The Wizard of Odd

One of the great icons of cinema and television tradition, The Wizard of Oz celebrates its seventieth birthday this year.  Instead of ruminating about what exactly the Munchkins did in their hotel room and whether or not Judy Garland was a bitch on set, let’s go a (yellow brick) road less travelled.  What is the enduring draw of the film in popular culture and how do ordinary people go about extending its legacy?  Do you care? If not, plenty of fun pictures to be found below!

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Hope always springs eternal and the connection between Barack Obama and the eponymous wizard are perhaps obvious.  People are in search of answers and solutions to their problems and they have, most certainly, put PoTUS on a pedestal in their millions.  This float from the New Orleans carnival certainly doesn’t mix its metaphors but UK readers might also recognize the face of the Mekon from the nineteen fifties comic strip Dan Dare.  Perhaps one day Obama will have to make a similar statement to that of the wizard at the end of the film: “Oh no, my dear, I’m a very good man; I’m just a very bad Wizard”

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Staying with science fiction for a moment, it only takes imagination and a working knowledge of Photoshop to bring the mix right up to date.  Although the Star Wars films and Oz have one thing in common – they gainfully employed large numbers of small people – there is little doubt who would win in a Vader/Munchkin duel.  The Munchkins, of course.  Those lollipop boys are deadly with a stick of candy.

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The gay community latched on to The Wizard of Oz, grabbed the film (and its star) with, metaphorically, both hands and haven’t really let go since.  Judy Garland in particular became a gay icon but the film itself also has a great resonance for members of the LGBT community.  The character of Dorothy wishes for a world in which her feelings can be fully expressed and this is perhaps where the fondness for the movie comes from.  It could also be, of course, because the film is as camp as a row of tents.  What can be said with certainty, though, is wherever there is a Gay Pride Parade, there you will find ‘friends of Dorothy’.  Oh my.

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Perhaps because of what some people see as the bland pleasantness of the film it is easy then to parody it.  However there is a darker side to the Oz experience.  For as many people who see the film as light, joyful and a celebration of the imagination there are those who sense a distinct air of menace, primal and scary, hanging about it.  It is a win win situation, however.  It means that both camps (back to that again) generally enjoy it immensely).  No animals were hurt in the making of the picture above, I am assured.

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After that shock to the system it is probably best to do cute for a second or two.  Those of you who went ‘yuck’ at the sight of the previous picture are probably making a sound approximating to ‘aw’ at the moment.  Whereas, those of you who fell off your chair laughing at the squirrel posing post mortem will probably be gagging at the sight of the little cuties above.  When all is said and done, though, the film continues to entrance children of all ages and whenever there is an excuse for dressing up, adults and kids alike will often go for the Wizard of Oz option.

OK, if your name is Wednesday and you have just been put off your food for a week, let’s get back to the odd stuff.

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One of the wonderful things about the film is its inclusivity.  Whether straight or gay, nerd or norm – everyone can have some fun with the film.  Here, the nerds give their own unique take on the movie.  Perhaps it effects so many because we all share similar childhood anxieties.  Who isn’t afraid (young or old) to be powerless and alone.  There is a juxtaposition in the film which is marked in our transition to adulthood and which many experience.  First there are the comforts of home – and there is no place like it – which can be repressive.  Then, though, there is the unknown adult world – thrilling and liberating but containing the terrors of experiences yet to be had or understood.

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The street art in Canada, above, may come close for some to revealing the true horrors embedded in the film.  People find different things scary in the film.  For me, it is the Flying Monkeys, truly a gruesome creation.  Back to New Orleans and Brian Blessed even manages to take time out of filming his new movies to monkey about with a few friends.

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A famously captioned greetings card – “Toto, I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.”  OK.  It is probably the LGBT community that has probably has the most fun with the Wizard of Oz, whether it is in the artistic domain or just for the sake of squeezing yourself in to a very tight pair of shorts and painting yourself silver.   The LGBT community has really taken the whole concept and run with it.  Some might say the correct word is hijack – I would say celebrate instead.

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There may be a yellow brick road but with advances in cloning it could get a little crowded.  Especially when there was a mix up with the chromosomes and Dorothy and her friends are all blokes.

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There are only a handful of films that have defied criticism – the Wizard of Oz is one because, because, because – oh, I promised myself that I wouldn’t do that.  However, although the film received a lukewarm reaction and lost out to Gone With The Wind in terms of Oscars, how many young ladies, such as the one above, take to the streets these days dressed as Scarlett O’Hara.  Well, you probably don’t give a flying monkey, but it isn’t just the boys that like dressing up as Dorothy, for sure.  Boys just don’t have bottoms made like the one below.  Or do they?

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Even the canine community can get in on the act.  And if things get a little woof later on in life, you will always have the memories.

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Whether you enjoy the movie because it is a classic fairytale (light or dark or both) or its status as camp classic – one thing is for sure.  The movie will continue to resonate throughout popular culture for many decades to come.