Wizard of Oz as American Myth

£19.99

Wizard of Oz as American Myth

A Critical Study of Six Versions of the Story, 1900-2007

Performing arts Films, cinema Literature: history and criticism Reference works Folklore studies / Study of myth (mythology)

Author: Alissa Burger

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Language: English

Published by: McFarland

Published on: 24th September 2014

Format: LCP-protected ePub

Size: 240 pages

ISBN: 9780786489596


Since the publication of L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in 1900, authors, filmmakers, and theatrical producers have been retelling and reinventing this uniquely American fairy tale. This volume examines six especially significant incarnations of the story: Baum's original novel, the MGM classic The Wizard of Oz (1939), Sidney Lumet's African American film musical The Wiz (1978), Gregory Maguire's novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (1995), Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman's Broadway hit Wicked: A New Musical (2003), and the SyFy Channel miniseries Tin Man (2007). A close consideration of these works demonstrates how versions of Baum's tale are influenced by and help shape notions of American myth, including issues of gender, race, home, and magic, and makes clear that the Wizard of Oz narrative remains compelling and relevant today.

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