Why Barbie Matters

Barbie is the most famous doll in the world. And at the same time: the most controversial. Some see her as a danger to little girls. For others, Barbie is a role model, embodies a versatile and independent woman, and is entirely compatible with a contemporary feminist self-image of women. Now, Barbie is brought to life in a wild and quirky comedy starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling—directed by the feminist filmmaker Greta Gerwig, of all people! On this episode of Arts Unveiled we ask: Does Barbie still matter today? And did she ever? 00:00 Intro 01:41 The early history of the Barbie doll 04:18 Who is Ken, just a sidekick? 06:55 Criticism of Barbie 09:15 Switching Barbie's and GI Joe's voices as a protest 11:26 Is Barbie a Feminist icon? 13:40 Barbie in Pop Culture 15:48 The story behind the black Barbie 19:48 Barbie becomes diverse 22:04 What's behind the doll's mutilation? 23:42 Is Barbie Eco-friendly? 24:50 The new movie 25:32 Conclusion #barbie #barbiemovie #dwhistoryandculture For more visit: www.dw.com/en/culture/s-1441 ⮞ Follow DW Culture on Facebook: www.facebook.com/dw.culture ⮞ Follow DW Culture on Twitter: twitter.com/DW_Culture Please follow DW's netiquette: p.dw.com/p/MF1G

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