The wizard of oz genre

Running Head: FILM GENRE 1 The Wizard Of Oz ENG225 Introduction to Film May 20, 2016 FILM GENRE 2 The Wizard Of Oz All movies fall into a specific film genre such as comedy, mystery, western, drama, romance, fantasy, etc… Film genre is meant to give the view a theme of what the movie is about. These genres can be combined and apply various elements to give the movie added dimension. The genre that will be discussed in this paper is fantasy and how it was used for the movie: The Wizard of Oz (1939) written by Noel Langley and Directed by Victor Flemming (AFI, 2008). The film will be summarized and two genre conventions will be explained using specific examples from the film. Lastly, a third convention will explain how the boundaries were pushed using this genre. “Fantasy genre are based off escapism where characters may live in imaginary settings and/or experience situations that break the limitations of the real world” (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011). This means the character can living there lives and an event happens where their imaginations allow them to go beyond reality into a fantasy world that allows them to escape from their problems, Usually, in most cases this journey is a form of self-exploration as the main character engages in the fantasy world. “Fantasy genre allows crossover with horror, science fiction, comedy, and more” (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011). Incorporating different elements from various film genres adds to the movie in a way where it can appeal to all kinds of viewers. “With that in mind, the fantasy genre is known to touch on larger issues and life-lessons, as well as being engaging and entertaining for child and adults” (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011). This factor is a positive because it allows the viewer to see issues in a different light and gain insight from the main characters struggle in the real world and emotional growth formed in the fantasy world. FILM GENRE 3 The Wizard Of Oz (1939) is a film about a young lady named Dorothy that lives in a small town with her family. She has dreams and aspirations however, she’s in stuck with having a small town mentality. She is bored and unhappy with the way things are going at home so she decides to leave home without her family knowing thinking they wouldn’t even notice she was gone. Shortly after Dorothy strays away from home the weather turns bad and she gets stuck in a terrible storm that actually transports her into a fantasy land called Oz. This is where Dorothy’s journey begins and she discovers a lot about herself on her quest to return home. This film displays many elements found in the fantasy genre such as: imagination takes the main character from reality to a fantasy land, upon arrival to the Oz Dorothy is amazed by the bright and vibrant atmosphere far different than where she came from, and the use to characters she meets throughout the movie that are “mystical and colorful, which is a great contrast to the bland people she knows in her town” (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011). The use of imagination is used during the course of the entire movie. Dorothy was introduced as a young lady that had dreams and aspirations but she was a small town girl that new experienced any true adventures. She wanted to explore the world be was stuck at home living a simple life and viewer were able to interpret that Dorothy wanted more out of life. Below is a scene where Dorothy talks about an imaginary land somewhere over the rainbow and how she wishes she could see such a place: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSZxmZmBfnU. Reflecting on the words of the song helps the viewer identify that Dorothy is a dreamer and wants more than what her small town has to offer. Keeping that in mind, this next clip allows the viewers can make a connection between Dorothy’s vivid use of imagination in the real world and her being transported to a fantasy land: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzpyfNTOqHI. Upon arrival to Oz she recognizes that this fantasy land must be somewhere over the rainbow as FILM GENRE she sung about while she was in the real world. Dorothy was instantly set into an upbeat and optimistic attitude looking forward to this new found land. Applying a third convention that expands the boundaries of this genre are when Dorothy meets the people of the fantasy land who are far different from people in the real world where she is from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOEq-ImGWJ0. Dorothy is introduced to witches both good and evil, the people of Oz who call themselves Munchkins, and starts her journey to meet the wizard of Oz all of which are beyond the realms of reality: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7Rn6vAWMbA. At this of the film Dorothy begins her journey in this fantasy land and she meets friends along the way that will go with her to see the wizard as well. During this voyage on the yellow brick road Dorothy will learn valuable life lessons and actually helps her new found friends deal with issue they have. Many scenes throughout this film use “special effects that enhance the look for the characters Dorothy comes across” (Goodykoontz & Jacobs, 2011).