Why is The Wizard of Oz Such A Popular Story?

According to the Library of Congress, The Wizard of Oz (from 1939) is the most watched film ever This is due in part to its regular broadcast on network TV beginning in the 1950s.

One interesting collection of insights comes from the writer Salman Rushdie, who shows that The Wizard of Oz has been successful because it embodies some of our most enduring values. At the same time, it also raises some provocative ideas. One prominent theme revolves around the inadequacy of adults—their inability to live up to expectations and to face down the larger forces in life. Adults, especially the good adults, are portrayed as powerless.In the beginning, for example, Auntie Em and Uncle Henry are unable to prevent the wicked Miss Gulch from taking Toto away (after she gets bitten by him). They're also helpless to protect their farm, or to protect Dorothy, from the oncoming tornado. Later, the film's defining moment comes when we learn that the all-powerful Wizard is in fact powerless. These episodes will be disappointing to younger viewers, but they should hardly surprise older viewers, who are well-accustomed to the fallibility of adults. Is the film trying to convey this reality to children too? Another theme centers on the relationship between power and gender. The Wizard of Oz veers from the traditional Hollywood storyline in that there's no male hero. In fact, quite the opposite: the only two figures with any real power are women—Glinda the Good Witch and Miss Gulch/Wicked Witch. The male leads—the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion—play the classic "common man" roles, with little power to control their own destiny. The only other powerful character to emerge is Dorothy.In fact, after the struggle over Toto, the tornado can be understood as the clashing forces between Miss Gulch and the headstrong Dorothy. (It's no coincidence that Dorothy's last name is Gale). When we get to Oz, Glinda, Dorothy, and the Witch are the three powerful figures, while all the men are weak (including the Wizard). Thus, similar to the theme about the inadequacy of adults, we're also getting the message that men's power is illusory, whereas women's power is real. Dorothy’s immortal line is considered one of the central messages of the movie. If you ever go looking for your heart's desire, you don't have to look any further than your own back yard. In other words: your roots are important. Although this lesson is played up in the final scene of the film, the bulk of the story is instead about the dream of escaping, the desire to leave the here and now to find a better place. This desire is stirred early when Auntie Em admonishes Dorothy to go "find yourself a place where you won't get into any trouble." Dorothy wonders whether such a place exists, and her rendition of somewhere "Over the Rainbow" provides the answer. And is there any real contest between 1) the gray world of Kansas where there's nothing to do and no one to play with, and 2) a place where you're instantly loved by many (the Munchkins), you have a clear, meaningful goal (to see the wizard), and you have three new friends to help you reach that goal? There's little doubt whether viewers would want to stay in Kansas or escape someplace else. But Dorothy, who's still a child back in Kansas, has little choice but to stay for now. Without any real alternatives, isn't it better to just convince yourself that you're exactly where you want to be? These contrasting values (escaping vs. embracing your roots) broaden the movie's appeal, allowing you to take away whichever message speaks to you more. Or better yet, the two messages can be taken together: Be happy with what you've got, but you can still dream of escaping to a better place. We get a related message from Glinda, when she tells Dorothy that she's had the power to return herself home all along, she just didn't know it. Similarly, the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion discover that what they were seeking—a brain, a heart, and some courage—were actually inside of them all along. Overall, the film is affirming that you have the ability to get what you want, and this power comes from within. Other people may be able to offer some moral support, but ultimately it's up to you. One of the more subtle messages of the film is the way it characterizes human nature: people are depicted as generally good. This theme is best expressed when Dorothy accuses the Wizard of being a very bad man for deceiving them, to which he humbly replies, "Oh no, my dear...I'm a very good man. I'm just a very bad wizard." (He's powerless, but good.) Instead, all the evil emanates from the Wicked Witch, who can get others to behave badly while under her spell. Her foot soldiers, for example, turn out to be pretty nice guys once the witch is dead. Our goodness and our strengths come from within ourselves, while our wickedness originates from the outside—in this case by a truly evil person. This view of human nature fits with the current view held by many psychologists, who perceive people as well-intentioned but capable of behaving badly under harsh conditions or cruel authority figures.

What Are The Advantages and Disadvantages of Being Famous?

One thing I’ve always wanted to be since I was a little girl is famous, but the only difference from then and now is that I’ve learned the advantages and disadvantages of being famous. One of the advantages would be being known, knowing that everyone knows your name, knows your face and want to know everything about you is the greatest feeling to me. Another thing is being an inspiration to others. To inspire someone and having people say they want to be like you, dress like you and do the things you do makes you want to strive harder for perfection because you don’t want to let people down because they are counting on you. Lastly is being able to buy new things. Being to buy your family and friends things and go on shopping sprees without having a budget is something I would love looking forward to because I don’t ever want to want for anything and I would hate for my family and friends to want for something when I can get it. The disadvantages of being famous would have to be the rumors. Even when you’re doing good and being positive people always try to find the littlest things bad about you or make up lies about you to give you a bad image. Another thing would be trying not to get old. By being old I don’t mean in age I mean trying not to get to the point when people get tired of seeing you or hearing you. If I ever get famous I want people to always want more of me I don’t want to fade out of the spotlight.

Do You Discuss Sex With Your Parents?

Unlike some children and their parents, my mom and I have a very strong bond. We talk about everything from school, to friends to relationships and sex. Even though she’s my mom we’re friends too and I can always come to her for advice or just when I need someone to listen to what I have to say. When we first start talking about sex she was happy that I felt comfortable talking to her about something like that even though she wasn’t encouraging me to do it she informed me of all the things about it. Most parents would scare their children by making sex seem like the most horrible thing but my mom told me facts and I love that about her. She was honest with me and told me that she hoped that I would wait till marriage but if I didn’t make sure it was the right time and the right person and I took those words to heart. I feel that since I can talk to her about sex we won’t ever have to hide anything from each other and our relationship will stay strong because sex is something that a lot of teenagers keep hidden but my mom is always there to help me through my problems not to judge me or mislead me.

What Do You Learn From Writing?

When I write I’m able to express the things that may be hard to say verbally. I’m the type of person that enjoys texting over talking on the phone sometimes because I’m sometimes shy to express myself while speaking. When I’m writing or texting I’m able to open up, it’s as if I’m another person when I write because I become more outgoing. When I’m writing I learn the proper language to use, proper spelling and also I learn more things about myself. The more I write, the more I notice how practice makes perfect because when I didn’t write as much my writing skills were very weak but now they have improved. Writing more has also gave me the courage to want to send letters to colleges and write more advanced papers in my current classes. When writing I’ve also learned the different writing devices, from narratives, persuasive, biographies, auto-biographies etc. I’ve learned how to distinguish the differences in literary devices and how to write my own types of writing. Another thing I’ve learned is how to structure my papers from my opening sentence to my ending sentence. So not only has writing enhanced my writing during school but also in my social life.

The Unknown

It was dark, windy yet cloudless day and the streets of Chicago were completely empty. We were expecting a tornado and there were warning announcements so everyone stayed tucked in bed and kept their eyes glued to the television, everyone except four rebellious teenagers. The thought of having a tornado was cool to them so they walked the streets of Chicago as if they owned them. Suddenly it hit twelve o’clock which made them even more convinced that all the tornado talk was fake. “Man we should just go home because it’s getting colder and my mom is probably worried” said David the youngest out of the group. “If you’re scared and want to go home with your mommy just say that David” said Marcus. Marcus began to laugh at David and the two other boys joined in, so David decided to stay a little while longer. “Me being scared? Are you crazy? I was just speaking up for you because I know you’re too chicken to say it. I can stay out here till the morning!” Said David. So they all continued to walk until they reached the local cemetery which was foggy and very cold for some reason. Everyone began to stare at each other to see who was going in first but no one made a move. Since Marcus was the oldest and appeared to be the toughest he volunteered to go in first. “Wow you guys, how old are we? And you’re scared to walk into a cemetery we have family here! It’s a family reunion!” Said David with a chuckle. So of course the other guys followed. Suddenly they started hearing voices saying “Come here Daviddd, Come here Marcusss, Come near Larryyy, Come near Jacksonnn”. At first the boys thought nothing of it until it got louder and louder. Then a huge white hand reached out toward them and they all begin to run out in different directions. David ran near the exit but was stopped by two shadows that grabbed and pulled on him until he finally fell to the ground. As he was turning around he noticed a grave behind him with his name saying “RIP DAVID ANDERSON (1994-2012). All of the other boys saw their graves also and begin to scream and cry. The shadows brought the boys back together and demanded them to prove that they were worthy of living by daring them to kill and the last person alive lives. The boys didn’t think twice and first struck Marcus which was the weakest then Larry. Last were David and Jackson. Even though they had been best friends since birth they acted as if they didn’t know each other and fought until someone was dead. In the end David lived and was sent free by the spirits and Larry, Marcus and Jackson were buried in their graves. After their deaths David ran home to his parents which were happy because the tornado passed them but suddenly became furious when they saw their only son covered in mud and blood. After they heard the story they went to the police but David was eventually admitted into a mental hospital and the ghost visited him every night until his death.

My Future Job

My Future Job Is Being An Adoption Counselor.

Educational Requirements

·         A four year degree in social work or a related field

·         Graduate degree in social work, marriage and family therapy, counseling or psychology

Salary

·         The median for master’s level family and/or adoption counselors was $39,710 in May 2010

·         The lowest paid adoption counselors earned less than $24,180

·         The highest paid adoption counselors earned more than $63,630

Job Description

·         Adoption counselors are usually trained as psychologists or social workers, and are often employed by social service agencies. In this role, they work to place children in foster or adoptive homes. To ensure that prospective parents are good candidates, the counselor conducts a thorough investigation into their finances, background, psychological fitness and home environment. After a child is placed, the adoption counselor continues to visit the family in order to monitor the child’s progress and offer support.

Occupational Outlook

·         According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of master’s level adoption counselors and marriage and family therapists is expected to grow by 37% from 2010 - 2020, which is considered much faster than average for all occupations. Growth within the foster care system has created a demand for adoption counselors in recent years. In addition, more families are choosing to adopt children from the United States and abroad. Job prospects are best for experienced candidates with graduate degrees.

Personal Characteristics/Abilities Needed for This Career

·         Adoption counselors must be compassionate people with a genuine interest in helping others through crises and stressful decisions. Because they spend much of their time interviewing, counseling and consulting with clients, they should have good people skills and strong speaking and listening skills.

·         Good adoption counselors are aware of their own limitations and seek support when they need it. Their emotional maturity and excellent self-management skills allow them to help people in crisis without becoming overwhelmed by the enormity of their clients’ problems. Working in the field of child welfare is an enormous responsibility. Adoption counselors rely on their observational and interpersonal skills to determine whether a potential placement is suitable and safe.

Advantages

·         Being able to help a child find the perfect home

·         Being able to make a family complete

·         Being able to help people understand they have someone to help and talk to which would be me

Disadvantages

·         Working with difficult families

·         Working with difficult children

·         Not being able to match a child up with the right family

Working Conditions

·         Adoption counselors spend much of the workday in offices meeting with clients and completing paperwork. They frequently travel to clients’ homes to conduct home studies and follow up with adoptive families.

·         Adoption counselors must schedule their work around the needs of clients. They often conduct home visits, respond to crises and provide counseling outside of regular business hours. In many agencies, adoption counselors are on call some nights and weekends.

Would I Be Suited To This Job and Consider It As A Career Possibility?

I think this job would be perfect for me because I am a people person and I always have a listening ear for anyone’s problems. I am also a hard worker especially when it comes to helping someone and I am organized and show a lot of compassion toward people in need. I think I would enjoy being a part of a family’s happiness so this job would definitely be for me.

The Death Penalty

My topic is the death penalty. Before doing my research I questioned should the death penalty be banned in the United States. I surveyed twenty-five of my classmates and ten percent of my class agreed to ban the death penalty and the rest disagreed. One student that thought the death penalty should be banned said "too many people will want the death penalty out of anger". Another student that thought the death penalty shouldn't be banned said "It helps with criminals". As I went on with my research I came up with three questions I wanted to answer. One of those questions is Where did the death penalty originate? The nest question is Where is the death penalty forbidden? The last question is Where is the death penalty legal? When I started to search the web I found three sources that would help me with the questions I had. When I received information from those selected sites I took out six quotes that stood out to me. One of the things I found out that I didn’t know before I had done the research is that the death penalty laws date far back as the eighteenth century. It was unbelievable to me how long the death penalty had been going on and how the death penalty is different from what it used to be. In the old days they used to hang people, burn them or just torture them until they died now its five different methods of the death penalty. The five methods is the lethal injection, electrocution, lethal gas, firing squad and the old way which is hanging. Hanging is not used as a death penalty anymore but since the death penalty still exists they use more of the lethal injections. Another fact I learned is that the death penalty is authorized in 37 states, the federal government and the U.S. military. Before I did my research I thought people could only get the death penalty in small towns  but I learned that it is popular in a lot of places. There are only 13 states and the District of Columbia that are without the death penalty, those states are Alaska, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Also when I think about the death penalty I automatically think that only men can get the death penalty but I found out I was wrong. As of April 1, 2012 there were 61 women on death row. Even though there are more men than women on death row I was surprised at the crimes most of these women had committed. I also learned that there are more Caucasian and African American men being executed than any other race. I was very surprised then again it was kind of expected for some reason.  
               When researching my topic I also learned the controversy that the death penalty brings. One controversy surrounding my topic is that it’s a lot of people that think the death penalty is unlawful and I agree. A lot people said that it is because it’s an act of murder and some people are just saying its right because they have to be punished. I believe someone should be punished for their actions but death should never be the answer. Everyone deserves to live and putting someone in jail for life is enough. Seeing the death penalty from everyone else’s view opened my eyes to both sides in a way. I learned that the death penalty is seen as a good or bad thing to most people because in most states that’s all people know and if the death penalty becomes frequent it becomes normal. Where I’m from its not really that common so I don’t see it as being normal I see it as murder. So when doing my research my research my opinion about the death penalty didn’t really change but I did learn about the different views, the different types of death penalty and the controversy.