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Oz the Great and Powerful

Name: Oz the Great and Powerful
Director: Sam Raimi
Released: 2013
Duration: 130 min

Representation Score

4.4/10

Fair

2013

Director

Sam Raimi

Runtime

130 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Oz the Great and Powerful functions as a traditional fantasy epic. While it shifts away from the usual male-dominated conquest narratives by focusing on female-led magical governance and central conflict, the overall narrative remains rooted in established clichés. The film's structure hinges on a binary moral framework and the classic hero's journey. This approach emphasizes order and the restoration of authority over subverting cultural hierarchies. Ultimately, the work lacks complexity in addressing multiple aspects of identity. It misses opportunities to engage with diverse identities, focusing instead on aesthetic differences and the standard requirements of the high-fantasy genre.

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Category Breakdown

Does Oz the Great and Powerful have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film follows a traditional storyline where straight and cisgender relationships are assumed. There is no clear indication of queer themes or non-cisgender identities in the characters' stories.

How does Oz the Great and Powerful portray gender?

Fair

The story centers its main conflict and power dynamics around female characters. The rivalry between the witches highlights women's significant roles in politics and magic.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Oz the Great and Powerful?

Limited

Casting primarily adheres to conventional Hollywood standards. The film emphasizes magical heritage rather than using species as symbols for underrepresented ethnic groups.

How does Oz the Great and Powerful represent religion and culture?

Limited

The narrative reinforces traditional Western storytelling conventions and the 'chosen one' archetype. It serves as a foundational myth that upholds a central, stabilizing authority figure.

Does Oz the Great and Powerful include disability representation?

Minimal

The film lacks meaningful engagement with disabilities or neurodivergence. Magical transformations serve as plot devices rather than exploring the nuances of living with disabilities.

Present on Screen

The film challenges traditional hierarchies by centering its primary conflict on female characters.
Women play significant roles in politics and magic through the central witch rivalry.

Limited or Absent

The narrative lacks representation for LGBTQ+ identities or queer themes.
The story does not meaningfully address disabilities or neurodivergence.
The film relies on conventional Hollywood casting and Western storytelling archetypes.

Official Synopsis

Oscar Diggs, a small-time circus illusionist and con-artist, is whisked from Kansas to the Land of Oz where the inhabitants assume he's the great wizard of prophecy, there to save Oz from the clutches of evil.

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