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BARBIE IS BACK…But Did She Ever Leave Us?

In a May article in Vogue Magazine, Barbie director and co-writer Greta Gerwig cheekily compared Barbie and Ken to Adam and Eve. “Barbie was invented first,” she said. “Ken was invented after Barbie, to burnish Barbie’s position in our eyes and in the world. That kind of creation myth is the opposite of the creation myth in Genesis.” Cheeky, yes. Clever, you bet!! 

In a Vox review of the film, another writer of the power of Barbie wrote: Barbie and Ken are having the time of their lives in the colorful and seemingly perfect world of Barbie Land. However, when they get a chance to go to the real world, they soon discover the joys and perils of living among humans.

And another reviewer states: “It’s not just that Gerwig & Co. have recreated a bunch of Barbies from throughout her decades-long history, outfitted them with a variety of clothing and hairstyles, and placed them in pristine dream houses. It’s that they’ve brought these figures to life with infectious energy and a knowing wink.”

 

BECAUSE ONCE UPON A TIME, WE ALL GREW UP

I love the above knowing wink comment. So for me, A CONFESSION. Greta Gerwig had Barbies, but I never did. Never asked for one, never played with one. Never saw them as interesting or fun in any way. Damn, my maternal genes must have been over-reacting…and so soon? Because I had baby dolls. But didn’t every young girl have at least one? 

Then one Christmas, I did ask for a different kind of doll…not a baby. Maybe I said a grown-up doll. So Santa came through, providing me with a good-sized female doll in a red and white checked dress, patent-leather shoes. So how did I know a certain Santa had come through? The doll had boobs. But the doll also had a bra.

It wasn’t till much later, that Santa Clause revealed she had to get out an old sewing machine and make that doll a bra! I still don’t know how my mother did that. The bra required small cutting, small stitches and she had more important things to do…but bras are always important when you are raising a girl, right?   

 

MORE HISTORY 

The first Barbie doll came in both blonde and brunette and was available for purchase in March of 1959. Barbie  was created by Ruth Handler, a toy whiz affiliated with Mattel Toys, who came to understand that to sell her dolls it wasn’t the parent she needed to target, but the children. Other dolls tried to move in on Barbie’s territory, ie Lottie and Bratz dolls. But they failed miserably. Barbie was the first, creating a niche that belonged only to her. During a commercial break on the Mickey Mouse Club in 1959, THERE APPEARED A BARBIE COMMERCIAL…and no other doll could ever take her place. 

 

FAMILY STUFF!!

My daughters never had a Barbie, but my daughter Christie loved going to a friend’s house to play with them. Today, we briefly discussed the film, Christie stating she is a strong advocate of  the film. Now I really want to see it. Here are a few excerpts from recent reviews. 

In a Vox review of the film, another view of the power of Barbie is presented: Barbie and Ken are having the time of their lives in the colorful and seemingly perfect world of Barbie Land. However, when they get a chance to go to the real world, they soon discover the joys and perils of living among humans.

Also: It’s not just that Gerwig & Co. have recreated a bunch of Barbies from throughout her decades-long history, outfitted them with a variety of clothing and hairstyles, and placed them in pristine dream houses. It’s that: “They’ve brought these figures to life with infectious energy and a knowing wink. It’s a film that acknowledges Barbie’s unrealistic physical proportions–and the kinds of very real body issues they can cause in young girls, while also celebrating Barbie’s role as a feminist icon.” 

After reading reviews, I think that’s the point of Gerwig’s research, her interest in writing the script. Growing up, Gerwig had Barbies, and maybe early on she saw or felt some contradictions in idolizing this particular doll. Thus, she now states that she was drawn to the project because of the contradictions that swirl around Barbie and always will.

When and if you see the film, I’d love to read your reactions. As Gerwig states: “I’m interested in how life is complicated and messy and that there is nothing that’s either or, either good or bad, but it’s mostly both. It can be all these things at once.”

 

8 Responses

  1. Hi Beth.

    Not sure I’ll be seeing the movie any time soon. It seemed a little silly to me although your review/commentary at least put an interesting twist to it. Meanwhile I will confess that I did own a bunch of Barbies. I found it so interesting that your view of Barbie seems so very different than mine.

    I had absolutely no interest in baby dolls. I had baby sisters to take care of and that was enough for me. Plus I was more of a tom-boy and played with little plastic farm toys and cowboys and indians. When Barbie came along it was all about the story. I made up the most amazing adventures (and yes romances) for her and very little had to do with her ridiculous figure. She was just a character in my dramas. I made her houses (my own version not the dream house), had her car (a jeep I think) and she had horses and was as adventurous as I hoped to one day be myself… it was all about the story. I suppose you could stay she was a horrible stereotype for young girls (women) but to me she was a storybook figure. My Barbie was smart, (always smarter than the men) fun and an explorer. Her bizarre shape never bothered me as a girl because I never imagined having one like that anyway. In some ways I saw her the same as Nancy Drew in the books I was reading.

    Of course once I reached a certain age I simply lost interest. I never collected Barbies nor saw a reason to do so. That doll (and her girl friends) were just vehicles to start crafting stories early on and I have absolutely no problem with children (girls or boys) who want to play with them today. I tend to believe that it is the imagination behind any toy that makes it so valuable and can’t help but believe that many who played with Barbie had a similar experience as mine. ~Kathy

    1. KATHY, I love this. YES, it is the imagination behind the toy. It is what we make up as children. That’s why sometimes
      children could get along with old pots and pans and pieces of string. Thanks so much for your comment. Making your Barbie smart
      was another way that you lived in your mind. Having her travel and do things was wonderful. Look at all the traveling you now do!)
      When you mention her shape, I get that too. We were not thinking about our bodies in terms of sex. We might have been thinking about
      them in terms of adventure. I was always about bike riding and making up stories. STILL AM, LOL. Thanks, again, Beth

  2. Barbie is a long cry from what fascinated this young boy, it was baseball and the Chicago White Sox, “Fox and Aparicio” as they won the American League pennant in 1959.
    I think Barbie existed and probably offered an option to parents on what to buy for their families?????
    But as I look back on these wonderful young years, we were able to make it through and in our house it was MOM (Jinni) whose careful hand guided us through all the obstacles that seemed to come our way. Funny how not even fads and peculiar things like Barbie and Ken dolls could dissuade her vision……..But it’s all about growing up, and whatever helps us understand human kind, then that is a good contribution………and a fun memory!!!!!!

    1. Love this, Bill. Yes it is a funny memory. Trust, Mom, to always do the right thing. Thanks so much for commenting.
      It means a lot, hugs and love, Me

  3. Haven’t seen the movie, but loved Barbie as a kid. My sister Jane and I spent many happy hours playing with our two Barbies (one a brunette and one a blond), not to mention her sporty car! I want to see the movie. Must admit, I’m curious.

  4. I never ever would have thought twice about seeing Barbie until Barbenheimer came along. I’m not much of a movie goer, for one (my last movie was on Christmas day December, 2019 only because my cousin wanted to see a movie. I rarely follow Internet trends as far as participating in one but this one interests me because I wonder what it would be like to see these two movies in one day? Would it blow my mind? Would I be seeing pink for days after? (My husband prefers to call it Barbie and The Bomb and he has no intention of accompanying me.) As for my personal history with Barbie, I had one early on (unfortunately, I don’t remember the year but I would guess 1961 or 1962) and I played countless games of Barbie with a girlfriend who had a Ken. Plus many more hours of me and my imagination, being an only child. I never had any of the accessories. I had few of the outfits but my Mom splurged on the Barbie Wedding Dress. I do wonder sometimes what ended up happening with my Barbie.

    1. Alana, thanks for sharing your life with Barbie!! Our memories of childhood are always vivid. We store things that need leave us. And
      I actually love BARBIE AND THE BOMB. Thanks again, Beth

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