I'm sure some people will have filtered the [dolls name] for [reasons] including the current #Movie but here is another incredibly well threaded essay by @ryanhoulihan on why she's such an important figure and a touchstone or Rorsach test for many aspects of modern western #society and #culture
@ryanhoulihan I tooted the other day a point that is raised here, about boys having Action Figures.
One difference with those is that they're typically not interchangeable in the same way that Barbie's and her accessories are. I mean you could get Skeletor driving GI Joe's tank, but I can already here another 8 year old boy saying "That's just stupid".
Their outlooks and ambitions are just as restricted as Ken's.
@ryanhoulihan You mentioned Lego at one point, that was my thing. Although you said "engineering" it was mostly ungendered, or where there was long hair pieces or femme/butch faces, they were instantly and infinitely interchangable. So my 1980s chef could have a femme face and short hair if I chose.
And accessories could be whatever you wanted. I remember building a camera crane rig for a movie set out of a car body, hinges and turntables.
@ryanhoulihan Oh, another thought I had, and I will review some time to work out what prompted it: In your archive of sitcoms etc, have you ever watched Cybill? The relationship between Cybill and her ex came to mind, as they raised their daughter in reasonably positive collaboration.
As well as all the fabulous lines from her, Christine Baranski, and Alicia Witt, who I adored. https://youtu.be/GaWLj-nrDRY
@ryanhoulihan
Can't find the series on UK streaming, but just found this snippet which seems very familiar to a pivotal scene in the movie. https://youtu.be/Ivt2yt59Rrw
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