By Dennis Gorecho
LONDON, United Kingdom — Elphaba, the green-skinned witch in the film “Wicked,” reflects the plight of present-day activists who become targets of fake news and red-tagging.
The film illustrates how truth can be distorted through propaganda in today’s “fake news climate.”
I recently watched “Wicked” aboard a flight en route to London. Elphaba’s green skin serves as an unmistakable metaphor for people marked as different — whether racially, physically, politically, or socially.
Born with green skin, Elphaba endures prejudice every day of her life. Though exceptionally gifted, her talents are ignored because people are too fixated on her appearance.
She also feels inferior to her “frenemy” Glinda, who embodies and upholds patriarchal and racially biased standards of beauty.
As the film’s protagonist, Elphaba is someone who has been “othered” — a victim of prejudice and propaganda who eventually uncovers the pathetic reality of “the man behind the curtain” and courageously resists his scheme to consolidate power.
“The best way to bring folks together is to give them a really good enemy,” says the Wizard, portrayed by Jeff Goldblum — a line that chillingly mirrors today’s socio-political climate shaped by fake news.
The Wizard is a false charmer who hoodwinks a hopeless and desperate population. He possesses neither real power nor intellect, and lacks empathy. His only talent lies in sowing division and turning people against one another.
His strategy of uniting society by creating a common enemy mirrors contemporary political tactics. The film’s portrayal of truth distorted by propaganda resonates strongly in today’s environment of misinformation and disinformation.
Fake news refers to the widespread dissemination of false or misleading information across various media platforms. Social media, in particular, plays a crucial role in shaping public opinion on politics, health, religion, current events, elections, lifestyle, and other issues.
The manipulation of public perception and exploitation of prejudice demonstrate how those in power can shape narratives to preserve their authority.
In the film, the Wizard spreads propaganda against animals — creatures with human-level intelligence capable of speech — portraying them as dangerous criminals. By encouraging discrimination against them, he convinces the public that humans will somehow be better off.
Elphaba becomes a fierce advocate for animal rights, fighting against the systemic oppression and silencing of the animals in Oz. Her advocacy stems from her empathy as an outcast, motivating her to liberate caged animals and resist the Wizard’s propaganda.
The film explores how divisive, spoon-fed narratives and manufactured crises targeting those deemed “different” are used to deflect public attention.
People in power often exploit prejudice and manipulate society’s perceptions of good and evil to advance their own interests.
“Good” and “evil” are far more complex and nuanced than they appear. Our understanding of them is shaped by motivations, perceptions, prejudices, relationships, self-interest, propaganda, power, and notions of the “greater good.”
What is considered “wicked” ultimately depends on the eye of the beholder. The film urges viewers to question what they believe about others and recognize how easily people can be influenced by propaganda and fear-mongering.
Because of her advocacy for animal rights and her opposition to the Wizard, Elphaba is branded as the “Wicked Witch” — a figure the populace is conditioned to fear and destroy.
This parallels the practice of red-tagging, in which individuals or groups are labeled as communists, terrorists or subversives — often without evidence — to silence dissent and intimidate activists, journalists and human rights defenders.
Through social media posts, press conferences, posters, and flyers, red-tagging often leads to harassment, surveillance, threats, fabricated criminal charges, physical violence, and even extrajudicial killings.
The Supreme Court itself recognized the dangers of red-tagging in Deduro vs. Major General Vinoya (G.R. No. 254753, July 4, 2023), declaring that it threatens a person’s life, liberty and security.
The court stressed that associating individuals with communist groups makes them targets of vigilantes, paramilitary groups or even state agents. It also noted that red-tagging relies on threats and intimidation to discourage so-called “subversive activities.”
Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen likewise observed that red-tagging has been used by military and paramilitary forces to silence dissenters and enable serious human rights abuses.
Today, social media is flooded with dehumanizing language and mockery — including terms such as “corned beef” used to ridicule the deaths of activists and suspected rebels. Such rhetoric resurfaced following the recent military operation in Barangay Salamanca, Toboso, Negros Occidental, which left 19 people dead, including two students from the University of the Philippines.
Ultimately, “Wicked” succeeds not only as entertainment but also as a powerful lens through which audiences can examine social divisions, prejudice, propaganda, and the dangers of demonizing those who dare to dissent.
***
“Peyups” is the moniker of the University of the Philippines.
***
Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the Seafarers’ Division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan Law Offices. For comments, e-mail info@sapalovelez.com or call 0908-866-5786./WDJ