FACULTY OF CREATIVE WRITING AND FILM COURSE: AFT - 4013 : INTRO TO FILM & TV ASSIGNMENT: CHARACTERS: THE WIZARD OF OZ DATE: 16 NOVEMBER 2020 PREPARED BY: Name WAN MUHAMMAD ANAS BIN TARAM SATIRAKSA Matric Number 20213096 Degree FILM AND TELEVISION PREPARED FOR: DR. JOLAINA M. NASSERI CHARACTERS: THE WIZARD OF OZ The Wizard of Oz is a musical fantasy film about a young girl named Dorothy, who lives with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry in a village in Kansas. Her village got swept away by a tornado and she did not manage to go in the cellar with her family resulting in her getting swept away into a magical world called Land of Oz. She needed to come home to her family and during that journey, she came across many characters such as The Good Witch of North, Scarecrow, Tin Man, The Cowardly Lion, The Wicked Wizard of West and The Wizard of Oz. The film is a wonderful and exciting adventure for children to watch because the storyline that was created seems fun and imaginative. The film itself however, was strongly impacted by the great depression that struck America in the 1930's. The depression saw most Americans live in poverty. Kansas, the birthplace of Dorothy, was also a casualty of the Dust Bowl. Most of the states in the south were impacted by drought and windblown dust, making it tough to farm. There was an agricultural recession due to this which prolonged the depression. The Great Depression was a severe economic depression worldwide that took place, primarily in the United States, particularly during the 1930s. The timing of the Great Depression varies across the globe; it began in 1929 and stretched until the late 1930s in most countries. It was the 20th century's longest, deepest, and most severe depression. The 1930s started with a historical low in the United States: more than 15 million Americans were unemployed, fully one-quarter of all wage-earning jobs. Banks were uncontrolled and uninsured for the most part, CHARACTERS 1. Dorothy - a protagonist of the film that her goal is to return home despite the wonders and magic of Oz. As she is honest and resourceful, it is presumed that she represents the American people and their morals. 2. Scarecrow - The Scarecrow's greatest wish is to obtain brains for himself from the Wizard of Oz, saved by Dorothy from his dull life in a farmer's field. That symbolizes all farmers in America that are waiting to be saved by someone during the depression in order to search for purpose. 3. Tin Man - Tin Woodman wishes the Wizard of Oz to provide a heart, being rescued by Dorothy after rusting in the forest. Industrial workers were immobile and rusted when the great depression began to shut down factories and firms and in need of reason to keep moving. 4. The Cowardly Lion - He appears to be a coward and needs courage to be offered to him by the Wizard of Oz. Cowardly lion symbolised the politician that supported the Free silver movement and who does not have courage to take action on wrongdoings. 5. The Wicked Witch of West - Dorothy and her companions venture into her territory, given the task of killing the Wicked Witch of the West. Symbolised the politicians exploited the farmers by encouraging the free silver campaigns. 6. The Good Witch of North - Dorothy appeals to her to help her return to Kansas, but Glinda reveals to her the magic of the silver slippers that can easily carry her there. The people of America are from the north and south of the country. There are those who stood against the corporations of Western America. 7. The Wizard of Oz - Oz is a good-natured charlatan who tricked the Emerald City folk into worshipping him. Oz symbolizes the American president, Franklin Roosevelt who promised a change for the good of people and his presence had begun to restore Americans confidence. REFERENCES 1. HISTORY. 2020. The 1930S. [online] Available at: <https://www.history.com/topics/great-depression/1930s> [Accessed 15 November 2020]. 2. Drive.google.com. 2020. Google Drive: Sign-In. [online] Available at: <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nyF8KEORPQ4Z74E7Hro-MiGrWClI3k9N/view> [Accessed 15 November 2020]. 3. prezi.com. 2020. The Wizard Of Oz During The Great Depression. [online] Available at: <https://prezi.com/qu4djewhn0aa/the-wizard-of-oz-during-the-great-depression/> [Accessed 15 November 2020]. 4. Ajay Kumar. 2020. Wizard Of Oz Symbolism. [online] Available at: <https://ajaykumarphotography.wordpress.com/2012/12/04/wizard-of-oz-symbolism/#:~:text=The%20obje ctive%20of%20her%20travels,in%20america%20live%20in%20poverty.> [Accessed 15 November 2020]. 5. Coursehero.com. 2020. [online] Available at: <https://www.coursehero.com/lit/The-Wonderful-Wizard-of-Oz/characters/> [Accessed 15 November 2020]. 6. Gradesaver.com. 2020. The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz Characters. [online] Available at: <https://www.gradesaver.com/the-wonderful-wizard-of-oz/study-guide/character-list> [Accessed 15 November 2020].
