What to make of this, I am asked. A phenomenon, I reply. Kate MacKinnon, an hilarious Weird Barbie, offering Barbie/Robbie a high heel or a Birkenstock — my daughter having worn highs to her recent wedding, now exclaiming I love Birkenstocks!, before Robbie/Barbie goes off to the Real World, leaving the Perfect Barbie/Robbie World far behind. Sort of.
Good stuff, I note. Clearly, Greta Gerwig is a much more astute student of cinema history than I, so I only timidly note her deep affection and respect for the Busby Berkeley movies of the Thirties. Some ten or so routines with twenty girls in twirls, round and round. Lovely to see the shout out.
But what to make of this? Despite numerous attempts by Company Mattel to make the product BIPOC (Black Indigenous People of Color, for those who have not been keeping up), Robbie/Barbie is still who she has always been, and apparently will always be. Blond and Gorgeous.
What is this old white coot to think? We still want little girls to aspire to be BLONDE AND GORGEOUS?
What other conclusion can I come to?
Disabuse me if you can.
Barbie phenomenon