My Three Barbie Core Items

I saw Barbie and I’m conflicted. I didn’t always approve of the film because I read it with a critical mind and having been someone that has researched in the field of culture and youthfulness and beauty I didn’t approve. But speaking as the person who teaches corporate entrepreneurship, culture and marketing I did approve. I admired the genius it is for future sales of ordinary Barbie. Look out for the news stories about queues around Hamleys come Christmas 🎁. So I have mixed feelings about it and they run deep.

I had a difficult conversation with an old friend that I’d gone to see the film with. She was in the beauty therapy trade for a long time and I had to deftly question her wish to have a facelift. I explained why the inevitable patriarchal messages in the film now make her feel that she needs to look younger, by going under the knife.

I really am the wrong person to ask to go and see the Barbie film, particularly if you just want to look at the wardrobe.
Me GW

I painted my initials pink. Have I internalised something?

I later shared with her the internationally published research I did about older women and aging that I did with colleaguesues from LCF. But I don’t think just reading the research will help, as I subsequently realised I too have internalised bits of the cultural system.

Evidence from my fabric collection of Barbie Core 🫢

Further thought made me realize that I too had internalized some of the system the film is critiquing because I do have three pieces of art that can be classified as Barbie Core.

I was surprised because I didn’t think it at first, but today realised I have also internalised stereo typical notions of beauty, goodness and what is appealing.

Small abstract shelf painting with skin resin and magnetic appeal, apparently.

I have made pieces that are pink and glossy and shiny and when I make my art it is important that it looks nice. But is that patriarchy? Can we attribute all those codes about loveliness to that system? Should we? I’ll need to gather with some social constructionist colleagues for the answer.

I don’t know but I do like and perhaps prefer my pieces with those vibrant colors and elements that shine and sparkle but what is that saying about me? I’m the same person that wrote about the perils of the anti aging movement in the beauty industry and the research we did at LCF critiques media portrayals of youthful beauty and the cultural codes around what is appealing.

Small pink abstract paintings with various poured skins and resin.

Nevertheless I am happy to continue to work on my art 🎨 despite the conflicts and perhaps my art is richer and more meaningful because I strive to surface, make sense and navigate the conflict. Strangely, I did enjoy looking at the lampshades in the film and future posts you will see me do both a Ken and Barbie inspired lampshade. I guess the film did get to me after all.

What is Barbie Core?

What is Barbie Core? From my memory of what they’re saying on IG It is vibrant glossy pink 🩷. The main artist for Barbie Core is Emma Gibbons who I met personally last year when I bought one of her pieces at the other art fair. She used to be Damian Hurst’s assistant, I think it beautifully shows. They both use resin and I like resin too