This Day What "The Wizard Of Oz" Might Mean (1900-Present) w/ Ranjit Dighe
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Dec 8, 2024 Ranjit Dighe, Chair of the Economics department at SUNY-Oswego and an expert on the political interpretations of "The Wizard of Oz," dives into the film's intriguing connections to the 1893 banking crisis and monetary populism. He discusses how characters like Dorothy and the Wizard symbolize significant sociopolitical movements. The conversation also explores the allure of wealth represented by the Emerald City, feminist themes through characters like Elphaba, and even a fan theory linking the film to Pink Floyd’s music, making for a fascinating exploration of this beloved classic.
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Oz and the Banking Crisis
- In the 1960s, a high school history teacher, Henry Littlefield, connected "The Wizard of Oz" to the 1896 banking crisis.
- He used the story to engage his summer school students with monetary populism and William Jennings Bryan.
Decoding the Allegory
- The "Wizard of Oz" allegory maps Dorothy's silver shoes to the silver standard and the yellow brick road to the gold standard.
- The Scarecrow represents the farmer, the Tin Man the industrial worker, and the Cowardly Lion is William Jennings Bryan.
The Power of Allegory
- While historically inaccurate, the "Wizard of Oz" allegory is a powerful teaching tool because of its simplicity.
- Its easy mapping of characters and symbols to historical figures and concepts makes it memorable and engaging.
