What Wicked can teach us about Humble Curiosity
Lately, I’ve been dancing through life, with my AirPods in, blasting Defying Gravity on repeat. Don’t worry! This blog does not contain any Wicked spoilers, just names of songs.
Recently something struck me as I sat in a comfy red seat, snacking on buttery popcorn, and humming along as I saw the new Wicked movie. After a trailer for the new Lion King prequel had just played, I was watching Glinda battle with her emotions in No One Mourns the Wicked, and listened to Elphaba and Glinda harmonize as they sang, and though I can’t imagine how I hope you’re happy right now.
I started to reflect on the movie’s themes: the incredible potential it—and other prequels like it—have to inspire humble curiosity.
Ok, ok, stay with me. I know this may be a reach, but I think there is a thread here.
Prequels like Wicked give us something that is often missing in our fast-paced, judgment-prone world: context.
When you think about The Wizard of Oz, certain images come to mind: a yellow brick road, ruby slippers, and the cackling Wicked Witch of the West. But Gregory Maguire's Wicked turns that familiar story on its head. It reveals the backstory of Elphaba, the so-called Wicked Witch, asking us to pause and reconsider everything we thought we knew about her. This twist is a lesson in the transformative power of context.
Before we meet Elphaba as the feared and misunderstood antagonist, we see her as a sensitive, misunderstood child struggling to find her place in a world that rejects her. Suddenly, her later actions as an adult take on a new, nuanced meaning—not as the deeds of an “evil” villain, but as the responses of someone shaped by their lived experiences and circumstances.
When we understand someone’s “why” and learn more about their context, it becomes harder to reduce them to simple labels like “good” or “bad.” Instead, we begin to see complexity, struggle, and humanity. When Wicked reveals Elphaba’s backstory, it doesn’t excuse every choice she makes. Instead, it challenges us to see her as someone navigating a complex world, with moments of triumph and heartbreak.
Humble curiosity isn’t about finding quick answers or explanations—it’s about embracing the ongoing process of learning.
We may not ever fully understand someone else's thoughts or actions, but if we remain curious and ask why in a kind and humble way, it often provides context that leads to more genuine and fulfilling relationships.
This mirrors what we strive for at camp: to approach each other with a mindset of curiosity, not judgment. What are the stories that shaped us? What context do we bring that may not be seen immediately? How can we uncover those stories and form connections through them?
Through connection-building circles like Embers, sharing our core stories during staff training, or simply living and playing alongside people with different identities and experiences, camp is the perfect place to lean into humble curiosity. It’s not just something that happens naturally—it’s something we intentionally build into our program, knowing that this practice has the power to inspire empathy and transform how we connect with each another.
Just as Wicked redefines our understanding of the Wicked Witch, our commitment to understanding one another can redefine how we see the world and our place in it. At Stomping Ground, we strive to create space for campers to be their full, authentic selves. That means recognizing that everyone comes with their own history, challenges, and joys. Being humbly curious allows us to reimagine a world created from a multitude of perspectives.
So, the next time you hear someone’s story—or even just notice their actions—pause and ask yourself: What more could I learn? What assumptions might I be holding onto that deserve to be challenged? In doing so, you take a step toward deeper empathy, more meaningful connections, and maybe even a touch of magic.
While Wicked initially inspired this idea, I’ve noticed a growing trend of prequels being created lately. It seems there’s a collective fascination with revisiting well-loved stories and exploring the backstories of their characters to provide new perspectives or richer context. This trend gives me hope. It reflects a broader desire to deepen our understanding of one another and build empathy through curiosity.
Do you see the thread now? Prequels like Wicked give us context into stories from a different perspective, and context is the key that unlocks the door to humble curiosity.
Some of my favorite prequels:
Book - A Day of Fallen Night
Movie - Wicked duh, but also The Rings of Fire
TV show - Andor
Maddy is a former director at Camp Stomping Ground. They love helping kids be creative, being outside, and embracing chaos.
