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Shuffle Along Analysis Presentationhttps://docs.google.com/file/d/1h4pD6aKXTI60H6-r2JYelrkzvoQBYyAB/edit?usp=docslist_api&filetype=msword (Oral Presentation for Genre Translation Project) Analysis Presentation Genre Translation Project Why would snow be a dream? To be freezing in the extreme cold? To you, it’s magic, Maybe a bit dramatic.  Snow is the slush in the street, shivering hands, wet boots, the type of beauty you forget when you have to be the one to shovel it. The air shifted when I remembered it. The golden lines of maple syrup, sweet, and ready to eat.  Suddenly I realized, your world reflected in mine. Thailand’s air doesn’t shiver. All I feel is the warmth on my skin, Or the low rainfall with the scent of mango trees.  The idea of the cold, only in a room. It’s bold to some, but I dream of the fun.  Yet here I am under the tropical sun. The bright snow, white and light it doesn’t exist in my world. To be able to see the trees dressed in white, just seems so right.  Feeling the feather like flakes land on my tongue. Why wouldn’t it be a dream? Research Essay Wicked has been a well known famous musical. There are several versions of it, all dating back at certain times. Some say the older is better while others argue the 2024 Wicked film adaptation is better. Despite the arguments, this paper will be based on the film. The film turns the stage into a cinematic film that deepens the themes of perception and identity. Its arts and communications show through the music, dynamics between characters, etc.  Wicked sends several messages, one being how goodness and truth gets warped by power. The film shows how the human experience is and allows viewers to question what really is “good.” In this film, the meaning is seen through visuals that symbolize something, the music, and the dynamics between characters. Together this creates a message of the complications of mortality and how important it is to be understanding of others despite someone’s looks. The film recreates the well-known world of The Wizard of Oz in Elphaba’s eyes. Expressing how society often misunderstands those who are different and themes of oppression, along with how prejudice can lead to becoming “wicked.” Wicked has always been a well known musical, the film adaptation of it only enhanced the world of The Wizard of Oz. The character’s dynamics strongly allow this film to be a well done adaptation of the Broadway musical. It isn’t only a movie, but a musical with a cinematic experience that is visioned to what was on stage. The character’s actions show bias and fear. The film in general makes the viewers question who really should be considered “wicked”. As the prominent scholar in this review of Wicked by Christy Lemire, puts it, “It helps greatly that he has deeply talented stars in Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande: magnetic multi-hyphenates who can meet every physical and emotional challenge of these iconic characters,” he too expresses how the physical and emotional challenges met by these characters allowed the audience to feel a pull to them which is crucial within musicals. The adaptation quickly became a fan favorite, picking the right celebrities, and creating a visually appealing setting that matches the story being told. The theme of this film highlights prejudice based on Elphaba’s appearance, society labeling her as “wicked”. The adaptation creates a theme of mortality that is misunderstood. The reviews are in one thing, but the theme doesn’t change. In another review by Alexandra Bowman, she mentions how she felt unsatisfied with the 2022 musical of Wicked, yet the adaptation had her far more satisfied. She mentions how the art of the music was far more memorable than it was in the on stage musical. Alexandra herself writes, “I finally saw Wicked on Broadway in early 2022. I went in blind, and as I left, I was sad to find that I felt underwhelmed. Unmemorable, plotless songs plagued the performance, and the show centers oversimplified, cartoony characters in a story about leading causes of America’s current, renewedly urgent crisis.” Despite the usual recognition and well feedback given for the Broadway version of Wicked, the film received better reviews because of how well done each character played their roles, and how each song deepened the meaning of Wicked. The foundation of the past musicals and the present musical is significant because it solidified the meaning of the misunderstandments of someone being different in society in a creative and cinematic way that built onto the film. The success of the film doesn’t only come from the casting, the reviews, the visuals, but it comes from the theme of Wicked and its message about people who are misunderstood in society.  The art of the storyline of Wicked is critical to how the audience’s experience is conveyed. Elphaba is one of the main characters who is ridiculed for her skin because it is green, her abilities of power erratic which add to her character about being different, she conveys vulnerability and strength. Glinda is the popular girl who meets Elphaba in Shiz University in the Land of Oz. They go through unexpected events that specialized their bond, getting off on the wrong foot at first as they attempt to find their purposes. Wicked is still light compared to the novel given how the film only goes through about half of the book, yet still becomes captivating. There are many themes that are explored through the songs and characters, oppression for instance. Elphaba is a target of exclusion already because of the color of her skin, her brilliance is often overshadowed by that. It symbolizes social hierarchies and the system of prejudice. According to this article “Holy Family University”, “The story challenges the simplistic dichotomy of good versus evil, revealing the complexities of character and the subjective nature of morality.” Enhancing the theme further and showing the art of how it all came together. The story goes on and we can see how the Animals are silenced and their rights taken away. There are more characters that suffer from this like, Dr. Dillamond, a Goat, the Professor when his position was lost because of oppression.  The choreography and costumes are heartfelt and vibrant, all showing an explosion of emotion and deep meaning. The emotional depth in the film excels the visual elements and creates a strong message involving truth. Manohla Dargis from The New York Times mentions, “invites viewers to notice how spectacle can distort reality, especially when controlled by those in power,” which expresses the Wizard’s authority and theatrics are used to create obedience and fear. In this review, by Coleman Splide, he talks about how the film’s visuals and the use of dark and light created authority and he states, “Elphaba’s good nature is twisted to fit the agenda of those who seek…total control.” This review highlights the heartfelt and vibrant costumes and settings, the lightings all play a role in emphasizing the themes of  Wicked. The film exposes propaganda and reshapes the eyes of the public. In general, strengthening the conflict of the story and how it is about authority, not necessarily good and bad, this is also expressed through the lighting changes. It showed the idea of the truth and the people in power who are able to manipulate the truth. Things like the ensemble’s choreography showed control, the synchronized movements represented conformity. Elphaba’s movements were more chaotic, showing her resistance to authority. One of the songs from the film adaptation really emphasizes the emotions that Elphaba is going through. Within this song she talks about “proving herself” and it shows how she feels the need to be a certain way to be accepted into society, https://youtu.be/9zyPT0a7sx0?si=REmlPPItCtdgBhVC , the lyrics in the song express her longing. It shows how she is  just like others, with the same emotions, simply misunderstood. The costumes represented propaganda, despite how bright the costumes were, it expressed the masking of corruption. Elphaba wearing darker colors clearly was a reflection of how she is “different.” Overall, the costumes, choreography, lighting and such, strengthens the idea of Wicked just being a magical world. Each element allows the audience a step closer to the themes of control, and the themes of how this musical isn’t just about good vs bad, but who is controlling the story.  Between the 2024 film Wicked and every other Broadway show, the books, this paper was based on the film. Critics argue which one is better, which one had the most meaningful songs, but that doesn’t defeat the purpose of Wicked and the message it is delivering. The themes of perception and identity are strong in Wicked overall, the message is just delivered differently. The film adaptation expands onto the story we all know, deepening it. The film succeeded in executing the musical and the stage production more effectively to the point where it was very eye-catching for the audience. Picking well known celebrities, creating a cinematic experience brought everything together well. Each element of costumes, the lighting and choreography all played its own role in enhancing the themes of Wicked. Seeing the dynamics between characters and each vivid visual throughout the movie expressed how easily the truth can be manipulated. The film really enhances how society can often judge quickly, how society is easily able to mislabel a person without knowing much about them. An example of this is Elphaba, her perspective is centered, emphasizing the themes of oppression. Wicked is shaped by authority, by prejudice. The film adaptation adds onto the legacy of Wicked, just like society continues to compare which version of Wicked is good and bad, they fail to realize the true theme of Wicked, how it isn’t always good vs bad, it’s about truth and who has the power to control it. It is a compelling piece, inviting the audience to view the world of Oz.  Works Cited Page: Self Assessment Essay Within this course I learned how to strengthen my writing further. I think I did well in the assignments that were given, I felt very strongly about each topic I wrote about and had interest in researching each musical further. In the beginning of the course I was nervous about the fact that I wouldn’t be able to do certain things as well, however the more I wrote the easier it came to me. By the end of this course, I learned how to make my writing better and I feel my vocabulary has grown a bit as well. I’m still not the greatest at it but I do see improvement. Writing papers at lengths of five pages sounded like a lot at first, however by the end of the course I realized that there is a lot to say about certain topics and that five pages isn’t a lot as it seems. A major first step that I feel I took was the genre translation project where I was able to write two poems that I was fairly proud of.  Poems have never really come easy to me, however, writing about the musical “Snow” was moving enough for me to be able to craft two poems that I feel came out well. I believe I did good and accomplished my goals in many aspects of each writing assignment, except for the research essay. I feel that I struggled with writing that one a bit because it was a bit harder for me to separate the facts from the theme. I think I did well in the way meaning is seen and conveyed the articulation of arts because I focused well on each topic as desired and I think it helped me understand the arts of this class as a whole. I never looked into the art of musical theatre and I learned how to identify the meanings of certain songs, of certain costumes, etc. The art of a musical isn’t just what is presented on the stage, but it is the practice, the time and team effort that really makes the art. The way each costume is designed, and the person who created that design doesn’t go unnoticed.  While for someone who hasn’t done as much research doesn’t necessarily see that. I think I did well in analyzing how arts from diverse cultures of the past serve as a foundation for those of the present as well as the significance of the works of art in the societies that created them because the things I learned about certain figures, set me up with that knowledge that musical theatre wasn’t always the most easiest world to be diverse in. People struggled often, but figures like Ira Aldridge blossomed from that and became someone who opened doors for others. It is significant that other cultures are more involved in musical theatre because the world should be free and open to learn about each other, and it matters. This class prepared me well for future courses like this one, it taught me to source my research properly, it prepared me in crafting and dissecting the arts of theatre and being able to look at musicals in a different perspective. I do believe this course prepared me better for college writing. Between high school and college, I learned how to do better research, and many useful sources such as the library websites that were provided. The course allowed me to explore writing and view it in a different manner rather than just looking at each assignment as just that, the topics were intriguing and not only that, it helped me learn how to write better in general. This class assisted me in learning how research doesn’t only come from readings online, not only from articles and reviews, but it can also come from the musical itself and images. I learned how to decipher images and look at them in a different perspective. Overall, I do feel that this class prepared me better for college writing and I think I’ve learned a lot to further my education within writing and made me feel more motivated to continue. I do think a community was made here, my peers were kind and gave good advice when I needed it throughout each assignment. I believe that at first it was hard for everyone to come together but eventually we did and it became easier to talk to others and talk in-front of each other. I believe we all built a good community in deciphering the different kinds of arts we were all introduced to. This course was helpful in many ways and helped me grow with my writing, it strengthened my writing in many ways. It was a good preparation and introduction to […] “Shuffle Along Analysis Presentation”