history of the production that can bring attention to the film.
DeleteKarina Nunez
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I faintly remember parts of the story The Wizard of Oz. For I only watched the film once as an adolescent. Being older and revisiting this story you get clarity of the things you missed from youth and the lesson it teaches. Dorothy is a brave young woman who is on a quest to return back to her home in Kansas regardless of how gray and dull her life may have been. She’s on this amazing journey in a place she knows nothing off and makes friends along the way. I admire her characteristic of helping others even when they feel parts of themselves missing that’s been there with them all along. Their innocence of thinking they need these parts of themselves such as a brain to know how to think or a heart in order to love is what makes these characters unique and the story more fascinating. As I read further into the story you start to notice how they all complement each other. Regardless of not having a heart, brain, or courage.
When everyone thinks of Dorothy they think of her bright red sparkly shoes and her famous “there’s no place like home” line. Dorothy needed this adventure to see what life is like outside of Kansas. The grass may be greener on the other side but there’s nothing like being with the people who you love and love you in return and that was home for her. Even though her aunt and uncle were very dreary they cared for her and looked after her just the same.
I like that you highlighted that Dorothy needed this adventure in order to see that although life may be better outside of Kansas, it wasn't truly better because her family was not there with her.
DeleteBreanna Jones
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Wizard of Oz is a classic. There are so many lessons that the audience can be enlightened to. For starters, Dorothy is a prime example of never giving up despite your circumstances. So many obstacles were thrown in front of her, but, somehow, she manages to find her way back home. Her determination should be an example to people who have lost their way, that no matter what happens, you can always find your way back home. After revisiting this book and listening to the lecture, I realized that there is so much more to the story than I remember. However, there is a huge difference between understanding as an adolescent and adult. I feel like that is a common occurrence to a lot of people. Things have a deeper meaning when you’re older.
I find it extremely interesting that this novel has been revisited so much. It has been adapted into films, musicals, and into other novels. I feel like doing something so often with the same material becomes repetitive and dry. However, there is just so much you can pull out of this story. I think an important part of that is simply viewpoints. I can think that the story is about finding your inner enlightenment, while a classmate can think that the story is about never giving up despite circumstances. I like to consider my own thoughts and create my own opinions, but I also like to hear what others have to say about the story. This allows me to sit back and consider things I otherwise wouldn’t have thought.
Yenelsy Cepeda
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I personally have never been one to enjoy reading for leisure so I was never drawn to reading the Wizard of Oz. I recall faintly watching the film a long time ago and never really connecting to any of the characters on a deeper level, perhaps because I was still a child. As the visual learner that I am, I was naturally more fascinated by the appearance of the characters and their interactions with one another. However, having read part of the book I can see why it is one that is loved by many. As I progress through the chapters, I find so many lessons that I would not have picked up on before. Just reading how calm Dorothy was while being whisked away by something so petrifying reminded me of how often we as humans tend to naturally freak out over things outside of our control. Dorothy deciding to rest and wait to see what would happen elucidated the beauty in doing just that - waiting. I also love seeing how quickly Dorothy adapts to changes in her environment while simultaneously longing to be back home. I believe it showcases how scary yet beautiful change can be while also pointing out that no matter where we end up on this walk of life, there will always be a part of us that belongs to where we first began our journey.
Tess Collins
ReplyDeleteAs a young child, I can distinctly remember watching the 1939 film adaptation of the Wizard of Oz featuring Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr, and Frank Morgan. I can recall being instantly sucked into the distinct American fairytale magic and awestruck by the vibrant landscape, compelling characters, exquisite costumes and engaging plot line. The Wizard of Oz had every element that a young child could possibly yearn for in a fantastical movie and it quickly became one of me and my siblings’ favorites. However, despite the many times that I watched the film, I never once read Frank Baum’s original novel nor took the time to examine the story from a literary perspective until now.
In the very first chapter of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, I was immediately struck by how sharply Dorothy’s home in Kansas contrasts the later setting of the Land of Oz. Dorothy’s surroundings in Kansas are portrayed as being “a gray mass, with little cracks running through it”, her uncle is characterized as being “stern and solemn”, her aunt as being “thin and gaunt”, and her house is depicted as being “as dull and gray as everything else”. While readers might expect Dorothy to arrive in Oz, be charmed by its greenery, richness, and saturation and never want to return back to dreary Kansas, it is actually imperative to the plot that Dorothy experiences all of this beauty and still desires to return home. In fact, when Dorothy first meets the Munchkins and the Witch of the North and learns that she may have to live there permanently, her initial reaction is one of grief and fear. She feels isolated amongst this strange cast of people and craves the familiarity and safety that her home in Kansas provided her with. Furthermore, even as the story unfolds and Dorothy finds companionship and reprieve amongst the Scarecrow, and later the Tin Woodman and Cowardly Lion, she still holds the strong conviction that home is where she belongs. When asked by the Scarecrow, “‘I cannot understand why you should wish to leave this beautiful country and go back to the dry, gray place you call Kansas’”, Dorothy replies, “‘No matter how dreary and gray our homes are, we people of flesh and blood would rather live there than in any other country, be it ever so beautiful. There is no place like home.’”
In summation, this key element of the text reminded me of one of the questions that was posed during the lecture; is there a moral to this story and is it the one that is typically suggested - every individual already has everything that they could possibly aspire? Employing the behaviors that Dorothy exhibits throughout the text, I now believe that the true moral of this story is a modification of the one which we are taught. While the entities that we desire do not always align with others’ expectations and arrangements, if we are willing to put in effort, we can always achieve them or else discover that they’ve existed in us all along.
Shannon Duckworth
ReplyDeleteThe Wizard of Oz
I personally have only seen the Wizard of Oz once when I was younger and do not remember much of it. However, after reading the first few chapters I noticed how isolated Dorothy was at home in the dull and grey Kansas. She did not seem to have many friends, and although facing the challenge of trying to get home, she was able to gain friends and help them on their journey and vice versa. I think there are many lessons throughout the pages that I would have never noticed as a kid. For example, she is meeting many new people in a bright, and very different place than her home. I think one thing I have taken from this is that friendships form with people you least expect, and in places you aren't looking.
I think Dorothy's character learns a lot at a young age that can push her to continue to live a great life, even after returning home. She might look at her family and surroundings in a whole new light and won’t see it as dull. Even though her dog Todo is not a human, he is a true companion to Dorothy because he stuck with her through everything and gave her happiness. Dorothy never gives up even though she faces so many challenges along the way. I am surprised that more female protagonists were not more common after this, and am curious as to why seeing as so many fans and readers can relate and or connect with Dorothy in their own ways. I am definitely excited to rewatch the movie and finish reading the book as a young adult to get a different outlook on it.
I most likely skew older than the rest of the class (I'm 36), but I remember watching the Wizard of Oz movie many, many times as a child. I know it was one of the earliest big movies to include color, and I remember even as a child noticing that they really understood how they could use bold colors to really draw in and dazzle the viewer. While I don't consider myself a big reader, and while I haven't watched the film in some years, I find myself drawn into the book as I read. It's interesting how much I can recall and see the differences present from the written text. I can't say I've seen any of the later material after the Garland film, but I am interested to dig in to the Land of Oz more so than I ever have before!
ReplyDeleteAlexander Delaney
ReplyDeleteThe Wizard Of Oz
I had never read or watched The Wizard Of Oz prior to this class. I have heard about it and have little knowledge on the subject. It is one of the more well known stories of the world and I'm excited to finally read it. After the first few chapters I noticed how dull Dorothy's life was in Kansas until she went to the magical land of OZ. Even though life seemed like it was better, she still wanted to go back to dull Kansas. One thing you mentioned in the lecture about the lack of female heroes in American fantasy stories caught my attention. I too realized this and it is nice to see Dorothy take on this powerful role. It is crazy how many times this story has been adapted into different types of movies and books but there is so many different outlooks a person could receive from this story.
Hi Alex,
DeleteI enjoyed your post. I also thought that the fact that the main character is a "mild and meek" teenage girl. I think for its time, it was a fairly bold move, as when the story was penned it was prior to the time that women were even allowed to vote. Also, the many different variations of the tale is something that is pretty cool, provided that it keeps in line with the original story. I think too much of a remake would take away from the original qualities that enticed readers/audiences/viewers in the first place.
Madison Marcure
ReplyDeleteI was surprised not everyone had already seen the film before, I remember watching it with my family when I was younger. However, I did not really enjoy it the first time. After reading the book, I feel like I began to appreciate the movie more and even find some parts amusing. It was nice to relive a piece of my childhood. Dorothy truly is a female hero and like you said, we do not see enough of them.
Stephanie Pauley
ReplyDeleteThe Wizard of Oz
As a child, I watched the Wizard of Oz film often. However, I did not read the book until the second grade because it was my teacher's favorite book and movie. In this class, I sparked an interest at a young age in the differences between books and films. I thought it was so fascinated that although, the movie is directly taken from the book the film directors have to make changes in order for the movie to be appealing on the big screen. I believe one of these "movie magic" moments was the comparison between her dull life in Kansas and the bright life of the Land of Oz. In the book, there is an attempt to help the reader get this concept but it is harder to visualize it in reading than watching. I love the concept that Dorothy has this wonderful, exciting life in Oz but for some reason, she is drawn to want to go home to her gloomy Kansas, farm life.
I thought that Dorothy's desire to return home as well was an interesting part of the movie plot. Here she was in the colorful, and lively Oz, and all she had wanted to do was get home to her family and farm in "gray, dreary and flat", Kansas
DeleteI must admit I am; like a few others, surprised that some haven't seen the movie or read the book. I'm likely aging myself here, as I too remember watching it annually (on a huge monstrosity of a TV, in black and white, and on one of the 13 channels we had at the time...rabbit ears were of course optional, but if you wanted to see anything clearly it was highly recommended). It was always on a few weeks prior to the big Easter airings of Ben Hur and The Ten Commandments. In fact, the Wizard of Oz is one of my first memories in the United States, as we had emigrated here when I was very young. I may or may not have had nightmares about the flying monkeys and made my mother check the windows to be sure they were locked every night. I also had been a proud member of the lullaby league in the Cleveland Elementary School production of the story. The Wizard of Oz is definitely something that brings a sense of nostalgia for me, and its not hard to find a reason as to why it has had such longevity. There are many things about it that made it appealing to its audience...as I am sure will be discussed in a future post. Looking forward to interacting with you all in this class, and reading your posts and replies as we go through our course content.
ReplyDelete- Lindsay Nadeau
ReplyDeleteI was astonished while reading this as I had absolutely no idea that there were so many different versions of the Wizard of Oz! I was also surprised to read that L. Frank Baum actually wrote 13 Oz books. The only Wizard of Oz movie I have seen is the most popular one from 1939. I have seen this movie plenty of times as a kid, I can still recite almost every scene in it to this day! Even to this day the classic Dorothy Halloween costume with the classic basket and Toto the dog and sparkly red shoes is still very popular. One of my favorite characters that Dorothy meets along her journey is the Tin Woodman who is in search of a heart. I love how each of the characters are seeking something, the scarecrow who is seeking a brain, the tin woodman who seeks a heart and the cowardly lion who seeks courage. As a kid this aspect of the movie was not very relatable, but now that I am much older I can relate this to real life. There are many people out there who are "lost" in their own way, some people similar to the tin woodman feel that they are very emotionless/heartless. Others struggle with confidence and courage similar to the cowardly lion. These are things that people actually struggle with emotionally throughout a lifetime and I never thought of this part of the Wizard of Oz like this until now. I would love to see this movie as a broadway show or play similar to The Wiz which featured on Broadway in 1975. This movie will always be a classic and I look forward to showing my children this movie someday!
Test comment
ReplyDeleteGrowing up with a younger sister, shows and movies like this were constantly played at my house or on long car rides. Before this course I had never watched the full movie, or even read the book. I only recall seeing all 4 main characters skipping along the yellow brick road and a small snippet of emerald city. I was the child who didn't enjoy magical movies, but was a huge star wars fanatic. After reading and watching the movie from start to finish I realise it's actually an incrediby enjoyable film, but as for the book it is too enjoyable but with much darker undertones I feel as if the movie doesnt catch to its fullest extent, which is entirely reasonable as the movie was aimed for a younger audience. It was also a nice change of movies for the time as it showcased a female lead role, an uncommon theme around those times.
ReplyDeleteDylan Gagnon
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