The World Beyond BetterMost > The Culture Tent
The Wizard of OZ: A cautionary tale for girls?
Front-Ranger:
The strange juxtaposition of sparkly high heels and bobby sox made me think about this movie and its many interesting subtexts. The first thing I thought of was the three witches, Glenda, Dorothy, and the Wicked Witch of the West, Maiden, Madonna, and Crone. Shall we discuss?
Front-Ranger:
Another interesting facet was the way the men in Dorothy's life got transformed in her dream into incomplete men, and she was in charge of making sure they were completed.
David In Indy:
Those are interesting observations Lee. I never thought about it like that before, but I think you may be on to something here. :)
I've always felt TWoO had a misogynistic tinge to it. With the exception of the Witch of the North, the women in the movie are not all that admirable. Miss Gultch was absolutely horrible, Aunt Em is cold and callous, The Witch of the West is evil, Dorothy is a naive girl who depends on men to take care of her.....
But then we must remember this story was written in the late 1800s and the movie was filmed in 1939. I've often wondered if the movie would be received in such a positive light had it been released in this day and age. :-\
delalluvia:
--- Quote from: David In Indy on May 24, 2009, 02:47:11 pm ---Those are interesting observations Lee. I never thought about it like that before, but I think you may be on to something here. :)
I've always felt TWoO had a misogynistic tinge to it. With the exception of the Witch of the North, the women in the movie are not all that admirable. Miss Gultch was absolutely horrible, Aunt Em is cold and callous, The Witch of the West is evil, Dorothy is a naive girl who depends on men to take care of her.....
But then we must remember this story was written in the late 1800s and the movie was filmed in 1939. I've often wondered if the movie would be received in such a positive light had it been released in this day and age.
--- End quote ---
Probably not. The adventure starts because Dorothy is wanting out of her dead-end existence, and throughout the movie Dorothy is taught a harsh lesson about women out in the world, and the final lesson and indeed her goal throughout the movie is not for her to be independent, not for her not wander the world, not to seek adventures (everything she wanted when she ran away), it's for her to just stay at home and finally that's what she wants, too. :P
Jeff Wrangler:
--- Quote from: David In Indy on May 24, 2009, 02:47:11 pm ---Dorothy is a naive girl who depends on men to take care of her.....
--- End quote ---
If you're going to look at it that way, then it seems to me she learns in the end that she doesn't need a man to take care of her. She always had the power to go home. She just had to gain confidence in herself to use it. :)
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
Go to full version