one benefit of English lit classes

[veronica_rich]

Watching "The Wizard of Oz" on cable was kind of sad as I realized everybody I watched this with in the 1970s when it was on network TV once a year (no VCR! no on-demand or satellite!) is now dead - Mom, Grandpa and Grandma.

But I'm comforted by the fact that with my Sooper English Lit Major Powers(TM), I can now analyze what a cocked-up story this really is. I mean, sending a teenage girl to kill your rival? Trying to kill a teenage girl for clearly being in the wrong place at the wrong time, instead of the bitch witch ordering her about? (At worst, East's death was a lower-degree manslaughter, not murder.) And don't get me started on the Cheney-like "wizard."

But fuck me if I don't still want those shoes.

Comments

[venusinchains.livejournal.com]

Watching The Wizard is kinda wistful for me (I don't have any loss of family to figure into it). I still love it though. But it's a Fairy Tale, so, yeah, it's totally some f*cked-up sh*t when you come at it from a PC perspective. :-p And even worse - for me - I'd go for the Tin Man before I'd grab at the shoes. (I had a terrible crush on him when I was a kid. I have no idea what that says about me.)

[backinblack.livejournal.com]

AMEN

[johnnypenn.livejournal.com]

I never did understand the story behind the Wizard of Oz.
But I too always wanted those shoes. I remember seeing them at the store and trying to get Mom to get them for me, but we never did.
And once, around Halloween some close friends and I did a short WoZ play, but I was Toto.

Yeah. It is fucked up. *lol*

[zagzagael.livejournal.com]

We also used to watch it once a year and it was a BIG deal! I think you might have the kernel of an essay here...

Uh, children's lit! Think about how screwed up Harry Potter's world is....stuff a kid under the stairs all his life, send him to a school where he's manipulated by adults, and he's expected to murder the most evil wizard n wizardom...

[metalkatt.livejournal.com]

http://www.cracked.com/article_18881_5-reasons-greatest-movie-villain-ever-good-witch.html

http://www.cracked.com/article_18881_5-reasons-greatest-movie-villain-ever-good-witch_p2.html

http://www.cracked.com/article_19099_12-classic-movie-moments-made-possible-by-abuse-murder.html

http://www.cracked.com/article_18906_7-shockingly-dark-origins-lovable-childrens-characters_p2.html

http://www.cracked.com/article_19336_6-beloved-characters-that-had-undiagnosed-mental-illnesses_p2.html

http://www.cracked.com/article_18417_9-famous-movie-villains-who-were-right-all-along_p2.html

[johnnypenn.livejournal.com]

In Harry Potter it was kill or be killed. Not that Voldy was very good at killing off Harry. He's lame.

[benkenobigal.livejournal.com]

I always think of the play Wicked now when I see The Wizard of Oz. :)

My sister made shoes like Dorothy's stolen ones for her wedding!!! :)

[vejgeta9.livejournal.com]

Those ruby red 'Come Fuck Me' pumps. Yeah, thats all I got.