Wizard of Oz

     Wizard of Oz is an American classic which tells of a magical adventure. The novel has managed to move and influence modern society through its memorable story and characters. Regardless of when it was written, the themes and meanings  are universal, in which, the audiences of any generation can easily empathasize with.

     The structure of the novel depicts a the classic heroes’ journey is retold through the experiences of a brave young heroine named Dorothy who is whisked away into the fantasy world of Oz. The protagonists and antagonists are clearly described.  We know who to root for and who to scorn. Key "good" characters like the beautiful witch, the brainless scare crow, the heartless tin man, and the coward lion assist in guiding her as well as becomes catalysts for Dorothy's character growth throughout the story. Upon reaching the end, Dorothy comes to realize that her destination, rather than her goal has taught her valuable lessons. Moments of doubt, courage, and triumph are embedded in her journey keeping the audience on thier toes.  The story of Wizard of Oz 's structure has kept it a timeless classic. Its success paved the way for many films in the post generations.

     The film had assisted in exploring new boundaries in filmmaking. The mass gathering of "munchkins" no doubt inspired, films like willow and charlie and the chocolate factory. The idea of gathering large groups of midgets to perform was such a robust idea.

     There has been a movie adaptation as well as consecutive spin off novels. Even some of the songs from the movie like the famous ballad “Over the rainbow” have been even rereleased by other artists. The song is rated number one of the “Song of the Century list compiled by the Recording Industry Association of America.

     In current media, Sony Image works is currently working on “Oz the great and powerful” expanding on the origins of the wizard Oz. When the movie is released, no doubt spin off games and possibly merchandise will continue to  inspire the young and old generation with its characters and charm.