L. Fank Baum was ahead of his time.

Zeta · Post by **Zeta** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 2:03 pm

Not only did he create literature's first cyborg (the Tin Woodsman), and one of fiction's earliest robots (Tik-Tok the mechanical man), but he also wrote this scene featuring a talking phonograh:

"Here--shut that off!" cried the Shaggy Man, springing to his feet. "What do you mean by such impertinence?"

"It's the latest popular song," declared the phonograph, speaking in a sulky tone of voice.

"A popular song?"

"Yes. One that the feeble-minded can remember the words of and those ignorant of music can whistle or sing. That makes a popular song popular, and the time is coming when it will take the place of all other songs."

The man saw MTV coming in 1913! How fucking amazing is that?!

Samface · Post by **Samface** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 2:09 pm

That is quite awesome.

Grant · Post by **Grant** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 2:18 pm

Popular music has always been bad because it's aimed at a wide audience; thus, record execs will manufacture stars based on the current trends for the lowest common denominator. It's just that the past always looks better because we forget the shitty bands and artists. Everyone remembers The Beatles, but how many of their numerous knock-offs are really remembered? You can do the same with any decade/generation of music.

In twenty years, maybe this era of popular music will look good. We'll remember Eminem, OutKast and whoever and forget about the copycats.

Kishi · Post by **Kishi** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 3:03 pm

I thought the Tin Woodsman was more like an android.

chriscaffee · Post by **chriscaffee** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 3:06 pm

cyborg

j-man · Post by **j-man** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 3:27 pm

chriscaffee · Post by **chriscaffee** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 4:03 pm

Brit.

Double-S- · Post by **Double-S-** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 4:25 pm

He's got you there.

Omni Hunter · Post by **Omni Hunter** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 4:29 pm

Chris is a fucking Brit isn't he?
Besides, Tin-Woodsman asked for a heart, not a microprocessor.

Baba O'Reily · Post by **Baba O'Reily** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 6:41 pm

I can't stop staring at what appears to be MC teabagging somebody.

Omni Hunter · Post by **Omni Hunter** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 6:43 pm

Baba O'Reily · Post by **Baba O'Reily** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 6:44 pm

Master Chief. Halo dude. Blue guy in Topher's picture.

Omni Hunter · Post by **Omni Hunter** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 6:45 pm

Looking at it gives me the shivers.

Post by **Delphine** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 8:35 pm

Amazing Grant wrote:We'll remember Eminem, OutKast and whoever

Oh, yay.

plasticwingsband · Post by **plasticwingsband** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 8:53 pm

I prefer Beck & Ben Folds.

Em & OutKast are still good, though.

Zeta · Post by **Zeta** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 8:57 pm

I thought the Tin Woodsman was more like an android.

In the book, it's explained that he was originally a Munchkin named Nick Chopper. A witch cursed him so that he kept on accidentally chopping off his own limbs. Each time he would chop off a leg or whatever, he would have it replaced with tin. This continued until he finally had to have his head replaced with a prosthetic. So he was like the 1900s version of "Ghost in the Shell".

Later, he found out that someone had gathered up all of his limbs and stitched them together back into a new person. This is possible because nothing can die in Oz.

Post by **Segaholic2** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 9:23 pm

Man, I loved those books. I'd read them over again if I could be bothered to find them somewhere.

Locit · Post by **Locit** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 9:27 pm

This is possible because nothing can die in Oz.

Neat.

Zeta · Post by **Zeta** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 9:40 pm

Sometimes. Things can still be hurt, so you end up in awkward situations where half living/half dead monstrosities continue to live on. I imagine the Winkies have the Wicked Witch of the West in a bucket somewhere.

Omni Hunter · Post by **Omni Hunter** » Thu Apr 28, 2005 4:12 am

I love stories that have a dark meaning although TWM is a wee bit higher than the average munchkin unless they were originally the same height as a human.