the dolls

The movie "Barbie" takes the beloved childhood toy and brings her to life in a vibrant and imaginative world called "Barbie Land." In this matriarchal society, Barbie, voiced by Margot Robbie, is depicted as a strong and accomplished figure, surrounded by other successful female dolls who excel in various fields. Meanwhile, the male dolls, led by Ryan Gosling's character Ken, are portrayed as carefree and superficial, focusing solely on impressing the Barbies.

The film cleverly disguises its radical feminist themes through comedic elements and a colorful, lighthearted presentation. This strategy helps to appeal to a broad audience, including young girls and families who are fans of the iconic Barbie character. However, beneath the surface, the movie showcases a feminist agenda that promotes the idea of female superiority over males.

As the plot unfolds, Barbie and Ken venture into the real world, where Ken becomes inspired by its patriarchal society. He then decides to turn Barbie Land into a patriarchy, challenging the prevailing matriarchal order. This narrative shift reinforces the movie's underlying message that only women should hold power, while men should be kept subservient.

Throughout the film, there are humorous moments, especially in Ken's character, that provide comic relief . However, these humorous elements serve as a distraction from the film's deeper ideological implications.

Despite the attempt to uphold certain aspects of womanhood, the movie's feminism falls short of advocating genuine equality between genders. Instead, it portrays men as inherently flawed and perpetuates negative stereotypes about masculinity.

Overall, "Barbie" is a visually appealing and entertaining film on the surface, but it cleverly promotes a radical feminist agenda that may not align with the expectations of many viewers, especially those seeking a more balanced and equal portrayal of gender dynamics. As such, the film may polarize audiences, with some appreciating its empowering portrayal of Barbie as a strong female role model, while others may find its portrayal of men and motherhood to be problematic and divisive.

Hollywood was eager to produce a film that they believed would be a lucrative hit, but they strategically downplayed the film's strong feminist themes. The marketing was designed to present the movie as a classic Barbie story with hints of feminism and political correctness, which are commonplace in today's Hollywood. However, the film turned out to be far more radical in its feminist message, going as far as being anti-masculinity and anti-motherhood.

The plot unfolds in a world called "Barbie Land," depicted as a matriarchal society run entirely by female Barbies, occupying positions from president to Nobel Prize winners. The male dolls, known as "Kens," are relegated to mere sidepieces and are perceived as having no value beyond impressing the Barbies. Interestingly, the film's messaging attempts to portray this matriarchal structure positively, while simultaneously condemning the patriarchal real world.

The story progresses as Barbie and Ken journey to the real world, where Ken becomes inspired by its patriarchal society and seeks to transform Barbie Land into a patriarchy as well. The movie presents this as an unfavorable development, reinforcing the notion that only women should rule and that matriarchies are superior to patriarchies. To achieve this transformation, the Kens resort to brainwashing the Barbies, perpetuating stereotypes and promoting superficial views of masculinity.

Throughout the film, the male characters, including Ken, are portrayed as immature, superficial, and lacking ambition, effectively mocking traditional masculinity. Moreover, all men in the real world are depicted similarly, further perpetuating negative stereotypes.

Ultimately, Barbie decides to leave her powerful position in the matriarchal Barbie Land to live in the real world, contradicting the film's previous portrayal of the real world as oppressive and objectifying. This inconsistent and illogical ending undermines the film's messaging.

The movie attempts to promote certain aspects of womanhood, but its brand of feminism fails to advocate for true equality. Instead, it seems to justify treating men unfairly to balance the scales, which is unsatisfying to an honest viewer seeking genuine equality between genders.

In summary, the film presents extreme caricatures of both patriarchal and matriarchal societies, ultimately siding with the latter and portraying it as the revolutionary solution. This Marxist viewpoint sees women as the oppressed victims, justifying their actions against men in power. However, to those who recognize the importance of a sacred order and natural roles for men and women, this film's approach appears unjust and divisive.

In conclusion, despite attempts to make Barbie a comedy, the film's subversive feminist message remains deeply concerning, especially for impressionable audiences like teenage girls. As such, it's not recommended for viewing, and its propaganda should be approached with critical thinking.