Friday, March 21, 2014

Oma Linda's Hues of Oz

Ah...The Wizard of Oz. One of my all time favorite reads, in all of it's incarnations. When I first read of the Hues theme the first color that popped in was Ruby. Those Ruby Slippers, which, as those who have read the book know full well, are actually Silver Slippers.

Which lead to my second thought: other than the iconic Ruby Slippers, an image forever linked with Oz are those Flying Monkeys. Who, by the way, Oma Linda, have a bum rap. They may look frightening, but they aren't scary. They are, instead, controlled by a cap. Whoever possesses the cap, controls the monkeys. Since the Wicked Witch has the cap, they reflect her meanness. Once Dorothy had the cap, she nicely returned it to the head Flying Monkey & they went on their way.

So..here is my take on these iconic images of Ruby & Flying Monkey:

Please note the pleasant expression, waiting to hear from You Who Possesses The Cap. Also, please note that the reason these Monkeys developed wings is because they have two left feet!

Also, along with Ruby that was Silver, Flying Monkeys who weren't scary, there is the Emerald City which wasn't Emerald. Well, no more than any other city (to paraphrase the Wizard of Oz). The City itself is just a City with Emerald Walls surrounding it. Every one who enters it is required to wear green eyeglasses before passing through the walls. Hence, 'Emerald City'. Just one more of the Wizard's Humbugs. 

Which thought lead to this:    Silver 'neath ruby,
                                                Green glasses mask ordinary
                                                Shifting eyesight/thought.