Barbie: A Symbol of Femininity and Coming-of-Age
Introduction:
Barbie has long been an iconic figure in the world of toys and popular culture. Created by Ruth Handler in the 1950s, Barbie represented a departure from traditional baby dolls by offering young girls the opportunity to imagine themselves as grown women with different careers and personalities. Over the years, Barbie has evolved to reflect changing societal norms and has become a symbol of femininity and empowerment. Greta Gerwig, known for her directorial works such as “Lady Bird” and “Little Women,” has taken on the challenge of bringing Barbie to the big screen in a coming-of-age story that explores the complexities of growing up as a woman. In this article, we will delve into the significance of Barbie as a cultural icon, examine Gerwig’s approach to the film, and explore the themes of maturity and female relationships in Barbie’s world.
Barbie: A Symbol of Femininity:
1. Ruth Handler’s Vision: Ruth Handler, the creator of Barbie, was a visionary who recognized the need for dolls that allowed girls to explore the possibilities of being grown women. She wanted to provide an alternative to the traditional baby dolls that emphasized motherhood and nurturance. Barbie, with her fashionable outfits and wide range of careers, became a symbol of femininity and independence.
2. Evolving with Society: Over the years, Barbie has adapted to reflect changing societal norms and values. From her early days as a blonde bombshell to diverse and inclusive representations of beauty, Barbie has embraced diversity and inclusivity to better represent the realities of the world and provide positive role models for girls.
Gerwig’s Approach to the Barbie Film:
1. Combining References and Influences: Gerwig’s approach to the Barbie film involves an amalgamation of references and influences. She drew inspiration from films like “The Truman Show,” “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg,” and “Singing in the Rain” to explore the concept of artificiality and emotion. Gerwig sought to create a world that is simultaneously fake and genuine, much like the experience of playing with a real toy.
2. Analog Techniques and Special Effects: Gerwig’s attention to detail is evident in the film’s use of analog techniques from 1959, the year Barbie made her debut. This deliberate choice adds a tactile and authentic feel to the film’s special effects, such as the Barbie mermaids splashing behind plastic waves. By using practical effects, Gerwig aims to create a sense of nostalgia and evoke the feeling of playing with toys from the past.
Themes of Maturity and Female Relationships:
1. Coming-of-Age Story: Like Gerwig’s previous works, the Barbie film is also a coming-of-age story. However, in this case, the character going through the journey of self-discovery and maturity is a fully grown piece of plastic. This unique twist challenges traditional notions of coming-of-age and explores the idea that growth and self-realization can happen at any stage of life.
2. Matriarchal Affair: Growing up in Barbie’s world is portrayed as a matriarchal affair, centered around the relationships between mothers, sisters, and aunts. From the beginning, with Ruth Handler eavesdropping on her daughter playing with paper dolls, to the diverse representation of women throughout Barbie’s product history, the importance of female relationships in the process of growth and self-discovery is emphasized.
Expanding on the Topic: The Impact of Barbie on Girls’ Development
Barbie has been a beloved toy for generations, but beyond its role as a plaything, it has had a profound impact on girls’ development and self-perception. Let’s delve deeper into the subject matter and explore how Barbie influences girls’ thoughts, aspirations, and understandings of femininity.
1. Shaping Aspirations: Barbie’s range of careers and professions has the potential to shape girls’ aspirations and ambitions. By providing various role models, Barbie encourages girls to dream big and pursue their passions, whether it be a doctor, an astronaut, or a CEO.
2. Body Image and Self-esteem: Barbie’s original proportions and unrealistic standards of beauty have been a topic of controversy. However, Mattel’s efforts to diversify Barbie’s body shapes and promote inclusivity have been commendable. These changes allow girls to see themselves reflected in their dolls, promoting positive body image and self-esteem.
3. Imaginative Play: Barbie’s versatility and extensive range of accessories offer opportunities for imaginative play, allowing girls to create their own stories and narratives. This fosters creativity, problem-solving skills, and the development of emotional intelligence as girls navigate social interactions within their doll’s world.
4. Challenging Gender Stereotypes: Barbie has been at the forefront of challenging gender stereotypes throughout its history. By offering dolls that defy traditional gender roles and promoting themes of empowerment, Barbie encourages girls to break barriers and defy societal expectations.
Conclusion:
Barbie has played a significant role in shaping the narratives of girls’ development for decades. From its inception as a revolutionary doll to Greta Gerwig’s upcoming film, Barbie continues to inspire and provide opportunities for young girls to imagine themselves in different roles and explore their own potential. As society progresses and embraces diversity, Barbie’s continued evolution reflects the changing values of our time. By remaining committed to inclusivity and empowerment, Barbie remains a timeless symbol of femininity and a source of inspiration for generations to come.
Summary:
Barbie, created by Ruth Handler in the 1950s, has become an iconic symbol of femininity, offering young girls the opportunity to role-play as grown women with various careers. Greta Gerwig’s upcoming Barbie film explores the concept of artificiality and emotion while drawing inspiration from films like “The Truman Show” and “Singing in the Rain.” Gerwig uses analog techniques and practical effects to create a nostalgic and authentic feel. The Barbie film is a coming-of-age story centered around female relationships, challenging traditional notions by featuring a fully grown piece of plastic going through self-discovery. Barbie’s impact on girls’ development includes shaping aspirations, promoting positive body image, fostering imaginative play, and challenging gender stereotypes. Barbie continues to evolve, reflecting changing societal values and inspiring generations of girls to dream big and defy expectations.
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Gerwig is brimming with references and influences, many of which she brought together to make the film “genuinely contrived,” with everything “fake, but In fact fake”: fictional and yet tangible, tactile, like playing with a real toy. He called Peter Weir, the director of “The Truman Show,” to ask him how to “execute something that is both artificial and emotional at the same time.” He’s tried to channel musicals like “The Umbrellas of Cherbourg” and “Singing in the Rain,” which he says do the same thing. Many of the special effects were based on analog techniques from 1959, a year chosen because that was when Barbie debuted. The Barbie mermaids we see splashing behind the Jeff Koons-esque plastic waves are being hoisted up a seesaw-like platform. The blue expanse looming over Barbieland isn’t a green screen; it is a vast backdrop of painted sky.
“Barbie” has a larger reach, budget and potential audience than any of Gerwig’s previous works. This was part of the appeal of him: Gerwig has been broadening himself, intentionally. And yet, she remains focused on the characters’ baby steps into adulthood. (His next project of hers is a Netflix adaptation of the Narnia universe.) The leads she played in “Frances Ha” and “Mistress America,” collaborations with Baumbach, would probably make snide comments about a Barbie IP blockbuster, but they were also finding out who they were. So were the heroines of Gerwig’s directorial debut, “Lady Bird,” loosely inspired by her own childhood in Sacramento and her following, “Little woman,” based on your favorite childhood book.
“Barbie,” too, is a coming-of-age story; the figure that comes of age turns out to be a fully grown piece of plastic. Little Women would have been a good alternate title for her. Same with “Mothers & Daughters”, a working title for “Lady Bird”. For Barbie, like in those other two movies, growing up is a matriarchal affair. It’s something you do with your mother, your sisters, your aunts. Or, in Barbie’s case, with women intertwined throughout her product history.
At first, there was Ruth Handler, eavesdropping on his daughter, Barbara, playing with paper dolls. As little Barbie Handler and a friend dressed the cutouts in different outfits, they imagined their careers and personalities. Her mother’s rather feminist idea was that there were no three-dimensional dolls that allowed girls to explore being grown women, only baby dolls that encouraged them to practice motherhood.
Handler and her husband, Elliot, already ran Mattel, a toy company they founded in their California garage in 1945. She ran the business and he came up with the toys. Her proposal for a non-baby doll stalled until, while traveling in Switzerland, she came across a potential prototype. The Bild Lilli was a novelty toy, modeled after a blonde vixen from a West German comic strip, that could be used to accessorize a grown man’s car, like Playboy-shaped fenders. Handler brought a few home as proof of concept. Manufacturers, retailers, and even Mattel weren’t sure mothers would buy their daughters a toy with such a va-va-voom figure, but a famous Freudian marketing consultant advised the company that mothers could be neutered if they thought it would. Barbie was teaching correctly. behavior They may not like her sexual precocity, but would tolerate it so that her femininity would be a model for the mainstream.
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