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