The Wizard in Oz, a Populist movement?

**SturmChurro** · November 06, 2009, 04:28 PM

The Wizard of Oz, supports much of the Populist movements-
Dorothy's Silver Shoes-Free silver?
The Scarcrow-Farmers?
The Tinman- Factory Workers?
Cowardly Lion- William Jennings Bryan(populist+democratic candidate for president) Who ran for president would have won, but could not get vote from city people and factory workers, such as The Cowardly Lion struct the Tin man but left no scratch?
Post your opinions, and decisions.

-These are not all of the details.....

**Poach** · November 06, 2009, 04:35 PM

Ah I do like these types of discussion. Conspiracy theories, hidden messages etc, so much fun!

**barbarossa pasha** · November 06, 2009, 04:40 PM

Aren't the Tinman, Lion, and Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz?

**SturmChurro** · November 06, 2009, 04:43 PM

Originally Posted by barbarossa pasha

Aren't the Tinman, Lion, and Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz?

Welll duhhh....Where did you think they were from?

**barbarossa pasha** · November 06, 2009, 04:55 PM

Oh, I thought the OP was suggesting they were from Alice in Wonderland. My bad, as they say.

**SturmChurro** · November 06, 2009, 05:15 PM

Originally Posted by barbarossa pasha

Oh, I thought the OP was suggesting they were from Alice in Wonderland. My bad, as they say.

WTF,THEY ARE FROM THE WIZARD IN OZ, what do you even think the thread was about?

**Civil1z@tion** · November 06, 2009, 05:35 PM

Originally Posted by UCMENOMOR

WTF,THEY ARE FROM ALICE IN WONDERLAND, what do you even think the thread was about?

Ummm...you do realize that in fact the Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland are two unrelated works written at different time periods and by different writers.

And beyond that you're initial thesis is highly flawed. The Wizard of Oz may have some (limited) populist elements but Alice's Adventures in Wonderland were written by an Englishman with little contact with the American populist movement. Someone whose read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland correct me if I'm wrong but did Alice actually have silver shoes? I think that UCMENOMOR is mistaking Alice for Dorothy and then screwing up because Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz had ruby shoes not silver ones.

By the way if you're still under the mistaken impression that Alice in Wonderland and The Wizard of Oz are related works, here's their Wikipedia pages:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice's..._in_Wonderland

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

**SturmChurro** · November 06, 2009, 05:58 PM

Originally Posted by Civil1z@tion

Ummm...you do realize that in fact the Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland are two unrelated works written at different time periods and by different writers.

And beyond that you're initial thesis is highly flawed. The Wizard of Oz may have some (limited) populist elements but Alice's Adventures in Wonderland were written by an Englishman with little contact with the American populist movement. Someone whose read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland correct me if I'm wrong but did Alice actually have silver shoes? I think that UCMENOMOR is mistaking Alice for Dorothy and then screwing up because Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz had ruby shoes not silver ones.

By the way if you're still under the mistaken impression that Alice in Wonderland and The Wizard of Oz are related works, here's their Wikipedia pages:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice's..._in_Wonderland

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

It is not flawed it is right the writer of The Wizard of Oz, is a supporter of the Populism- here are a few more details-
Wicked Witch of the west-beaten by water- You could conquer the west lacked water, water made it easier to supportfarms.
Tornado-signified change
Grey Kansas setting- showing the dull average laborers day.

**SorelusImperion** · November 06, 2009, 05:31 PM

THEY ARE FROM ALICE IN WONDERLAND

Obviously you have no idea about either the Wizard of Oz or Alice in the Wonderland.

Alice in Wonderland (original author Lewis Carrol 1832-1898)

Dorothee and the Wizard of Oz (original Author Lyman Frank Baum 1856-1919)

what do you even think the thread was about

If I would have to guess I'd say trolling or a idiotic conspiracy theory and giving you the benefit of doubt I'd like to think it's the latter.

**SorelusImperion** · November 06, 2009, 05:39 PM

did Alice actually have silver shoes?

No. Dorothee had though. IIRC the movie changed that detail.

**SturmChurro** · November 06, 2009, 05:47 PM

The Wizard of Oz movie still carries Populist movements, and no it is not my conspiracy theory it is a man in like the 50's he wrote a thesis about it LOOK IT UP.
[Both movies still carry some populist things in the first place.]
YOU HAVE TO REALLY LOOK FOR THEM.
Sorry about mixing up names

, in title

**SturmChurro** · November 06, 2009, 06:02 PM

Now after I fixed it now lets discuss it, starting off new and fresh

**SturmChurro** · November 06, 2009, 06:05 PM

What are any of you guys even, talking about

**Tiberius Tosi** · November 06, 2009, 06:12 PM

Follow the Yellow Brick Road was an obvious political statement in the book about following the coinage of gold, and not coining silver, which would have greatly inflated money. I believe your analysis is probably correct considering William Jennings Bryan was a big supporter of coining silver coins (hence his speech "Cross of Gold"). The idea that you can only reach Emerald City by following the yellow brick road (gold) by wearing the magical silver slippers (silver money, by the way in the book the slippers were silver. They were changed to ruby in the film for the "wow" factor of red shiny shoes in color) meant that the author of the book support the coinage of both gold and silver. But then this is changed at the end of the book when it turns out that the silver slippers have the ultimate power to return her back home (silver takes America to a Utopian free of big eastern bankers, large railroad tycoons, and the foolish Wizard of Oz). Oh also Oz is short of Ounce (weight used to measure metal when coining money) and is representative of William Mckinley.

Yes, the big was a huge political statement. It goes in to much more detail with each character, the witches both representing corporations, etc. but basically you are right.

**Civil1z@tion** · November 06, 2009, 06:25 PM

Originally Posted by Tiberius Tosi

Follow the Yellow Brick Road was an obvious political statement in the book about following the coinage of gold, and not coining silver, which would have greatly inflated money. I believe your analysis is probably correct considering William Jennings Bryan was a big supporter of coining silver coins (hence his speech "Cross of Gold"). The idea that you can only reach Emerald City by following the yellow brick road (gold) by wearing the magical silver slippers (silver money, by the way in the book the slippers were silver. They were changed to ruby in the film for the "wow" factor of red shiny shoes in color) meant that the author of the book support the coinage of both gold and silver. But then this is changed at the end of the book when it turns out that the silver slippers have the ultimate power to return her back home (silver takes America to a Utopian free of big eastern bankers, large railroad tycoons, and the foolish Wizard of Oz). Oh also Oz is short of Ounce (weight used to measure metal when coining money) and is representative of William Mckinley.

Yes, the big was a huge political statement. It goes in to much more detail with each character, the witches both representing corporations, etc. but basically you are right.

Now that the initial misunderstanding have been cleaned up, yes I can see the original Wizard of Oz having populist themes.

**Hunter Makoy** · November 06, 2009, 09:10 PM

Oh crap! I was gonna hitch up the ole horse and buggy and go pick this book up just as soon as it hits book stores 110

in' years ago!

But I'm glad you've brought this very current and topical event to my attention.

**S.L.I.G** · November 06, 2009, 10:14 PM

I could care less if it subtly holds populist ideals because frankly, I dont buy into the notion that children will pick it up and somehow shape their ideological future, completely contrary to what their parents, friends, and society at large- as well as free thought and conscience- push them towards.

If the man included some of his value system, or political meanderings happened to make their way through, I consider that relatively natural and probably completely common.

**Hunter Makoy** · November 06, 2009, 10:49 PM

Originally Posted by S.L.I.G

I could care less if it subtly holds populist ideals because frankly, I dont buy into the notion that children will pick it up and somehow shape their ideological future, completely contrary to what their parents, friends, and society at large- as well as free thought and conscience- push them towards.

If the man included some of his value system, or political meanderings happened to make their way through, I consider that relatively natural and probably completely common.

What!? You mean you don't think children will pick up the subtle notions of populist ideals that thus far only get noticed by people who tend to be paranoid about such ideals in the first place?

Next your gonna tell me children wont figure out that watching the movie while smoking lots of pot and listening to Dark Side of the Moon brings about a strong correlation!