Comments | lost_tv: Concerning the Wizard of Oz...

ack_attack in lost_tv

Concerning the Wizard of Oz...

Feb 16, 2006 09:49

I'm sure by now many of you have heard about the parallels between last night's episode and the Wizard of Oz. Funnily enough, a friend and I have always said that a certain creepy character resembled the Wizard...

( See for yourself! )

s2 discussion, fandom crossover

Comments 40

bana76 February 16 2006, 15:58:59 UTC

Are some of your images broken?

But the freaky facial expressions are quite similiar.

ack_attack February 16 2006, 16:02:01 UTC

yeah the links were broken, but they're fixed now! :D

bana76 February 16 2006, 16:10:38 UTC

Ooh, now I see, and am freaked out even more. :D

ack_attack February 16 2006, 16:51:58 UTC

haha! i knew it would have that effect.

1justlikeheaven February 16 2006, 16:02:09 UTC

nice!

missy_jess February 16 2006, 16:43:20 UTC

Ooh, nice call!

The Wizard of Oz (the book) is actually an allegory for American society during the Gilded Period. I can't remember the exact references in the book, but some of them are like...

- Dorothy Gale = "Everyman"
- Cowardly Lion = William Jennings Bryan
- Scarecrow = Farmers
- Tinman = Industrial workers
- Dorothy's silver shoes = the silver standard (as opposed to the gold standard)

Etc., etc. It's been years since I learned this, so I don't remember it all!

The point to all this? I'm not really sure. But the Others seem to be awfully critical of the "outside" world, specifically the Losties themselves. So maybe there's some kind of social commentary going on here? Or maybe I'm just trying to make crazy connections where there are none.

ack_attack February 16 2006, 16:53:27 UTC

no way! i think you are onto something.

i just think the entire thing is one big social experiment on the island that lets the writers of the show make social commentary about human nature. i love it!

terraneanblues February 16 2006, 17:02:04 UTC

I thought it was an allegory for manifest destiny and the genocide of Native Americans? Or am I thinking of another story?

It was a long time ago...

enderandrew February 16 2006, 17:34:46 UTC

Yep. The Silver Shoes got turned to Ruby Slippers in the movie to show off the new color technology.

The Emerald City was actually white, and represented D.C. (or the American Dream).

Everything was supposely so brilliant you'd go blind, and everyone was forced to wear emerald glasses to protect your eyes. Dorothy took them off and realized everything was white and plain.

The book is a great, sadistic read.

Thread 17

gluedtomine February 16 2006, 17:14:23 UTC

Read this.

The makers had some fun with this episode I think!

marydotmusic February 16 2006, 17:56:21 UTC

And wasn't the Cowardly Lion's name was Zeke? Sawyer called the bearded man "Zeke".

rhiannonstone February 16 2006, 18:04:18 UTC

Dude! You're right!