celeb news America Ferrera addresses criticism that Barbie is "oversimplified feminism"

[SecretSecret]

This makes no sense because everything in the movie before the monologue is directed to an audience that clearly understands feminism. Most of the jokes and cultural references rely on a relatively complex understanding of feminist ideas.

 

The whole concept of Barbieland as a place where men are second-class citizens is only funny, and not horrible, because you realize that it's a sarcastic comment on patriarchy. If you need a Feminism 101, it's likely that you didn't really enjoy anything prior by the time you get to that really trite monologue. 

 

As @Phantom said, they just made the most inoffensive take on feminism, because, yes, the movie wouldn't have been made otherwise, but also probably because Greta is more of a basic liberal feminist than most people would want to admit. The resolution to the Ken conflict was similarly toothless. "Let's all just get along!" is not really the answer to oppression.

[Robyn.]

6 hours ago, Cheers said:

A movie about feminism yet the director let KEN get the most memorable scenes/steal the show. Point lost.

Wasn't that the whole message of the movie though?  

 

That women can't have sh*t and men take over everything, while when women ruled Barbie World, they would all co-exist. 

[GraceRandolph]

3 minutes ago, SecretSecret said:

This makes no sense because everything in the movie before the monologue is directed to an audience that clearly understands feminism. Most of the jokes and cultural references rely on a relatively complex understanding of feminist ideas.

The idea of a patriarchy is not a niche feminist idea in 2023 though. It felt like something written in the 90's or early 00's.

[SecretSecret]

2 minutes ago, GraceRandolph said:

The idea of a patriarchy is not a niche feminist idea in 2023 though. It felt like something written in the 90's or early 00's.

Yes, it's true. It's more the cheeky way it's presented, with the "men are horrible, right girls?" attitude that comes straight from Twitter discourse, the self-conscious references to pinkwashing and girlboss culture, etc.

 

That's why it's so disappointing; the movie appears to be smart and transgressive (to the extent that a blockbuster based on a mass-produced doll can be) but ends up with a message that would not be out of place in a random 90s romcom.

[RIKI232]

Anyways, this movie was trash

[Infinity]

The movie sucked.  Can we focus on quality instead of being woke?  Smh. 

[Draper.]

5 hours ago, AMIT said:

If they did that the movie would have been completely ripped apart by most mainstream critics and a significant chunk of the audience alike. Barbie as a brand has been highly influential in regards to how women at large are made to look like and what they're made to represent. They would not be able to get away with pretending Barbie's problematic legacy does not exist, so they were pressured to go with the most surface-level, capitalist-friendly, completely neutered and recuperated version of ''feminism'' (because at that point it's just not feminism at all, imo) to make it all work, and that's what they did, no?

You’re talking as if the movie took every obvious decision when it didn’t even start being this movie. It started as a whole different thing starring Amy Schumer.

[Bad_vocal_technique]

My issue with the movie is that  it felt too much like they were trying to educate me. On top of that, not adding anything new. 

[If U Seek Amy]

Tbh if you went to Barbie expecting a highly intelligent complex work on feminism you are having issues accepting your age and need to grow up and find other content to suit your intellectual curiosity. It was purposefully crafted to suit a variety of age groups without delving too far into any single one. They still wanted it to be fun too not a total think piece  Like bffr and shut up 
 

NOT EVERYTHING IS MADE SPECIFICALLY FOR YOU. Just in case it needs to be said since that is how some seem entitled to think. 

[modeblock]

not the girlies expecting a barbie movie to serve phd in women's studies...it was a movie for kids and teens....and nostalgic hags like me

 

please be serious for once atrl. 

[Outlaws]

It's… a Barbie movie.

[monologueNacafe]

I feel like it’s fair for people to critique the merits of a film that will quite possibly win Oscars soon.