Q. How is color being used to support visual narrative in the film The Wizard of Oz?

A. Munchkinland provides a nearly perfect example of the way that color can be used to support and extend a visual narrative. It follows that Munchkin Land, which, like the Emerald city, is in the county of Oz, is a city of “gems”. That is why nearly everything in Munchkinland is based on a color palette of primary and secondary jewel tones. Dorothy’s dress references a blue sapphire and complements her ruby slippers and Glinda is the rare pink, glittering diamond.

A Mini Color Lesson: Color wheels are used to classify primary colors, secondary colors and intermediates (formed by mixing a primary and secondary color), and to group colors (warm and cool). Color is referenced as “hue” and is different from tonal values (light to dark) which are measured by gray scales.