Title: Oh Toto!
Name: Jane Kasukonis
Personal Response to Film: The Wizard of Oz has been a movie that I have grown up
with. It reminds me of wanting to travel
to Oz and the possibilities of what really is over a rainbow. I think this movie is wonderful in so many
ways. The sepia filter to the vibrant
color, once Dorothy reaches Munchkin Land, grabs the viewer attention on a
whole new level. The musical aspect of
the movie has the viewer singing the songs for days. Watching it now, I have a more symbolic view
of the characters.
It was interesting to discuss this
movie with my family, specifically my parents.
My mom is not from the States, whereas my dad is. They have very different views on this film
and what it represents to them. My
mother discussed watching the film when she was younger and feeling it was over
the top, silly, and very “Hollywood”. My
father on the other hand has a feeling of childhood fun and magic. His family made watching The Wizard of Oz an all-night event.
Summary of Critical Article: I read Jerry Griswold’s There’s
no place but home: The Wizard of Oz (1987). The article has a few main
points it covers. The first topic is the
similarities between America and the Land of Oz. Different U.S. cities are compared to the
places in Oz. For example, Griswold
refers to the city of Oz as Chicago (p.463).
The article also discusses the differences between the book and the
movie. It moves to a deeper look into
the meanings behind the Wicked Witch of the West, Toto, and Aunt Em. There was also discussion about Dorothy’s
party of guides through Oz, the Tinman, the Lion, and the Scarecrow and what
they symbolized. Finally, Griswold made
comparisons to other fairytale stories, such as Cinderella and Hansel and
Gretal, throughout the article. He
analyzed that they have things in common, like the idea of home. In these fairy tales, including The Wizard of
Oz, the characters want to get away from home.
In the end though, home is where they find themselves wanting to be.
Response to Critical Article: A new concept this article brought to my attention, was the
comparison of Oz to America. By
comparing each place in Oz to a state or city in the U.S., I could see yet
another side of this movie I haven’t seen before. The Wizard of Oz is so diverse in its
underlying meanings and different symbolisms.
It was interesting to read about another perspective.
Consideration of Critic’s Use of
Critical frameworks/concepts: The critical article had a few
different frameworks it drew concepts from.
The first one was more of a historical framework. The beginning parts paralleled Oz and America
at that time. Different cities, like
Chicago, were discussed and compared to the city of Oz. Another framework this article drew on was
the psychoanalytical concept. Griswold
had a deeper analysis of personalities within the characters of the film and correlations
between characters in Oz and characters in Kansas. One particular analysis I found interesting
was the idea that Toto represented of Dorothy’s personality. Dorothy is always happy and feels everything
is right when Toto is around. When he
isn’t, she is worried and frightened.
Film Analysis: There is plenty of symbolism in The Wizard of Oz. One that I
have just learned about is Toto and what he may represent. In the critical article, Toto is described as
part of Dorothy’s personality. The more
I reviewed the film, I began to understand where this symbolism was coming
from. Toto is always with Dorothy, he is
a major priority for her. The idea that
Toto symbolizes Dorothy’s spirit of adventure and fun.
Sound is another large element of
this film. The music pulls emotions from
the viewer, which connects them more to the movie. For example, when Dorothy lands in Munchkin
Land, it’s the first time we are seeing bright colors. That sets the tone for what emotion we have
during this scene. The music that
follows is very upbeat and has major tones.
This evokes happiness in the viewer.
This feeling also parallels Dorothy’s excitement and happiness to be out
of dreary Kansas and in wonderful Munchkin Land. Non-musical elements are also noticeable in
the film. Sounds during the cyclone
included the chickens squawking, fierce winds, and crashing boards.
Works Cited (MLA) or References (APA)
References
Griswold, J. (1987). There's no place but home: The
wizard of oz. The Antioch review, 45(4), 462-475.
Jane,
ReplyDeleteYour analysis and critical response to the film are clear and effective. I especially liked gaining more of a global perspective from your sharing of your mom's point-of-view as a non-American. I think as a country we tend to be more ego- and ethnocentric than any other nation, despite our overwhelming tendencies to claim the exact opposite, and despite the fact that as a veritable melting pot of different ethnicities the "prerogative" to marginalize and demean other human beings, fellow citizens even, is just ridiculous.
This was more of a rant than a review, so I'll end here: Good job!
Jackie
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteJane,
ReplyDeleteI think it's interesting that your mom, being from England, doesn't enjoy the Wizard of Oz. It really shows the power of passing the movie down over the generations. Your analysis of the critical article was very interesting and well written. Watching the movie, I would have never thought of Toto as representing Dorothy's personality but after reading your analysis, I'm now intrigued if he is! Great job I enjoyed reading your blog.
~Sara B