Overview

Was Barbie was the first feminist doll? She always worked in interesting positions, never married, never had a child, and never did house work. Yet today, many women who played with Barbie when they were children consider her to be an inappropriate role model, although these same women often have interesting Barbie stories to tell. In Forever Barbie, cultural critic, investigative journalist, and first generation Barbie owner M.G. Lord tells Barbie's own story with clarity and intelligence, brilliantly shaking up many preconceptions. According to Lord, Barbie's phenomenal endurance says as much about our culture's ambivalence towards femininity as it as it does about Mattel's successful marketing of the convention-defying toy. In this witty and provocative book, she unearths Barbie's low origins as Lili, a sexy doll for grown ups sold as a gag gift in post-war Germany, and follows her development through countless makeovers and career changes into a traditional toy and ultimately an international pop-culture icon. Interviewing the toy-company executives, fashion designers, and merchandizing geniuses who helped mould Barbie into what she is today, Lord takes a seriously wry look at the polyvinyl goddess who attracts as many detractors as die-hard fans. This new edition, the first to be published in Canada, features an up-to-date introduction envisioning a Ken-less Barbie in post 9/11 era and examining the controversial reaction to pregnant Midge.

Full Product Details

9780802776945

Table of Contents

Reviews

Lord shrewdly uses the evolution of Barbie as a touchstone to chart the evolution of our modern culture. -- People Fascinating ... compelling .... A seriously wry, thoroughly researched and totally enlightened look at the doll that most of us either love or love to hate. -- Newsday Scathing, hilarious ... consistently informative and amusing. -- San Francisco Chronicle Its mix of social history, psychoanalytical insights, and the Mattel marketing schemes that evoke them is told with wit, curiosity, and wry photos. -- Los Angeles Times Book Review Terrific .... A book that was dying to be written .... A crisp, often witty love story of American pop culture. -- The Boston Globe The author's enthusiasm is infectious and she writes with considerable wit .... Her subject inspires passion. -- The New York Times

Lord shrewdly uses the evolution of Barbie as a touchstone to chart the evolution of our modern culture. -- People <br> <br> Fascinating ... compelling .... A seriously wry, thoroughly researched and totally enlightened look at the doll that most of us either love or love to hate. -- Newsday <br> Scathing, hilarious ... consistently informative and amusing. -- San Francisco Chronicle <br> Its mix of social history, psychoanalytical insights, and the Mattel marketing schemes that evoke them is told with wit, curiosity, and wry photos. -- Los Angeles Times Book Review <br> Terrific .... A book that was dying to be written .... A crisp, often witty love story of American pop culture. -- The Boston Globe <br> The author's enthusiasm is infectious and she writes with considerable wit .... Her subject inspires passion. -- The New York Times <br>

Author Information

M. G. Lord is an author and critic. Since 1995 she has been a regular contributor to the New York Times Book Review and the New York Times Arts & Leisure section. Her work has appeared in numerous publications, including the New Yorker, the Wall Street Journal, Vogue, the Los Angeles Times Book Review, and ARTnews. She lives in Los Angeles.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available