Barbie

Barbie

Marilyn Monroe, Elvis, Michael Jordan, Martha Stewart, these are all examples of larger than life cultural icons of late twentieth century popular culture. All evolved in the spotlight; all have been considered role models; and all have had controversial moments. But amazingly another icon towers over all others in her glamorous world. She's an eleven and a half inch plastic doll by the name of Barbie. Because she always responds to the popular trends in American culture, Barbie is one of more potent and controversial icons of the 20th century, always responding to changing trends and so is often a target for cultural criticism.

Barbie began as a knock off of a German doll named Lilli. Lilli was designed after a post war comic character in a German magazine titled Bild Zeitung, which closely resembles our National Enquirer. As a plaything for men, a three dimensional pin up, Lilli was considered a sex doll and was regularly dressed in provocative clothing and advertised as a woman who was content as long as she was in the company of a rich man. Ruth Handler, co founder of Mattel, came across this sexy German doll while on a family vacation in Switzerland. As Ruth was shopping with her daughter Barbara, passing a storefront display, Barbara noticed a doll that had a woman's body, which at the time, was original. Her daughter declared that she wanted Lilli as a decoration for her room and Ruth proceeded to buy three dolls: two dolls for her daughter, and one for herself (Lord 30). Prior to seeing Lilli for the first time, Ruth had been discussing plans with her Mattel design crew about producing an adult doll, one that had a woman's body. She got the idea from watching Barbara and her friends act out adult behavior with paper dolls and felt that if Mattel could just create a three dimensional figure, the company would have something special. Her team told her it was not possible. However, in 1957, when one of Mattel's engineers was leaving for Tokyo, Ruth slipped him the German doll and asked him to see if it could be copied (Lord 30). After a few twists and turns, Barbie was born.

Barbie has become a potent icon in America because she symbolizes and embodies our popular culture, and is constantly changing to adapt to the new trends and cultural views. Throughout the 50 years that Barbie has been around, she has had various personas, friends, accessories, and ideals to reflect these trends and cultural transformations. Human icons such as Elvis, Marilyn, and Michael Jordan all seem larger than life, but they are human and will make mistakes that are recorded and announced to the public. There is a chance of let down, of human error. Barbie does not make mistakes; she will never falter or sway. She does not betray or steal, tell a lie or commit adultery. She can not die.

The original Barbie dolls, which were born in 1957, were modeled after White, consumer driven, middle class women. They were usually found sporting ponytails and outfits for any typical 50's occasion. Barbie's image as a 50's dream sustained until the following decade brought on vast cultural changes.

In the middle to late 1960's, the Vietnam War divided our country. Popular culture divided with it. As Mattel tried to dodge the crossfire of our torn nation, Barbie decided to ditch the prom queen and poodle skirt persona. In 1962, Handler and Mattel decided that Barbie's new image would be modeled after one of the country's leading ladies, Jackie Kennedy. Mattel used Kennedy as a mold for new outfits and began to give Barbie a classier image. In 1968, when Jackie Kennedy became Jackie Kennedy-Onassis, Mattel dropped her influence on the doll for the fear of being mocked for supporting Onassis' organized crime lifestyle (Lord 61).

Again, as America moved from one decade to the next, Barbie continued to transform. As the 70's began, and cultural change occurred, Barbie once again could without consequence, completely alter her appearance and values. When the disco era began to form around 1976, Barbie became less of what was needed of her in the sixties. Barbie turned from being modeled after a powerful, high class woman, and morphed into a flashy superstar. The late seventies turned into a period that loved glamour and stardom and music and long nights, and so Barbie adapted to these changing cultural views in America. She found herself in a new Ð''Star Ð''Vette, a Star Traveller Motorhome, even a "Salon of the Stars" Beauty Boutique. In 1978, Barbie was even transformed into a cover girl by being sold with a small camera. Anyone interacting with the doll could now portray Barbie as the new "star" of the 70's, with photographs to match.

As the 80's began to roll around and take its own identity, Barbie followed suit. In 1985, the advertising team for Mattel came out with an idea for presenting Barbie's new makeover. Women during this era were making history. They were making their way into male dominated fields. For example, Geraldine Ferraro bid for the U.S. Presidency, and Sally Field took a space ride. Shifting from stardom to a more professional approach, the design team decided