Tag Archives: L. Frank Baum

I Am Trump, the Great and Powerful!

By Robin Bates | Published: September 20, 2016

Donald Trump is the Wizard of Oz, and this past week America got to see him exposed, complete with collapsing curtain.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged birtherism, Donald Trump, Wizard of Oz | Comments closed

Dorothy and the Oklahoma Earthquakes

By Robin Bates | Published: November 12, 2015

Oklahoma is now #1 in the world for number of earthquakes. “Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz” is also about a midwesterner encountering earthquakes for the first time.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz, earthquakes, fracking, Oklahoma earthquakes | Comments closed

Trump & GOP Tax Plans: All Humbug

By Robin Bates | Published: September 29, 2015

Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, and Jeb Bush have all presented tax plans that claim to be populist even as they mainly benefit the wealthy. The Wizard of Oz would feel right at home in their company.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged Donald Trump, election politics, GOP tax plans, Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio, Wizard of Oz | Comments closed

The Wicked Witch, Disillusioned Dreamer

By Robin Bates | Published: July 1, 2015

Gregory Maguire’s novel “Wicked,” like versions of the Oz story before it, wrestles with the death of the American Dream.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged American Dream, Death of the American Dream, Gregory Maguire, Wicked, Wizard of Oz | Comments closed

Hillary Will Be Cast as a Witch

By Robin Bates | Published: April 23, 2015

Prepare to see Hillary Clinton cast by the GOP in the role of the Wicked Witch of the West

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Presidential race, Sarah Palin, witches, Wizard of Oz | Comments closed

Erdrich Charts a Third Way for Fantasy

By Robin Bates | Published: March 31, 2015

L. Frank Baum and Edgar Allen Poe represent the light and the dark strains of American fantasy. But Louise Erdrich introduces a third strain, Native American, to the conversation.

Posted in Uncategorized | Also tagged Anishinaabe, Edgar Allen Poe, fantasy, Louise Erdrich, Tracks | Comments closed

When American Fantasies Are Dangerous

By Robin Bates | Published: March 23, 2015

The denial of reality that has taken over certain segments of the GOP is well described by Neil Gaiman in “American Gods.” America has a long tradition of such fantasizing.