Forever Barbie - The Unauthorized Biography of a Real Doll (Electronic book text)


Was Barbie was the first feminist doll? She always worked in interesting positions, never married, never had a child, and never did house work. Yet today, many women who played with Barbie when they were children consider her to be an inappropriate role model, although these same women often have interesting Barbie stories to tell. In Forever Barbie, cultural critic, investigative journalist, and first generation Barbie owner M.G. Lord tells Barbie s own story with clarity and intelligence, brilliantly shaking up many preconceptions. According to Lord, Barbie s phenomenal endurance says as much about our culture s ambivalence towards femininity as it as it does about Mattel s successful marketing of the convention-defying toy. In this witty and provocative book, she unearths Barbie s low origins as Lili, a sexy doll for grown ups sold as a gag gift in post-war Germany, and follows her development through countless makeovers and career changes into a traditional toy and ultimately an international pop-culture icon. Interviewing the toy-company executives, fashion designers, and merchandizing geniuses who helped mould Barbie into what she is today, Lord takes a seriously wry look at the polyvinyl goddess who attracts as many detractors as die-hard fans. This new edition, the first to be published in Canada, features an up-to-date introduction envisioning a Ken-less Barbie in post 9/11 era and examining the controversial reaction to pregnant Midge.

Delivery AdviceNot available

Toggle WishListAdd to wish list
Review this Item

Product Description

Was Barbie was the first feminist doll? She always worked in interesting positions, never married, never had a child, and never did house work. Yet today, many women who played with Barbie when they were children consider her to be an inappropriate role model, although these same women often have interesting Barbie stories to tell. In Forever Barbie, cultural critic, investigative journalist, and first generation Barbie owner M.G. Lord tells Barbie s own story with clarity and intelligence, brilliantly shaking up many preconceptions. According to Lord, Barbie s phenomenal endurance says as much about our culture s ambivalence towards femininity as it as it does about Mattel s successful marketing of the convention-defying toy. In this witty and provocative book, she unearths Barbie s low origins as Lili, a sexy doll for grown ups sold as a gag gift in post-war Germany, and follows her development through countless makeovers and career changes into a traditional toy and ultimately an international pop-culture icon. Interviewing the toy-company executives, fashion designers, and merchandizing geniuses who helped mould Barbie into what she is today, Lord takes a seriously wry look at the polyvinyl goddess who attracts as many detractors as die-hard fans. This new edition, the first to be published in Canada, features an up-to-date introduction envisioning a Ken-less Barbie in post 9/11 era and examining the controversial reaction to pregnant Midge.

Customer Reviews

No reviews or ratings yet - be the first to create one!

Product Details

General

Imprint

Goose Lane Editions

Country of origin

United States

Release date

May 2004

Availability

We don't currently have any sources for this product. If you add this item to your wish list we will let you know when it becomes available.

Authors

Dimensions

210 x 140 x 30mm (L x W x T)

Format

Electronic book text

Pages

325

ISBN-13

978-0-86492-564-0

Barcode

9780864925640

Categories

LSN

0-86492-564-6



Trending On Loot