Life in plastic… life is fantastic ;P

Introduction

•American icon

•girls' dreams

•Reflection of changes

Diversity

•Clothing

•Accessories

•Magazines

•Video games

•Haute couture

Background

• Original Creator’s idea• History and Evolution

Barbie’s ‘Mom’- Ruth Handler

• Creator of Barbie • Founded Mattel

with Elliot Handler in 1959

Origins of Barbie• Speculation Barbara plays with adult dolls• Opportunity A trip to Europe, meet up with “Lili”• Resolution Executive power and influence

Barbie friends, mates

& family

• Ken, Midge, Skipper, Stacie and more…

1959-1965 THE EARLY YEARSBARBIE 1959-presentKEN 1961-present, Barbie’s boyfriendMIDGE 1963-66, Barbie’s friendALLAN 1964-65, Ken’s friendSKIPPER 1964-present, Barbie’s sisterSKOOTER 1965-66, Skipper’s friendRICKY 1965, Skipper’s friend 

1965-1970 THE MOD ERA

TUTTI 1966-69, Barbie’s baby sister, TODD 1966-67, Barbie’s baby brotherFRANCIE 1966-76, Barbie’s modern cousinCASEY 1967 & 1974 Francie’s friendCHRISTIE 1968-present, Barbie’s friendSTACEY 1968-70, Barbie’s friend …

1971-1976 THE MALIBU ERAFLUFF 1971, Skipper’s friendTIFF 1972, Skipper’s friend

THE 1980’S SUPERSTAR, DISCO, ROCK ERA SCOTT 1980, Skipper’s friendDEREK 1986-87 Ken’s friendDIVA 1986-87 Barbie’s friend

MIDGE 1988-present, Barbie’s friendNIKKI 1989, Barbie’s friend…

THE 90’S NEW FAMILY LITTLE KIDSSTACIE 1992-present, Barbie’s new

sisterTODD 1991, 1993-1994, Barbie’s new

brother, twin to StacieKELLY 1995, Barbie’s new baby sister

JANET 1994, Stacie’s friend……

THE 90’S FRIENDS ADULTSKIRA 1990, Barbie’s friendNIA 1990, Barbie’s friend

KEVIN 1990-95, Skipper’s friendALAN 1991, Ken’s friend.. 

Advertisements: Old & NewOriginal Ad

Barbie you’re beautiful

You make me feel

My Barbie doll is really real

Barbie smiling so petite

The clothes and figure look so neat

Her dancing outfit rings a bell

And howdy(??) she will cast a spell

Purse and hats and gloves galore

And all the gadgets gal(??) the doll

Someday I’m gonna be exactly like you

Till then I know just what I’ll do.

Barbie, beautiful Barbie

I’ll make believe that

I am you.

Youtube link>>

Current Ad – B who you wanna B

Be who you wanna beB .A. R. B. I. E. hey girlBe a fashionista styling Barbie girlBe a dream yeah Barbie girlBe a lovely Barbie girl you can be who you wanna be B .A. R. B. I. E girl be who you wanna be Barbie girl…

homepage>>clip>>

•Charm bracelets, electronic diaries, DVDs, 3D games and other accessories

•Advertising to parents, collectors‘barbie.everythinggirl.com’

Barbie Merchandises

•Evolving themes, according to current trends

• Fantasy theme AD >>

Marketing to kids

Marketing to teens

“hottest new trends” “hot looks”

•Targeting fashion conscious young girls with

Celebrity Icon: Hilary Duff Personifies Barbie as teenage fashion model

Today, we see continuation of the ‘Fashion Queen’s image

Marketing Fashionable Barbie with a new spinMore interactivity: Fashion, Music, Video, eDiaries and

DVDs

Varied styles appealing to different girls.

Eg. ‘Rock gal chic’ style

Make-over craze- ‘Fashion Fever’

Social Impacts• Norms, values, ideologies• Counter Culture

“Parents thank us for the educational values in the world of Barbie…They say that they could never get their daughters well groomed before – get them out of slacks or blue jeans and into a dress…get them to scrub their necks and wash their hair. Well, that’s where Barbie comes in. The doll has clean hair and a clean face, and she dresses fashionably, and she wears gloves and shoes that match.”

- Ruth Handler, 1964

That Good Ole’ Fashioned Barbie

The Barbie Doll look•

•Anglo beauty norms and body image

• Cultural variations reflected in skin tones and clothes

• Restricted ideals of feminine beauty

The Politics of Barbie• Post WWII: suburbia and rigid gender roles as typifying the American Dream – symbols of democracy and freedom in the Cold War era.

• The seven golden years: Barbie’s heterosexual teenage lifestyle

• Late capitalist era: Pairing of consumption with successful femininity; the attractiveness of Barbie packaging

Barbie and the Pervasiveness of Culture

What does the form of a Barbie tell you?

‘Barbie Syndrome’

“desire to have a

physical appearance and lifestyle of the

famous Barbie doll..” -Wikipedia

Pre-Operations

Ms Jackson:

“I wanted Barbie’s life, I wanted to be an astronaut or a doctor, not a farmer’s wife.” She has undergone 9 operations and spent US$55,000 to look like her idol Barbie

Ms. Cindy Jackson and former Mr. Tim Whitfield-Lynn now Mr. Miles Kendall

Post Operations

Closer to becoming their idols' image

Steve Erhardt: Self-proclaimed Ken Doll

Anti-Barbie Clubs• Children regarding torturing

Barbie as a ‘cool’ activity. • Mutilation of the doll in various

ways e.g.: Decapitation, burning, breaking, microwaving.

• Often regarded as a rite of passage for some girls.

• Against the idea of girls being pushed into the adult world.

Source: antibarbie.com

BarbieCollectivism

Culture

Constructions of Meanings & Consumption

• Meanings of collecting and meanings of the objects collected are distinct from one another and differ from individual to individual.

• Prospect of making new friends, a vacation from the demands of everyday life; day trip to an auction or sale.

• A form of consumption.• Extends and expresses one’s selfhood

• Investors vs ‘True’ collectors• Gives one pleasure in viewing her…

Barbie’s impact on media• Modern Barbie twist to traditional

stories• Frequently differing completely

from the original story

Values & Ideologies

• Customised to fit Barbie’s ideals and values.

E.g In the Twelve Dancing Princesses

Wholesome messages such as morality and the power of family are emphasized

Barbie Doll – Marge PiercyThis girlchild was born as usual

And presented dolls that did pee-peeand miniature GE stoves and irons

and wee lipsticks the colour of cherry candy.Then in the magic of puberty, a classmate said:

You have a great big nose and fat legs.She was healthy, tested intelligent,Possessed strong arms and back,

Abundant sexual drive and manual dexterity.She went to and fro apologizing,

Everyone saw a fat nose on thick legs.She was advised to play coy,Exhorted to come on hearty,

Exercise, diet, smile and wheedle.Her good nature wore out

Like a fan belt,So she cut off her nose and legs

And offered them up.In the casket displayed on satin she lay

With the undertaker’s cosmetics painted on, a turned-up putty nose,Dressed in a pink and white nightie.

Doesn’t she look pretty? Everyone said.Consummation at last.

To every woman a happy ending.

Afterthoughts…• Paris Hilton – a living Barbie?

‘Barbie’ Paris

(*montage with the controversial Aqua’s ‘Barbie Girl’ song) Youtube video1 | Link 2

Blonde, Pink + fashion icon = ‘Barbie’

• Gender stereotyping?

<<newsflash>> “PARIS HILTON caused disruption and upset in the doll world on Saturday night (05FEB05), when she played a home-wrecking BARBIE on an American comedy show.The hotel heiress stepped out as a 'Fashion Fever' version of the plastic favourite on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, where she left show regular AMY POEHLER's vintage Barbie character distraught, after sleeping with her boyfriend KEN, played by WILL FORTE.