David Katzman- Salman Rushdie's The Wizard of Oz

Salman Rushdie describes The Wizard of Oz as his very first literary influence.  This quote on the first page struck me.  I believe that all creative writers, directors, and musicians can recall a specific piece of work they experienced as children that motivated and inspired than to become the artists they became.  So immediately I wondered why The Wizard of Oz for Rushdie.  What I found so surprising about the piece is that Rushdie disagrees angrily with the notion that the film’s message is simply that nothing is better than the comfort of home.  Rushdie’s argument that the film makes the claim that there is no such thing as “home,” and that the only true home is the home we decide for our selves is an idea that I had never crossed my mind. 

             Because it has been over a decade since I have seen the film, I saw aspects of the movie that I had not remembered or had not viewed in the same way.  A couple arguments that Rushdie makes I found myself thinking while watching the film in class.  Rushdie makes the claim that Kansas is no more real than Oz.  This concept is possibly one of the most powerful thoughts I had while watching the film.  While it is easy to assume that the filmmakers were trying to create a desolate version of the real world, Kansas in the film reminded me of a Twilight Zone episode where characters may think they are living freely but are actually trapped in a small, secluded space.  I found Rushdie’s comparison of Kansas to a painting to be especially strong.   

            Another point that Rushdie makes regards the power of sexes.  The Wizard of Oz clearly stands out compared to how other Hollywood films portray gender.  Classic Hollywood pictures often tell the tales of strong and brave men who protect the beautiful damsel in distress.  Rushdie argues that the only two characters of power in the film are women, the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda (the good witch).  Without further analysis, one might assume that the film takes a feminist position, however, Glinda (while being good) does not come across as wise or powerful, but rather wimpy and weak.  The Wicked Witch of the West on the other hand, seems strong and powerful.  I agree with Rushdie that in a fight it would appear that the bad witch would clearly win.  Rushdie’s point really made me question if the film portrayed women positively.  I also found answering this question to be extremely difficult do to the fact that the state of feminism has changed so much over the course of 60 plus years.  I wondered if a film that once was feminist could evolve to portray women unfavorably.