Thursday, November 02, 2006

Barbie Will Be 47 On December 1


This is what Barbie would look like if she ever got older, which she won't, because she is a toy doll.

Barbie made its debut in 1959 and since then, the anatomically improbable molded plastic statuette has become an icon and the most favourite doll of female children in America, Western Europe and other parts of the world. And I have given out Barbie dolls to children who asked for them.


Ruth Handler undeniably invented an American icon that functions as both a steady outlet for girls' dreams and an ever changing reflection of American society. This can be seen in the history of Barbie's clothes, and even her various "face lifts" to suit the times; in her professional, political and charitable endeavors; and more recently in the multi-culturalizing of her product line.


Imagine a horror movie where Barbie suddenly grew old and then started to scold Dubya over his bloody blunders in the war in Iraq.