"I want to be part of the people that make meaning not the thing that is made." - Barbie
I, along with the millions of people across the globe, was swept up by the majestic marketing schemes of the new Barbie movie. Before I finally encountered the movie theaters, I hunted through the internet, scourging for articles that would hint at any story or plotline to sneak through. I was lucky enough to encounter Time Magazine and their expertise in journalism. In “How Barbie Came to Life,” Elina Docerterman hinted at a very feminist tone and according to Margot Robbie, the actress who plays Stereotypical Barbie, something ‘really pushing it.’ How could one of the most controversial toys represent something so groundbreaking?
I did watch the movie after I came home from CSSSA (writing yay) and I sat in the movie theater with my sister. Barbie did not disappoint. The Barbieland of perfect feminism, the patriarchy by Ken portrayed through horses and mini fridges, and the human struggles within the plastic toys portrayed in the movie. Small moments build the movie into a masterpiece. The dance off between the Kens. The off-handed fourth POV when the narrator off-handedly comments that Margot Robbie was not the actor to choose when Stereotypical Barbie cries about not being beautiful caught me off guard. Most importantly, the feminist message there. I knew there would be a message about the pressures that women receive within a world. Although many be and may have been taken aback by the power that women hold within Barbieland, to think of the flip side and see male-domin
After the viewing of the movie, my sister was still reeling from the impacts of the movie screening. I assume that she, and many other people, would not expect such a message about a plastic toy doll. My sister would understand: she has heard many of my rants enough. Yet, at that moment, I wondered about the reactions of others across the world. Matt Gaetz’s wife Ginger posted on Twitter of the “Disappointingly low T from Ken.” How would men in South Korea, a country with one of the highest gender pay gaps and rampant harassment of women, react to this movie? Although seemingly forceful, Gerwig’s message hits a punch with an underlying feeling of being uncomfortable, packaged within a movie of innocent-looking dolls.
Overall, the jokes dispersed throughout a story of wanting to be human encourages people to continue living and giving hope, especially that being human is a goal even for a perfect Barbie doll. I hope people watch this in the movie theaters!
Plus, Allan is the best character (no spoilers!)
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