The long-awaited arrival of 'Wicked: For Good' delivers a dazzling cinematic fantasy. But beneath the emerald sheen and soaring melodies, the film cleverly showcases how a slick regime sells its version of reality to the public.
The Emerald City Seduction
The most potent piece of
propaganda is the one you don't recognize as such. Enter the Emerald City. In the show-stopping number 'One Short Day', Elphaba and Glinda arrive in a metropolis that is not just green, but a gleaming testament to the Wizard's supposed benevolence and success. The song itself is an intoxicating rush of optimism and hope, with lyrics about being 'happy to be here' and dreams coming true. Director Jon M. Chu creates a stunning visual feast, a 'dream of what a city can be at its best', filled with unique citizens and wondrous sights. This spectacle is a powerful tool of distraction. By presenting an image of a perfect, thriving capital, the regime masks the unsettling truth of what is happening to the Animals, whose rights are being systematically stripped away. The city’s overwhelming beauty and the song’s infectious joy encourage citizens and visitors alike to buy into the Wizard’s brand of 'goodness' without questioning the cost.
The Spectacle of 'Wonderful' Power
The Wizard of Oz isn't just a leader; he's a master of public relations. Played with a slippery charm by Jeff Goldblum, he understands that power isn't just held, it's performed. His authority is built on elaborate displays and grand statements designed to silence dissent and manufacture consent. The entire political structure of Oz runs on what one writer calls 'visual excess' and 'razzle-dazzle'. From the Wizard’s awe-inspiring introductions to Madame Morrible's carefully managed pronouncements, every public appearance is a calculated piece of theater. This is what's known as 'bread and circuses'—keeping the populace entertained and distracted so they don't notice the erosion of their freedoms. The film shows how this works in practice, with the Wizard positioning himself as a benevolent father figure while simultaneously orchestrating a campaign of fear against a chosen minority. He famously states, 'The best way to bring folks together is to give them a real good enemy'.
Manufacturing a 'Wicked' Villain
Propaganda requires not only a hero but a villain. The film masterfully depicts the beginning of the state-sponsored smear campaign against Elphaba. After she rejects the Wizard’s plan to use her magical abilities for his oppressive agenda, the regime’s propaganda machine kicks into high gear. With the help of Madame Morrible, the Wizard begins disseminating 'the necessary information' to reframe Elphaba’s principled stand as an act of wickedness. Her defiance is twisted into terrorism, and her very name is replaced with the moniker 'The Wicked Witch of the West'. The film shows posters going up and rumors spreading, illustrating how a narrative is built to control public perception. By painting Elphaba as a threat to Oz's safety and stability, the Wizard not only deflects from his own corruption but also unites the citizenry in fear and hatred against a common enemy he created. This process of demonization is so effective that the people of Oz become willing participants in the persecution, convinced they are on the side of good.
