15 Comments
Jun 20, 2022Liked by Mathew Crawford

hey man, give Baum a little credit. He is literally singlehandedly responsible for inventing "good" witches in stories. Previously, witches were always evil old hags (in English-language literature). In addition, after he became quite famous (and rich), the guy still published a new book every single year. Why? Because so many kids wrote to him and he felt obliged to give them another fun story they could enjoy. Guy must've written ten thousand letters (by hand!) to kids over his lifetime.

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Jun 20, 2022Liked by Mathew Crawford

I'm not sure I actually ever read the Wizard of Oz (although I've, of course, seen it multiple times, including some amazing stage productions). I've thought of it too this past 1 1/2 years, in terms of little man behind the curtain, who only has power because we give it to him.

I also now must re-watch the Princess Bride!

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Real, pre-bourgeoise and pre-Grimm folk lore and tales did not so much teach morals, as they taught the realities of life. The Emperor's New Clothes does not end with everyone laughing at the naked emperor and his silly sycophantic courtiers; it ends with the boy and his family all languishing in gaol before being publicly executed, while the tailors get away scot free with the money.

And that story, that the deceitful lying egotists prosper off power and that power murders truthsayers embarassing it, did not fit the modern times and capitalist bourgeoisie buying "children's literature".

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his other Oz books that follow up on the first one get a little bit darker and moralistic though.

if you've not had the chance to read them, I did find them interesting (and the art was fabulous in the originals.)

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