THE WIZARD OF OZ

i'd wondered about whether the baum book was an analogy for something, this answers my q's

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7933175.stm

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is one of the world's best-loved fairytales. As Judy Garland's famous film nears its 70th birthday, how much do its followers know about the story's use as an economic parable?

Dorothy in Kansas conjures up nostalgic thoughts of childhood Christmases hiding behind the sofa from the Wicked Witch of the West. Or those flying monkeys.

It's unlikely its young fans will have been thinking about deflation and monetary policy.
The 1939 film is the most famous evocation of the story

But the story has underlying economic and political references that make it a popular tool for teaching university and high school students - mainly in the United States but also in the UK - about the economic depression of the late 19th Century.

At a time when some economists fear an onset of deflation, and economic certainties melt away like a drenched wicked witch, what can be learnt from Oz?

The 1939 film starring a young Judy Garland was based on Lyman Frank Baum's book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, published in 1900. It told of an orphaned Kansas girl swept by a tornado into a fantastical world, but who wants to return home to her aunt and uncle.

Thinking the great Wizard of Oz can grant her wish, she sets out to meet him with her beloved dog, Toto, joined by a scarecrow, a tin woodman and a lion.

Baum published the book in 1900, just after the US emerged from a period of deflation and depression. Prices had fallen by about 22% over the previous 16 years, causing huge debt.

Farmers were among those badly affected, and the Populist political party was set up to represent their interests and those of industrial labourers.

The US was then operating on the gold standard - a monetary system which valued the dollar according to the quantity of gold. The Populists wanted silver, along with gold, to be used for money. This would have increased the US money supply, raised price levels and reduced farmers' debt burdens.

Yellow brick code

In 1964, high school teacher Henry Littlefield wrote an article outlining the notion of an underlying allegory in Baum's book. He said it offered a "gentle and friendly" critique of Populist thinking, and the story could be used to illuminate the late 19th Century to students.

Since its publication, teachers have used this take on the tale to help classes understand the issues of the era. SYMBOLISM OF CHARACTERS
Dorothy: Everyman American
Scarecrow: Farmer
Tin Woodman: Industrial worker
Lion: William Jennings Bryan, politician who backed silver cause
Wizard of Oz: US presidents of late 19th Century
Wicked Witch: A malign Nature, destroyed by the farmers' most precious commodity, water. Or simply the American West
Winged Monkeys: Native Americans or Chinese railroad workers, exploited by West
Oz: An abbreviation of 'ounce' or, as Baum claimed, taken from the O-Z of a filing cabinet?
Emerald City: Greenback paper money, exposed as fraud
Munchkins: Ordinary citizens

And Littlefield's theory has been hotly debated. He believed the characters could represent the personalities and themes of the late 1800s,with Dorothy embodying the everyman American spirit.

US political historian Quentin Taylor, who supports this interpretation, says: "There are too many instances of parallels with the political events of the time.

"The Tin Woodman represents the industrial worker, the Scarecrow is the farmer and the Cowardly Lion is William Jennings Bryan."

Bryan was a Democratic presidential candidate who supported the silver cause. But he failed to win votes from eastern workers and lost the 1896 election. In the same way, the Lion's claws are nearly blunted by the Woodman's metallic shell.

The Wicked Witch of the West is associated with a variety of controversial personalities, chief among them the industrialist Mark Hanna, campaign manager to President William McKinley.

In this scenario, the yellow brick road symbolises the gold standard, the Emerald City becomes Washington DC and the Great Wizard characterises the president - and he is exposed as being less than truthful.

Off to see the President

Yet none can help Dorothy return home. Eventually she discovers that her silver shoes (changed to ruby for the film) have the power to take her back to Kansas.
The allegory is still taught in schools

The possible implication is that gold alone cannot be the solution for the problems facing the average citizen. But Professor Taylor thinks it's unlikely the book took sides. Instead he says it was merely explaining the story of the Populist movement, some of whom marched on Washington DC in 1894 to demand government improve their plight.

Their demand for the use of silver with the gold standard was not met, although within a few years, inflation returned after discoveries of gold in South Africa and other parts of the world.

In Baum's story, Dorothy loses her silver slippers in the desert before she reaches home - a possible reflection of the decline of the silver cause after 1896.

But not everyone believes The Wonderful Wizard of Oz includes any hidden meanings.

"Nobody ever suggested it until 1964," says Bradley Hansen, who is a professor of economics at the University of Mary Washington.

"There's no solid evidence that Baum had written it as a monetary allegory," he adds. "While it may have grabbed students' interests, it doesn't really teach them anything about the gold standard and, in particular, the debate about the gold standard."

Professor Hansen thinks the author was just trying to create a new kind of fairytale, the "Harry Potter of its time". There's no solid evidence that Baum had written it as a monetary allegory

Bradley Hansen, economics professor

Soon after publication, Baum adapted his book into a stage musical for adults which opened in 1902. Ranjit Dighe, who wrote The Historian's Wizard of Oz, says it poked fun at Theodore Roosevelt and the Populists, but Baum was playing for laughs, like Jay Leno.

Little can be learnt from Baum about the modern economic crisis, says Professor Taylor, although in both instances people have demanded more government action.

The Bank of England has - as the Populists more than 100 years ago demanded - provided a boost to the monetary supply, although the term "quantitative easing" was probably little known in the 1890s. And ultimately the US defeated deflation by creating money from new discoveries of gold abroad.

L Frank Baum died before the debates over his true intent had started. But in the book's introduction, he stated that he was only writing to please children.

He was no doubt unaware of its future appeal to economics students

also he wrote it about a pink floyd album

Who knew William Jennings Bryan endorsed civil rights for gay Americans?

http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Academy/2994/ZARDOZ.jpg

there's no doubt oz has some low-flying political satire (moreso in the second book, which features an "army of suffragettes" taking over the emerald city!), but the "oz = populism" thing was made up by the professor mentioned in the article as a way to teach his students the history of populism, not to explain a hidden meaning in the baum book.

First favorite movie (before Star Wars came along), first movie I owned, and still up there for me:

http://www.citypages.com/movies/the-wizard-of-oz-1939-115082/

Five surviving Munchkins attending NY Film Fest screening tomorrow.

I was hoping they'd be showing it here in Sacramento with that 'Fantom Events' thing they're doing, but no such luck. Bummer.

I mean Fathom. Fantom. Whatever.

Wait. Turns out they DID show it in Sacramento...because it screened 2 days ago. Curses.

My friend was at that screening and saw the munchkins!

"Can die happy. Saw munchkins from the orginal Wizard of Oz movie tonight. Woah!"

Musta been a press preview? it's not til 11am.

I think the coroner is one of them?

Ahhhh - just checked. It was some 70th anniversary function at Tavern on the Green last night.

The coroner? The guy who sings "As coroner I must aver/I've thoroughly examined her"? That guy is great!

yes, he's still kickin'

http://www.bigpicturebigsound.com/Munchkins-Take-Manhattan-The-Wizard-of-Oz-Blu-ray-Feted-in-NYC.shtml

http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/movies/little_piece_of_oz_Zo2jBqwa658KA7fdCErh7J

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wizard_of_Oz_on_television

i always wondered about this. i remember seeing it every year with my dad. like, wondering when it would be on TV. good times.

outdoor big-screen viewing in temple bar tonight - we won free tickets for a couch up front.

in my mind this always aired on Easter but it looks like that was only 1978, but I certainly remember that showing.

Richard Hell appreciation (be sure to read the comment after)

http://musings.oscilloscope.net/post/139554264911/hell-in-oz-by-richard-hell

Watched this the other day for the first time in years. Had never noticed before that Dorothy still has a half-eaten cruller in hand as she starts to sing Somewhere over the Rainbow.

Took me forever to realize she's munching on one baked good or another throughout the film. Like I don't know I'd failed to notice the egregious spray of scone crumbs with every utterance of 'there's no place like home'.

edibles

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dmks89zXcAAVDYf.jpg

Glinda, a non-ugly witch, says that “only bad witches are ugly.” If only bad witches are ugly, then it logically follows that good witches are not ugly. But we cannot conclude, based on the statement “only bad witches are ugly” that non-ugly witches are not bad, correct?

http://stephajane.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/scarecrow-wizard-of-oz.jpg

(Seven minutes later) Correct.

ow

one must first establish whether all witches must be either bad or good, with no witches who are neither bad nor good. this is not implicit.

but one may safely conclude that all not-ugly witches are not-bad.

Old news, but might as well put it here for posterity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uznUlgpKBzE&app=desktop

Hmmmm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uznUlgpKBzE

one must first establish whether all witches must be either bad or good, with no witches who are neither bad nor good. this is not implicit.

the question refers to non-ugly and not bad witches. per the law of excluded middle, all witches must be ugly or non-ugly, and bad or not bad.

rd laing's "knots" to thread:

https://i.pinimg.com/236x/81/e7/a4/81e7a4792e2b936bea9b630c06905f09--asylum-knots.jpg

if you treat it like "only bad witches may be ugly", the SAT way, then you are correct. if you think it implies that all bad witches are ugly, you get the opposite answer.

I think the implication is that witches who act badly make themselves "ugly." Remember this material is aimed at children. Ugly behavior is ugliness. Existence precedes essence.

strong disagree

if you behave youll be a hottie is the simple explanation

we may take this as an attempt, much like any other "story as learning" cultural artefact, to instil into the little ears thus cupped a linkage of a desired end goal to those behaviours that will- judged and communicated by that same arbitrator in charge of stories, naturally- be held as "good".

this could ofc be held- and in many instances witnessed or recalled- as a sinister message, but insofar as it falls between the likeliest lines of brush yr teeth, wash behind your ears, follow a disciplined regime of exercise and diet and apply yourself diligently and honestly but also according to that conscience as seems best to you in the world as you make your way in it, you do in fairness at least stand as good a chance as you might expect from a standing start of getting someone at any stage to clamber up you.

the other possible interpretation is that the fact of one's attractiveness will act between the eye of the beholder and their own critical faculties in such a fashion as to intercept any behaviours held to be evil and a hastily-scrawled mental note will be shoved into a synaptical vacuum tube and land just ahead of any fair evaluation of the actual issue at hand with ranking authorisation to disregard any other evidence to the contrary because a hottie gets a blank cheque where an honest brickfaced chap is swimminv uphill

this too is a fair warning for any child go be given as soon as possible in their lifepath, one could argue. one does.

pretty is as pretty does

i hate this revive so much

i just want you all to know that

but what's yr position on it tho vg

my position is shut up

well really

Movie trivia: Glinda flubbed her line. It was supposed to be: “only bad sandwiches are ugly.” They kept it in because retakes in Technicolor were expensive.

False: there are no ugly sandwiches, only ugly eaters.

Lol VG

<3

Uh... https://variety.com/2021/film/news/wonderful-wizard-of-oz-remake-1234904194/

I'm surprised they held off as long as they did.

The Judy Garland/MGM was the 14th remake / adaptation in 21 years. If this Kassell/New Line one happens and comes out in 2022, it will be the fourteenth adaptation in 20 years. Bang on par.

Wasn't there always a running story about the oldest living Munchkin from the '39 version? I assume none are still living by now.

Oh, '39 - that was in 27 years, then. We're speeding up the pace.

The Judy Garland/MGM was the 14th remake / adaptation in 21 years. If this Kassell/New Line one happens and comes out in 2022, it will be the fourteenth adaptation in 20 years. Bang on par.

― shivers me timber (sic), Tuesday, February 9, 2021 3:26 PM (thirteen minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

there are 13 wizard of oz movies prior to the wizard of oz?

or 14 i guess

Three stage musicals, one multi-media film & painting & performance extravaganza, nine silents, and one film-with-music.

The "last munchkin" was Jerry Maren, the middle guy in the lollipop guild. There may be some children in the background who are still alive.

There's a stack of Oz books so we're all these films based on the same one.
I picked up one volume of a massive reprint series from about 20 years ago I think. Thought I'd have a look at some of the children's books I mostly knew from film versions at roughly the same time.
So read the original volume of this as well as Mary Popping and Dr Doolittle i think i had read some of the Hugh Lofting before though. Something like 4 years ago.
Picked up the 4 novel volume which is later in the series. Found in a charity shop in London. Think I enjoyed it but a bit hokey.
Interesting to read baum was still writing them ages after as somebody said in a recent Best books of whenever poll.

I started Wicked which sounded interesting. Another perspective on the Oz mythos. Think I picked up something else shortly after so never finished it.

Liiiiiike...part of me has always wondered why, in the wake of all of the fantasy franchises, no one ever went all-in adapting the Oz books and would love to see faithful translations of the lot but there's another part of me that wants Hollywood to fuck right off.

Just recently reread Wonderful Wizard and it really is just wonderful.

Some of the books are actually adaptations of films (and one of the musicals). Like comedians working out bits on the road, Baum would do a rough draft of an idea or develop a character as a movie before committing to the "proper" version.

I'm sure the reason Hollywood has ever gone all-on on adapting the 14 books is that no studio or producer would commit to making 14 movies or seasons of TV upfront when the first one is super-likely to suck and fail.

ever never

sorry ms jackson

The 80s anime series did 4 of the books.

Believe it or not, this is the least disturbing gif I could find from this horror show.

https://i.imgur.com/Lih7wtf.gif

I'd like to think Hollywood is finally brave enough to depict feminist icon General Jinjur on the silver screen.

No matter how you gendercast the second movie, someone's gonna get cancelled.

one multi-media film & painting & performance extravaganza

Baum invented 4DX when feature films were two reels long and shorter than a Ramones album.

Yeah, no.

https://gizmodo.com/the-wizard-of-oz-at-the-sphere-tests-the-ways-ai-can-preserve-classic-cinema-2000620524

List of Classic Movies That Do Not Need AI Enhancements

1. Wizard of Oz

"So when you listen to ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ and you’re hearing the real Judy Garland vocal placed position where it should be based on the picture, and you’re hearing that orchestra enveloping you, it is a version that you’ve never heard before, and you’ll never hear again. It’s perfect. It is the perfect version of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow.’”

https://i.imgur.com/0Bm9ypN.png

Everything in long establishing shots like you're god