Barbie, G.I. Joe, and the Gang: Dolls Are Us

Now & Then

Vox Media Podcast Network

History, Society & Culture, News Commentary, News

4.9 • 3.7K Ratings

🗓️ 26 July 2023

⏱️ 53 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What can the success of Barbie tell us about America? Heather and Joanne put the blockbuster film into context with other impactful dolls, from Raggedy Ann to G.I. Joe., exploring what these iconic playthings can show about U.S. debates over gender, race, and consumerism. How did Heather and Joanne feel about dolls as young people? They share more of their thoughts in a special “Backstage” segment of the podcast. Become a member of CAFE Insider and get access to Backstage episodes and other exclusive content. For a limited time, you can get 40% off the initial annual membership price with discount code JUSTICE. Head to cafe.com/history to learn more and join. For references & supplemental materials, head to: cafe.com/now-and-then/barbie-g-i-joe-and-the-gang-dolls-are-us/ Now & Then is presented by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	From Cafe and the Vox Media Podcast Network, this is now and then.
0:07.0	I'm Heather Cox-Richardson, and I'm Joanne Freeman.
0:13.0	Today's topic basically is hard for you to ignore.
0:18.0	If you're almost anywhere in the United States, I would guess.
0:21.0	What we want to talk about today is inspired by the much, much,
0:27.0	hyped movie, Barbie, the film.
0:31.0	Distributed by Warner Brothers, and it's about Barbie the Doll and Ken.
0:37.0	And has some kind of half-serious, half-sardonic plot.
0:44.0	I will confess readily right here at the outset I have not seen it.
0:48.0	I do not know if I will see it.
0:50.0	But the whole idea of Barbie and Ken.
0:54.0	And what they represent to me is a fascinating one.
0:59.0	And it says so much about the United States in any given moment of time.
1:05.0	So what we want to talk about today is dolls of various sorts.
1:11.0	And the larger messages that they do or don't send.
1:16.0	And Barbie will be a part of this story.
1:18.0	Barbie will not be the entire story.
1:21.0	One of the things that jumps out to me about this topic, actually two things.
1:25.0	First of all, I feel like an intelligent Martian on this because I never owned a Barbie.
1:30.0	I never played with Barbies.
1:32.0	In fact, I don't even know very much about dolls.
1:35.0	So my approach to this is all very academic, if you will.
	...

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