I was 10 in 1959 when Barbie first came out. I had dolls already that looked like real women I knew like my mother. This thing was so scary to me I did not want one. My girl friends and I were all terrified of the thing because of its alien looks and grotesque proportions. That stupid doll ruined so many body images for girls. Boys and men always want a Barbie doll to date. The standard of beauty portrayed by Barbie still traumatized me today. I hate that damn doll.
I am so in agreement with you!!! I also played with many dolls by the time Barbie came out that were not baby dolls or child dolls- they were bigger dolls, we acted out adult behavior with them. When Barbie came out, I bought one my little old self because the clothes were so good- it wasn't the styles either- it was how they were made. They were hand detailed, I found out from reading Lord's book, by Japanese women, sewing the linings in the coats, the tiny buckles and buttons. But the doll horrified me- she was so tough and mean-looking. I didn't know of course her history as a men's sex object toy at the time, but she sure looked the part. How am I supposed to play with her? I wondered- the rest of my dolls represented humans, good people, people potentially with souls or ethics, romance, dreams- but not her. I kept buying the clothes but only ever owned the 1959 Barbie and a later version with a bubble hair do. The original Barbie's hair was not all over her head- if you took it out of the pony tail, she was bald underneath, her scalp painted brown to not show through the hair. And I think that acceptance of the doll, and all she stands for- all the sleaze, the glam, the falsity, the lack of character- is a component of the degradation of our society. Not kidding. If we as a culture did not accept her as some sort of viable model, how would we be in the pickle we are in today? Give me Sinead O'Connor's bald head, or her hijab, any day. And not on a Barbie. I'm going to see the film. Might do it in drag though. I've always wanted to go out and about in drag, though I am a woman- this might be the best occasion ever to do it.
Camp is hyperbolic, and so is the movie. I loved it! I found the “speechifying” grounding and real. At 73, I grew up pre-Barbie, and loved my Ginny dolls. I am second wave, and one review which praised the movie said it “reeks” of second wave feminism. Reeks? Respect please! Perhaps our leaders couldn’t afford to be overtly humorous because there was little humor to be found in our collective situation. All of our waves come together on the beach (unintended movie reference), and there is something in the movie for all of us. At heart, it is a silly movie, all that pink and the boys dancing. My husband loved the movie, and he is a feminist who thought it was a great satiric comedy. Another critic said it’s a movie by women for women, hence the backlash. The backlashers are the ones who lack humor!
Oh, that is a great essay, Ms Snarky. I have so much appreciation for your viewpoint. The book, Forever Barbie by MG Lord gets a lot of this in it- wonderful ebook- but there's always more.
Jul 30, 2023·edited Jul 30, 2023Liked by Erica Manfred
You write so well! But you already know that. I didn’t see Barbie instead chose to see Oppenheimer. I understand Barbie was overwhelming seen by red states and in the northeast in particular Oppy won out. I’ll see Barbie soon and compare my reactions to yours.
Where we were the other night - seeing Elemental- the cineplex had almost no audience for Oppenheimer, and was packed for Barbie, and we are in the Northeast.
I saw Barbie this evening and enjoyed the sets, costumes and the main actors. There was a good amount of comedy and I laughed a lot. I enjoyed getting my pink on: my lipstick, earrings and peddle pushers (they’re called capris now) were all Barbie pink! Yay, pink! I love the color despite the flack I’ve received from many. Pink is fun!
I was a delighted to share this with my daughter and to wax nostalgic over our Barbie dolls, cars and clothes. In fact, I made my daughter a pair of pink beaded earrings for tonight’s viewing event.
The problem with the Barbie movie is the message needs to come FROM the plot, not poured over it. The purpose of art is to be creative! The value of a creative piece is in metaphor and other creative devices. If we wanted a lecture we’d go to a demonstration.
The plot didn’t work all the way through. The set-up to have the Kens fight each other made no sense to me. The Pinocchio bit at the end was forced. The tone switched awkwardly.
I was 10 in 1959 when Barbie first came out. I had dolls already that looked like real women I knew like my mother. This thing was so scary to me I did not want one. My girl friends and I were all terrified of the thing because of its alien looks and grotesque proportions. That stupid doll ruined so many body images for girls. Boys and men always want a Barbie doll to date. The standard of beauty portrayed by Barbie still traumatized me today. I hate that damn doll.
I am so in agreement with you!!! I also played with many dolls by the time Barbie came out that were not baby dolls or child dolls- they were bigger dolls, we acted out adult behavior with them. When Barbie came out, I bought one my little old self because the clothes were so good- it wasn't the styles either- it was how they were made. They were hand detailed, I found out from reading Lord's book, by Japanese women, sewing the linings in the coats, the tiny buckles and buttons. But the doll horrified me- she was so tough and mean-looking. I didn't know of course her history as a men's sex object toy at the time, but she sure looked the part. How am I supposed to play with her? I wondered- the rest of my dolls represented humans, good people, people potentially with souls or ethics, romance, dreams- but not her. I kept buying the clothes but only ever owned the 1959 Barbie and a later version with a bubble hair do. The original Barbie's hair was not all over her head- if you took it out of the pony tail, she was bald underneath, her scalp painted brown to not show through the hair. And I think that acceptance of the doll, and all she stands for- all the sleaze, the glam, the falsity, the lack of character- is a component of the degradation of our society. Not kidding. If we as a culture did not accept her as some sort of viable model, how would we be in the pickle we are in today? Give me Sinead O'Connor's bald head, or her hijab, any day. And not on a Barbie. I'm going to see the film. Might do it in drag though. I've always wanted to go out and about in drag, though I am a woman- this might be the best occasion ever to do it.
Thanks for getting my point.
YES! You nailed it! But, instead of Jennifer Coolidge, I propose Bette Midler for Ruth. Yah think?
She'd be perfect too
Camp is hyperbolic, and so is the movie. I loved it! I found the “speechifying” grounding and real. At 73, I grew up pre-Barbie, and loved my Ginny dolls. I am second wave, and one review which praised the movie said it “reeks” of second wave feminism. Reeks? Respect please! Perhaps our leaders couldn’t afford to be overtly humorous because there was little humor to be found in our collective situation. All of our waves come together on the beach (unintended movie reference), and there is something in the movie for all of us. At heart, it is a silly movie, all that pink and the boys dancing. My husband loved the movie, and he is a feminist who thought it was a great satiric comedy. Another critic said it’s a movie by women for women, hence the backlash. The backlashers are the ones who lack humor!
Never had a Barbie doll. Never wanted one.
As a little girl, I hated getting dressed up, so the last thing I’d I wanna do is dress up a silly doll.
Oh, that is a great essay, Ms Snarky. I have so much appreciation for your viewpoint. The book, Forever Barbie by MG Lord gets a lot of this in it- wonderful ebook- but there's always more.
Thanks!
You write so well! But you already know that. I didn’t see Barbie instead chose to see Oppenheimer. I understand Barbie was overwhelming seen by red states and in the northeast in particular Oppy won out. I’ll see Barbie soon and compare my reactions to yours.
Where we were the other night - seeing Elemental- the cineplex had almost no audience for Oppenheimer, and was packed for Barbie, and we are in the Northeast.
Pink always wins
LOL
Look forward to your take.
Erica, this is one of your great columns! So many of them are great. Thank you for writing them!
I saw Barbie this evening and enjoyed the sets, costumes and the main actors. There was a good amount of comedy and I laughed a lot. I enjoyed getting my pink on: my lipstick, earrings and peddle pushers (they’re called capris now) were all Barbie pink! Yay, pink! I love the color despite the flack I’ve received from many. Pink is fun!
I was a delighted to share this with my daughter and to wax nostalgic over our Barbie dolls, cars and clothes. In fact, I made my daughter a pair of pink beaded earrings for tonight’s viewing event.
The problem with the Barbie movie is the message needs to come FROM the plot, not poured over it. The purpose of art is to be creative! The value of a creative piece is in metaphor and other creative devices. If we wanted a lecture we’d go to a demonstration.
The plot didn’t work all the way through. The set-up to have the Kens fight each other made no sense to me. The Pinocchio bit at the end was forced. The tone switched awkwardly.
Haven't seen the movie yet, but enjoyed your take on it. But, weren't you a little old to play with Barbies by 1959?
Actually yes. But i must have played with a few belonging to young kids. I do remember the silly clothes
This is absolutely fabulous! And not in the least bit earnest 😊 Sharing!