DAISY JONES & THE SIX (2023) Track 9: Feels Like the First Time
hot take ahead on barbie (2023) INCLUDING SPOILERS
i don't think barbie is about feminism. in this essay i will...
but no, really. according to the cambridge dictionary, feminism is "the belief that women should be allowed the same rights, power, and opportunities as men and be treated in the same way, or the set of activities intended to achieve this state". nowhere in the movie does it show any character wanting to become part of the feminist movement. i want to emphasize that feminism is about being treated the same way, including women having the same rights as men. barbie isn't a feminist. neither is ken. don't even get me started about the elf of the shelf aka mattel's ceo.
everytime i go on youtube i get bombarded (due to the algorithm i created lmao) with barbie videos and how everyone talks about feminism or anti-feminism for that matter. and from a sociological point of view (i missed using this fancy term), it shows how individuals will see/hear exactly what they are looking for - they will see/hear everything that goes along or, on the contrary, what contradicts their own set of beliefs that they had before watching the movie. if someone was looking for feminism, they will look at all the signs for women rights in barbieland being equal to men rights in the real world. or, vice versa, if someone was looking for anti-feminism, they will look at how all male dolls were treated (that includes the kens, allan/s and all the other dolls too as long as they fall into the masculine gender).
but let's break down the feminism definition to prove this point. my archnemesis emile durkheim said that "the totality of beliefs and sentiments common to average members of the same society forms a particular system that has its own life; one might call it the collective or common consciousness". in that sense, beliefs become part of a group (or subgroup) if they are agreed upon by a majority. the term women is too broad, so instead i will use another: individuals who identify with femininity (this is still skewed since it doesn't cover that much ground on all gender identities, but hopefully it's enough to make the point). the rest of the quote in the beginning basically agrees upon all genders having equal rights, power and opportunities in a society. to limit this even further, it means no discrimination whatsoever, regarding any aspect of one's life and activity in a society.
this brings me back to the barbie movie. the movie isn't about matriarchy vs patriarchy. from an empirical point of view (and it was hard to do that bc i adore the actors/actresses and the dolls), the movie can be considered at the very most satirical. barbieland was ruled by matriarchy until the kens overthrown that government. but the barbies did manipulate the situation so that they could take the power again. in the end, the barbies said they will allow some positions for the kens, but definitely not something important, suggesting that they couldn't face it. that isn't feminism. it's not about equal rights. it's exactly what we see in societies. let the minority think they won something when in fact, you don't give them at the very least the bare minimum.
i woke up and chose violence. but this is my hot take on the sociological aspects of the movie. i'm oh so tempted to make an actual paper including the political but that'd mean someone will have to read about 30 pages in word. and i feel sorry for that person already.
she listens carefully, repeating the names a couple times in her mind – despite her desires to become an actress, she's still struggling with remembering words. luckily, she has eddie by her side, which is more than she could've ever asked for. sure, there were many important aspects she should prioritize, but the little family she has made along the way – with individuals she once passed as mere strangers – was far beyond anything else. she offers a nod in response, whilst her eyes focused on a dead point – this phenomena tends to occur quite often lately, it seems – but nonetheless, her gaze flickered back towards him.
" that'd be amazing! " she utters, rims of her pink pout twisting upward, " thank you, eddie. but oh, i could paint you cassettes in return, while you work on the tracks. how's that sound? " she queries, taking one last scan at eddie before immersing into her own world, where ideas flash before her very own eyes – barbie could customize some tapes for eddie, if he agrees to it.
" what was your band's name again? " barbie could swear the name had some objects she could potentially use in her little arts and crafts rendezvous. " corroborate coffee? " tonality reaches a high pitch as her question comes to an end, clearly not confident in her response.
eddie is immediately caught off guard as her arms wrap around him, freezing for a moment before awkwardly returning the embrace && smiling softly, "no problem." a mumble, as he closely watches her reveal the vibrant cassette. && he's gotta admit, it's impressive, even if it's not exactly his color palette of choice. she's made it her own. "shit, that's pretty cool," eyes lighting up as he gently takes the tape, examining the design like it's a piece of art — it is.
"suggestions?? uh — " maybe throwing out iron maiden && motorhead as suggestions can wait for another day. his personal preference in music is set aside as he thinks of artists catered more to barbie's current taste.
"well, if you end up liking madonna, you'll probably like blondie. they're pretty catchy, actually. && i guess there's the bangles too." even when it's not his own style, he's clearly got a sense of enthusiasm discussing music && recommendations for her. "i could make you one of these." the tape is handed back, not before taking one last glance at her design. "like, custom tracks. && you could paint it, y'know with the artistic flair you've got going on."
❛ are you sure about this? ❜
sure was a strong term – there was a possibility that the outcome would turn out in their favor. both barbie and jessie get what they want. statistically, the possibility was below fifty percent in this particular situation; but luckily, this barbie had no idea how numbers and statistics work! therefore she purses her lips into a thin line, smiling ever so slightly, as she's nodding her head. " i think this idea has got some potential. " at the very least she was honest about the situation, she didn't know if it'd work, but she has the spirit! slender hand shifts towards her face to move golden locks from one side to the other, revealing her bare neck. she trusted jessie wholeheartedly, no matter how she were – human or vampire. even if there was a slightest chance that barbie might not make it, she would take that risk for her friend.
" i mean, i am human which means i am a walking blood machine – thing. i don't mind sharing some of it, if that means that you'll feel better. " a light shrug follows whilst she's tilting her neck. though barbie wouldn't admit it, her blood started to flow at a rapid rate to the point she could feel it. and yet, she did not flinch for a moment, fighting that sentiment swirling within. oh, the things she'd do for those she cares about. white pears are flashed towards jessie, as a feeble attempt to prove the other nonverbally that she was content with her choice.
❛ here, let me give you a hand. ❜
🙶 this thing’s broken beyond repair. 🙷 shoulders rise and fall, she wasn’t talking about the device in her hands. this barbie didn’t have any expectations and somehow still winded up disappointed. the path for fame seemingly built with sea sand – and she’s wearing high heels. slowly & steadily falling down, not grounding into reality but deep inside her own fears and terrors. 🙶 oh. oh! you meant this. 🙷 a bright smile flashed his way, automatic & industrialized. slender digits click on all buttons once more, hoping for the best, but to no avail. 🙶 i stand by what i said. i think i just bought a defective one. 🙷 a stupid walkman was slid towards him, whether eddie fixed it or not, it didn’t matter.
i made a playlist both for entertainment & for musing purposes.
if you watch the videos, tell me, which barbie are you?
❄
hawkins was already covered with a white blanket in mid december, which did coincide with barbie's christmas spirit ever growing within. no matter what others said, christmas was right there in front of them and all around them. the crystalling snow, the hanged up lights 'round town, the christmas market with the gigantic ferris wheel to look down at their little town lit up with christmas joy. everything hinted at christmas already being there. cerulean optics were gazing at one of the decorated houses, with a santa claus decoration on the rooftop, among with his reindeers. barbie was trying to find rudolph — the process similar to finding waldo. it wasn't until a snow ball was thrown her way, bits of snowflakes adorned her dyed blonde hair. ❛❛ hey! ❜❜ she claims, turning her head to the side, to glance at lizzy. ❛❛ this calls for war. ❜❜ she continued in the uttermost serious tone her voice range can go. it didn't take barbie more than a couple seconds to lean down and grab some snow in her bare hands, making a perfect snowball. a flicker of youth's mischief in her glance as she swung her arm backwards, ❛❛ last chance, liz. d'you surrender? ❜❜
BOLD what your muse can do. italicize what they can do to some extent.
REPOST, don’t reblog.
bake a cake from scratch | ride a horse | drive a submarine | speak a second language | dance | catch a fish | play an instrument | throw a punch | build a deck | ice skate | roller skate | unclog a drain | program a computer | change a flat tire | fire a gun | sew | juggle | play poker | paint | fly a kite | sculpt | write poetry | change a diaper | sing | shoot a bow and arrow | ride a bike | swim | sail a boat | do a back flip | play chess | give cpr | pitch a tent | flirt | stitch a wound | read palms | use chopsticks | write in cursive | use an electrical drill | braid hair | make a campfire | make a mixed drink | do sudoku puzzles | wrap a gift | give a good massage | jump start a car | roll their tongue | magic tricks | do yoga | tie a tie | skip a rock | shuffle a deck of cards | read morse code | pick a lock
Tagged By: the owner of this doll @chaoticjoke !
Tagging: @edxmunson , @shesmidge , @astrapink , @tornblackedgcs , @r4chelamber , @cowg1rls , @havvkinsqueen , @swervdcity (for barbies bestie frida) , @earringmagick , @plastink , @justkcn , @kennergy & everyone who sees this