Semiotic Data Elaboration, Andie Lozano-Lomeli

Adaptation Semiotic Data Elaboration

Wicked 2003 vs. Wizard of Oz 1939

Page 1: How does change in Glinda and Elphaba relate to other characters ? Expansion on Social History.

• Glinda and Elphaba are completely different people in comparison to the original Wizard of Oz. 

• The Wicked Witch is painted in a positive light, and we learn the truth about her story.

• This makes the viewers not be as fond of characters like the Wizard. 

• The image of Glinda is affected, as she isn’t seen as the “good” witch as much as in the original. 

• One specific scene that is mirrored in the Wizard of Oz versus Wicked, is when Dorothy comes on and Elphaba and Glinda sing the song “For Good”.

• While I am watching The Wizard of Oz, I now think of the interaction between the two, and the scarecrows' love for Elphaba. 

• Another change is the type of songs being sung in the two different adaptations, in the song, “As Long As You’re Mine”, Fiyero is singing with Elphaba about their love. This is a pg-13 moment that would never happen in a movie like the Wizard of Oz, that is directed towards all audiences. 

Social History Differences 

• Because Wicked is newer, and made in a more radical time, there are more radical and less traditional ideas being presented by the writers. 

• This is seen in the decision to make Glinda and Elphaba the main characters of the musical, which hadn’t been done in broadway at all. The female leads broke stereotypes, and they empower young women. This decision wouldn’t have been made in 1939. The 1939 version casts the stereotype that women are either “ugly” and wicked, or “pretty” and good. The 2003 version is an attempt to break this stereotype.  

Page 2: Shift in actors and its meaning. Expansion on the importance of Apparatus. 

• Representation. The representation of many different types of people is what is important in terms of the shift in who is playing what role. 

• In the 1939 version, there are only a couple characters played by women. The main character being Dorothy finds three men that help her along the way. She somewhat depends on them, and is not very independent. She is portrayed as spoiled. 

• In the 1989 version there are no actors of color at all. In Wicked, anyone can play the roles of Glinda and Elphaba. This is important, and affects the meaning and representation of people of color. Furthermore, in the version coming soon in November, the character playing Elphaba is a black actor. The character itself is green, so it doesn’t make sense to complain about this issue. 

Apparatus

• Being a movie versus a play makes a big difference in terms of the message being given out. 

• In the play, it feels much more personal to see it in person. When you watch “Defying Gravity”, in theaters, you are left with a feeling you can’t replicate in the film. 

• The power in these songs is completely different than the emotions felt in The Wizard of Oz. 

Mean Girls (2004) & Mean Girls (2024) Semiotic Analysis

Mean Girls (2004) and Mean Girls (2024) Semiotic Analysis by Emma Schaefer

Mean Girls (2004)

Genre: Mean Girls (2004) is a teen comedy/drama. It focuses on the life of high school stereotypes and cliques. This is conveyed through humor.

Main Focus: It focuses on the life of Cady Heron, a high school student, as she navigates high school cliques, bullying, and popularity. The movie revolves around the social hierarchy of high school. The biggest example of this is the “Plastics.” 

Ideology: This film illustrates the pressures of social conformity within high school and the social hierarchies that are prevalent. 

• Cady is pressured to change her behavior in order to fit in with the “Plastics.” 

• Specific body images are enforced like being tiny and having a small waist by Regina and her followers. 

• There are several racist remarks made about African Americans throughout this film like, “Unfriendly Black Hotties” and the dehumanization of Africa. 

• Many different social cliques such as:

o The Plastics: Most popular girls in high school, all White.

o Unfriendly Black Hotties: Portrayed African Americans as unfriendly and aggressive

o   Girls Who Eat Their Feelings: Making fun of overweight women 

Social History: This film became iconic for its portrayal of the “mean girl.” This was released in 2004. It reflects the social dynamics of that era. Considering internet was just merely emerging, technology played hardly any role in this film. The “Burn Book” played the role of an object maintaining the brutality. During the early 2000s, social stereotypes and hierarchies became a central focus. This film played as an influence for future teen movies, which adopted the same themes regarding navigating high school and the difficulties that come along.

Mean Girls (2024)

Genre: Mean Girls (2024) is a teen musical comedy. It blends the teen comedy/drama with a musical element, enhancing the storytelling in a different way. The musical elements allow the characters to express emotions in ways other than humor (like Mean girls (2004)). 

Main Focus: It is still focused on Cady Heron’s life, but in a more theatrical way. 

Ideology: This film has removed a lot of the slurs and negative speech that was used in the original Mean Girls. A lot of the stereotypes were changed.

• Still focuses on social conformity and social hierarchies

• Humor related to body images, ableist language, and racists stereotypes were changed

• Janis’ sexual orientation is not used to ridicule her; she is queer, but it does not define her

Social History: As it was released in 2024, the social history has changed a little bit. Things like fashion, language, and social media have changed in this film.

• There is a lot of use of social media in this film, which makes it more appealing and relatable for the current teen audience. 

• The cast is a lot more diverse. The film consists of many different people of color, different sexual orientations, and different body sizes. This reflects a larger cultural movement that has picked up within the last few years.

Batman Vs. Joker Adaptation Semiotic Analysis - Jared Guy

 The Batman Vs. Joker Adaptation 

2008 Vs. 1966 

Comparison

The Dark Knight 2008:  

• - You get to know Bruce Wayne personally. We know the man behind the mask 

• - Surface level: Joker offering his service to kill batman to rest of king pin leaders 

• - We see much more advanced tech, all the gadgets, really exposes you to the brains behind The Batman. Makes viewer think about the amount of power it took to stop the Joker 

• - There is a whole crew behind the Batman, not just Bruce Wayne 

• - We are introduced to all the Characters that make up The Batman within the time of the movie. Working Harvey Dent, Gordon, Alfred and tech guy. 

• - Batman and Joker are symbolic  

• - Joker is Pure evil rather than motive. Not motivated by materialism. 

• - Batman is A lot closer to his members around him. 

• - We are exposed to the Genius of the Joker more than that of Batman. They do this for the viewer to be more afraid of the joker. He is damn near scary 

• - Alot of explosions and destroyed structure. Probably relating to the fear of terrorism at the time. When watching it probably hit close to home to people during the time. Joker is a terrorist, makes him that much scarier to the time 

• - Gut wrenching dilemma in the end.  

 

OVERALL FEEL: It feels as though even with all the brains and technological artillery behind “The Batman,” there is a chance that Batman might actually lose against Joker, even if we know that the hero always wins. The viewer is afraid of the Joker and his borderline genius and the type of threat he is to the fictional world. Always blowing something up during a time where fear of terrorism is high.  

 

Batman 1966: 

• - Batman has Robin as a sidekick. 

• - Batman describes the Joker as Ingenious, probably similar to what the viewer felt about the joke for escaping through a loaded spring out of Prison. 

• - Everyone loves the Batman in this show, compared to the Dark Knight where they were trying to get rid of him. Say's something about the viewers feelings towards heroes at the time

• - You almost can't stand the Joker in (1966) The Dark Knight you are afraid of the Joker, and you recognize his genius also says something about the villians during the time period

• The Joker, if driven by material and there isn’t much depth to his crime, he’s robbing jewels.  

• - Batman is not technologically advanced, fought the Joker with his bare fist 

• - Because it is a show we have to kind of rush through the problem and solution. You can kind of tell what is going to happen next. Compared to the 2 hours and thirty minutes of Dark Knight.  

• - Comedic relief 

• - Jokers' solution to beating Batman is a utility belt. Compared to The Jokers in depth chess like planning against the Dark Knight.   

 

Overall Feel: This Version is something you could sit down with all of your family and have agood laugh every once in a while. No tense anxiety is developed because you already know that the batman is going to win in the end. During a time where everyone loves the hero all the time, the concept of a MORE powerful villain is not realistic.