This week I got the opportunity to watch The Wizard of Oz. I was surprised that I remembered all the songs and I could sing along. I think this film carries nostalgic meanings for every audience. I used to hate the black and white part as a kid because it was "boring" and "old." I think every little girl wanted a pair of ruby slippers to take them home or to meet the Wizard. This time when I watched it I sang every song out loud and in character. During the commercials I tried to remember everything I could about Judy Garland. This film has become a classic of all ages and all generations.
It's sad how the acceptance and acclaim of the film and Judy Garland did not reflect Judy's personal thoughts of herself. The public loved Judy and her work but she needed constant reminders from those close to her. She was attacked from the inside out by Hollywood. She didn't feel pretty or talented and tried to be accepted by the Hollywood executives. She was told she was the "ugly duckling" and was made to wear things to change her figure and appearance. As I watched the film I realized that the Wizard of Oz poetically and tragicly contridicts Judy Garland's personal life. She didn't like herself and her mentality couldn't be turned around by anyone.
The story behind the story of The Wizard of Oz is interesting but I'm not sure if that kind of analysis is what I want to teach kids about. I think this film could be used as a simple film analysis. It would be nice if the eniter film could be shown but clips could work too. The teacher could show clips and ask the students about the basic elemets of the film. The class could discuss how these elements create a theme. I think this would be fun activity because the students would bring a variety of ideas to the table and come up with unique themes.
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