You are here:

The Wizard of Oz

Name: The Wizard of Oz
Director: Victor Fleming
Released: 1939
Duration: 102 min

Representation Score

3.4/10

Limited

1939

Director

Victor Fleming

Runtime

102 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

The film is a classic example of Hollywood storytelling from the Golden Age, prioritizing traditional narratives over modern complexities. It places a young girl in a central role, which disrupts some passive female stereotypes through Dorothy's journey. However, the story structure follows traditional hierarchies and norms of the time. It does not address modern intentions around racial diversity or the dismantling of institutional power. Overall, the work upholds established social structures and traditional Western values without challenging them through diverse or non-conventional perspectives.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does The Wizard of Oz have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or themes that question the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender. The social dynamics are based on traditional early 20th-century relationships.

How does The Wizard of Oz portray gender?

Fair

Dorothy Gale is portrayed as a strong, independent character who drives the story forward. She seeks guidance from figures like Glinda but ultimately leads the adventure herself.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Wizard of Oz?

Limited

The cast is primarily made up of actors from similar backgrounds, reflecting the casting standards of the 1930s. The Munchkins are depicted in a stylized, archetypal manner rather than being shown with nuanced ethnic identities.

How does The Wizard of Oz represent religion and culture?

Limited

The story emphasizes Western values, particularly the importance of the nuclear family and domestic stability. It presents a clear moral binary between good and evil.

Does The Wizard of Oz include disability representation?

Fair

Characters like the Tin Man and Scarecrow represent physical differences symbolically. However, they function as companions rather than characters with lived experiences of disability.

Present on Screen

Dorothy Gale is a strong, independent female protagonist who drives the plot.
The Tin Man and Scarecrow avoid 'inspiration porn' by focusing on their personal journeys.

Limited or Absent

The cast lacks racial and ethnic diversity, remaining mostly homogeneous.
The film does not include LGBTQ+ characters or non-assuming gender matches what was assigned at birth identities.
The narrative reinforces traditional domesticity and Western social hierarchies.

Official Synopsis

Young Dorothy finds herself in a magical world where she makes friends with a lion, a scarecrow and a tin man as they make their way along the yellow brick road to talk with the Wizard and ask for the things they miss most in their lives. The Wicked Witch of the West is the only thing that could stop them.

How are these scores produced? →