The Wizard of Oz

This Valentine’s Day, embrace green as the new colour of love

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 13, 2024

But there’s another hue with a secret, sensual history longing for embrace: green.

Key Points: 
  • But there’s another hue with a secret, sensual history longing for embrace: green.
  • In these times of conflict, 2024 is the year we should remember what connects rather than divides us, and embrace green as the colour of love.

Green is at the heart


In the ancient Indian chakra tradition, green is the colour of the heart. The heart organ has long been associated with love. A chakra, conceptualised as a wheel of whirling energy, balances particular emotions and the health of the body. The heart chakra at the centre of the chest represents loving-kindness, compassion and care.

  • Green has a range of cross-cultural meanings to do with balance, peace and hope.
  • It is important in the Catholic faith for hope and life, as in Judaism, where it means renewal.
  • It symbolised a young woman’s sexuality, and being “greensick” was a term for a youth in unrequited love.


During the Renaissance, pastoral and woodland settings symbolised nature, pleasure, freedom and lack of convention, as Arden does in Shakespeare’s As You Like It and the forest in A Midsummer Night’s Dream: an alternative Green World, an erotic Eden. Bawdy Renaissance madrigals such as Now is the Month of Maying included references to a “barley break” (a roll in the hay) and lads and lasses making merry upon the “greeny grass”.

Hidden greens

  • Old songs give us some clues to the secret, erotic symbolism of the colour green and its fateful relationship to women’s sexuality.
  • The Tudor version of Greensleeves contains suggestive lyrics regarding crimson stockings with gold above the knee and pumps as white as milk, and a grassy-green gown.
  • Green in mediaeval times was also a sign of female promiscuity rather than free love.
  • Wearing green reputedly signalled a woman’s willingness to make love, since it denoted fertility and the loss of virginity.


In the Middle Ages, healers and wise-women who held vital medicinal plant and herb use, as well as some who may have practised folk magic for alluring charms and love potions, were persecuted for their knowledge as witches. The female witch is so associated with green that in The Wizard of Oz she was given green skin.

A contradictory colour


Green carries negative connotations such as poison, jealousy and envy: the green-eyed monster. Greenwashing or green-sheening are terms for the promotion of dubious environmental products. In Green Sense a treatise that explores botanical aesthetics, cultural studies academic John Ryan argues the contradiction of green comes from it being the shade of growth and decomposition: both birth and death.

  • Part noun, part adjective, part adverb and part verb, we see green, and we can also shop, build, vote and think green.
  • We can feel green: during the Renaissance, he writes, being possessed by the passions was likened to wearing green spectacles.
  • Smith also contends that we can hear colours: to hear green would be to listen longingly, as we do to love songs.
  • Across the globe, there are calls for the growth of love.
  • ': how crime books embraced lurid green


Elizabeth Reid Boyd does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Dorothy Dress to be Auctioned to Support the Rome School of Music, Arts, and Drama

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 23, 2024

In April 2022, the University announced that it had partnered with Bonhams, an international auctioneer, to display and auction the dress that the University had been given to the Catholic University by Mercedes McCambridge.

Key Points: 
  • In April 2022, the University announced that it had partnered with Bonhams, an international auctioneer, to display and auction the dress that the University had been given to the Catholic University by Mercedes McCambridge.
  • Today, that same judge again denied the plaintiff’s claims and dismissed the Plaintiff’s request to amend her complaint and refile the case.
  • This Catholic University dress has been matched to a specific scene in the movie: when Dorothy faced the Wicked Witch of the West in the witch’s castle.
  • Hartke when he was the head of the Catholic University Drama Department with the intention it be used to support the Catholic University drama department.

LIONS, MERMAIDS AND PIRATES, OH MY! ROYAL CARIBBEAN'S ICON OF THE SEAS TO DEBUT SHOW-STOPPING ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, November 7, 2023

MIAMI, Nov. 7, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal Caribbean International is pulling back the curtain and revealing the entertainment taking center stage on the highly anticipated Icon of the Seas. In January 2024, the first-of-its-kind vacation is set to debut a bold, new lineup of full-scale shows across the cruise line's four signature "stages" – air, ice, water and theater – and more live music and comedy than ever before. From the first rendition of "The Wizard of Oz" at sea and a live showband extravaganza to the debut cast of robots, skateboarders and more, the playbill of entertainment on Icon is made for every type of family and vacationer.

Key Points: 
  • Developed in-house by Royal Caribbean, the largest producer of live entertainment in the world, the variety of productions and performances will come to life across Icon day and night.
  • Highlights of the entertainment vacationers have in store on Icon include:
    "Aqua Action!"
  • Pirates and mermaids go tail to toe to show off their greatest feats and see who really rules the ocean after all.
  • Vacationers can go behind the scenes on how all the entertainment is coming to life in the newest episode of Royal Caribbean's monthly video series, "Making an Icon: Creating Show-Stopping Entertainment."

Paragon FX Group Celebrates 100th Anniversary Of Warner Brothers With Props Spanning The Studio History

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 2, 2023

NEW YORK, May 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Paragon FX Group is proud to celebrate the Warner Brothers Centennial with an offering of museum quality replicas spanning the studio's rich history.

Key Points: 
  • From Wizard Of Oz To The Batman, Paragon FX Group Artisans Recreates Sought After Props
    NEW YORK, May 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Paragon FX Group is proud to celebrate the Warner Brothers Centennial with an offering of museum quality replicas spanning the studio's rich history.
  • Paragon FX Group has produced screen accurate prop replicas from each of these beloved films, allowing fans to own items direct from the silver screen.
  • Some of Paragon FX Group's Warner Brothers related offerings are:
    Doug Jones, known for his roles in Pan's Labyrinth and Batman Returns, says "It's thrilling to see Warner Bros. celebrate their first hundred years and I can't wait to see what comes in their second hundred!
  • It's amazing to see the incredible creations of Paragon FX Group, and I know these items will be the centerpiece of any collection."

Stern Pinball Enhances Insider Connected Team

Retrieved on: 
Monday, March 20, 2023

Stern Pinball, Inc. (SPI) announced the appointment of Ben Gomez as Lead Creative Designer for the award-winning, industry transforming Insider Connected platform.

Key Points: 
  • Stern Pinball, Inc. (SPI) announced the appointment of Ben Gomez as Lead Creative Designer for the award-winning, industry transforming Insider Connected platform.
  • Ben has contributed to numerous patents in the gaming industry and also has a creative art background and has been around pinball all his life, especially during his time at WMS, where he worked alongside some of the top pinball designers and engineers.
  • "Ben is incredibly talented and brings a fresh voice and perspective to the development of Insider Connected.
  • We are excited to add his talents to the team as we continue to transform the pinball experience through Insider Connected," said Erica Frohm, Chief Technology Officer of Stern Pinball, Inc.

LEXUS COLLABORATES WITH DESIGNER HARRIS REED TO REIMAGINE DOROTHY'S RUBY SLIPPERS FOR ALL-NEW RX

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, October 13, 2022

PLANO, Texas, Oct. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In collaboration with Harris Reed, the acclaimed fashion designer known for challenging expectations, Lexus has reimagined an icon from "The Wizard of Oz" – Dorothy's ruby red slippers. "Ruby Red Rims" were unveiled last night at W Magazine's star-studded 50th anniversary party in New York.

Key Points: 
  • PLANO, Texas, Oct. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --In collaboration with Harris Reed, the acclaimed fashion designer known for challenging expectations, Lexus has reimagined an icon from "The Wizard of Oz" Dorothy's ruby red slippers.
  • Under license from Warner Bros. Consumer Products, the concept celebrates the automaker's daring redesign ofits bestselling, most iconic vehicle, the all-new 2023 Lexus RX .
  • "As a gender fluid designer, I've always been fueled and inspired by choosing the path less traveled," said Harris Reed.
  • "We are grateful for the incomparable, trailblazing designer, Harris Reed, who helped us reimagine the ruby slipper in the most striking way for W's milestone 50th celebration."

"Never Lose Your Edge" in the All-New Lexus RX

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, October 4, 2022

PLANO, Texas, Oct. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Taking the road less traveled, going off script, challenging convention... no matter your turn of phrase, the feeling is the same. We're all looking for ways to shake things up and keep life exciting. That desire to avoid complacency is the idea behind the marketing campaign "Never Lose Your Edge" for the all-new 2023 Lexus RX, debuting today.

Key Points: 
  • That desire to avoid complacency is the idea behind the marketing campaign "Never Lose Your Edge" for the all-new 2023 Lexus RX, debuting today.
  • "'Never Lose Your Edge,' represents our relentless pursuit to improve the RX with each generation, while also reflecting the hardworking, successful and thoughtful RX driver," said Vinay Shahani, vice president, Lexus marketing.
  • Well+Good As the exclusive wellness media partner, Well+Good is working with Lexus RX to provide a premium immersive destination about longevity that includes talent-led custom video featuring the RX.
  • More than 20 years ago, Lexus defined the luxury crossover segment with the launch of the first RX.

California Assembly Kills Extended Bar Hours Experiment, Again

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, August 25, 2022

SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Aug. 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Alcohol Justice and the California Alcohol Policy Alliance (CAPA) expressed deep gratitude today as the California State Assembly voted to stop SB 930. 31 voted NO, 25 voted YES, and 24 didn't vote at all which was another way of making sure Senator Scott Wiener would be handed his 4th failure since 2017 in attempting to establish a so-called "pilot project" to give some California cities the ability to extend last call at bars, restaurants, and clubs.

Key Points: 
  • SAN RAFAEL, Calif., Aug. 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Alcohol Justice and the California Alcohol Policy Alliance (CAPA) expressed deep gratitude today as the California State Assembly voted to stop SB 930 .
  • "This afternoon, Senator Wiener's gut & amend bar bill died so that Californians won't,"stated Cruz Avila, Executive Director / CEO of Alcohol Justice.
  • The Assembly chose the safety of the state's residents and visitors over profits for alcohol-related businesses.
  • For Alcohol Justice this was the 5th campaign since 2013 to stop alcohol trading hours from being extended into the early morning commute.

Fit For Rivals is Releasing Their 'Secret' Single and Upcoming Collaboration With GRLwood

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, July 21, 2022

Nashville band Fit For Rivals is releasing their new single "Secret" July 22 through Freak Machine Records.

Key Points: 
  • Nashville band Fit For Rivals is releasing their new single "Secret" July 22 through Freak Machine Records.
  • "Fit For Rivals' follow-up single in the coming months will have a surprise feature with GRLwood , who recently broke through platforms such as TikTok and Spotify."
  • Fit For Rivals has all of the bite to back their bark as they call out the music industry's two-faced faade.
  • Set for world domination, Fit For Rivals announced they will be releasing new music with heavily anticipated collaborations through the end of the year.

WEEK OF LUXURY AUCTIONS AND EXHIBITIONS AT DOYLE BEGINS JUNE 18

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, June 16, 2022

NEW YORK, June 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Collectors, influencers and fans will converge at Doyle Auctioneers & Appraisers for the upcoming week of luxury auctions and exhibitions beginning on June 18. This landmark series of events showcases a dazzling array of Louis Vuitton Luggage & Trunks, Jewelry & Fine Watches, Stage & Screen Memorabilia and Photographs.

Key Points: 
  • A Dazzling Array of Louis Vuitton Luggage & Trunks, Jewelry & Fine Watches, Stage & Screen Memorabilia and Photographs
    NEW YORK, June 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Collectors, influencers and fans will converge at Doyle Auctioneers & Appraisers for the upcoming week of luxury auctions and exhibitions beginning on June 18.
  • Doyle is pleased to present this exciting auction showcasing over 100 lots of luxurious trunks, suitcases, bags and other items by the legendary firm Louis Vuitton.
  • Explore the wide range of rare designs spanning the era of the grand trans-Atlantic liners to the modern jet age.
  • The public is invited to the exhibitions on view Saturday, June 18 through Monday, June 20 from Noon until 5pm.