The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast – PEL Presents PMP#155: Existentialist Barbie

Intro

In this episode of “The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast,” the hosts delve into the new film by Greta Gerwig, “Existentialist Barbie.” They explore the feminist existentialist themes of the movie and discuss its strengths and weaknesses. The hosts bring their varying levels of background knowledge and experience with Barbie, providing unique perspectives on the film’s portrayal of the iconic doll. They also examine the film’s handling of feminist philosophy, representation, and storytelling. Join the hosts as they dissect this thought-provoking and highly discussable movie.

Main Takeaways

Exploring Barbie’s Cultural Significance

• The hosts have varying levels of background knowledge and experience with Barbie.
• Barbie was dismissed as a harmful anti-feminist brand, and the movie addresses this issue in an interesting way.
• Barbie was used for imaginative play and adventure, not just for hair, makeup, and looks.

Analyzing the Film’s Themes and Execution

• The movie engages with the way people play with Barbie dolls.
• The film explores existential ideas and reflects Greta Gerwig’s feminism style.
• The movie had four distinct parts, each with a different level of quality, making it feel like four different films in one.
• The film had many important themes, but they sometimes clashed and didn’t pay off neatly.
• The movie had contradictory messages, such as “you can have it all” but “it’s impossible to be a woman.”

The Film’s Impact and Representation

• The movie provided representation for black children who were able to see themselves in the character.
• The film’s success is a tremendous gamble that could have a significant impact on the film industry.
• The movie lacks a black feminist critique and needs to address feminism from a more intersectional perspective.

Technical Aspects and Filmmaking

• The marketing was brilliant and effectively told the story of the film.
• The production design and realization of the plastic world were top-notch.
• The acting was commendable, with a potential nomination for best supporting actor.
• The story had issues in terms of storytelling and making a coherent point.

Reflections on Barbie and the Future of the Franchise

• Barbie’s success will have a significant impact on the film industry, but may not lead to an increase in women filmmakers.
• Barbie’s philosophy can be described as feminist existentialism for teens.
• The film compromises Greta Gerwig’s vision by working closely with Mattel.
• There is potential for world-building and exploring other characters in future movies.

Summary

Exploring Barbie’s Cultural Significance

The hosts delve into their varying levels of background knowledge and experience with Barbie, highlighting how the iconic doll has been dismissed as a harmful anti-feminist brand. The movie addresses this issue in an interesting way, showcasing how Barbie was used for imaginative play and adventure, challenging the notion that it solely focuses on appearance.

Analyzing the Film’s Themes and Execution

The film engages with the way people play with Barbie dolls, exploring existential ideas and reflecting Greta Gerwig’s feminism style. However, the movie’s four distinct parts with varying quality make it feel disjointed, and its important themes sometimes clash and don’t pay off neatly. The contradictory messages within the film add to its complexity.

The Film’s Impact and Representation

The movie provides representation for black children, allowing them to see themselves in the character. Its success is a significant gamble that could have a profound influence on the film industry. However, the film lacks a black feminist critique, and there is a need for a more intersectional perspective in its exploration of feminism.

Technical Aspects and Filmmaking

The brilliant marketing effectively tells the story of the film, while the production design and realization of the plastic world are top-notch. The acting performances are commendable, with potential recognition for best supporting actor. However, the story suffers from issues in storytelling and coherence.

Reflections on Barbie and the Future of the Franchise

The film’s success will have a significant impact on the film industry, but it may not necessarily lead to an increase in women filmmakers. Barbie’s philosophy can be described as feminist existentialism for teens. The film compromises Greta Gerwig’s vision by working closely with Mattel, but there is potential for world-building and exploring other characters in future movies.

Conclusion

“Existentialist Barbie” is a thought-provoking film that explores the cultural significance of Barbie and tackles important themes through a feminist existentialist lens. While the movie has its strengths and weaknesses, it successfully opens up conversations surrounding feminism and representation. Its impact on the film industry and the future of the Barbie franchise remains to be seen, but it is a bold and intriguing addition to the world of toy-based movies.