As always, thoroughly enjoyed your ease at articulating your perspective, and all the knowledge you provide. I clicked on the Elinor link and started to scroll through her work and was awed, thinking "she could be one of my new favorites," and then I realized I was already "following" her account, yet i've never seen any of her posts come across my feed. I'm assuming I follow her because you've mentioned her before, but it gave me an eerie feeling that IG is showing me more shit from accounts I don't follow than gems from ones I do. SO. . . thank you for possibly mentioning her again!
I must say I so agree with you. I can sometimes feel like a bitch when it comes to the intensity of my energy on this topic. Thanks for an essay that resonates.
By "quite the opposite" I didn't mean that I liked the movie more, but that I understood the movie better. Your insights shed light on something I didn't want to admit (I saw the film with with two strong women who LOVED the film, and my offering any type of criticism would have ruined their ecstasy; or perhas I was just unprepared (read: scared) to deal with their potential fury).
However, what I had problems with is perfectly crystalized in John Truby's review (which I read a week after seeing the film). I sent you the link via Facebook Messenger, but if any one of your readers are interested in reading his review, they can go to https://www.facebook.com/JohnTrubyScreenwriting and scroll down to the August 2nd post.
In your review you said, "The film was able to get away with masquerading commercialism under the guise of celebrating women". Okay. Possibly. I don't have a problem with celebrating women and making that super-commerical. However, what pinged my senses was this line (or a part of it): "... for this kind of self-congratulatory feminism is the antithesis of the approach I have taken in my own work." "Self-congratulatory feminism" was the key phrase for me. A kick in the groin. And suddenly, I remembered that while watching the film, I too thought that I would have preferred Barbie to be grittier, the story to be dirtier, and her journey in the 'real' world to be more difficult; not just harder on Mattel but also harder for us to watch. I've been scouring the Web for Diablo Cody's original script, but no to avail. If anyone has a copy and willing to share, I'm willing to barter :). Anyway, I hope it somewhat satisfies your curiosity, Dina.
Thank you for link to the review, I like that take. I also thought that Ken was the most interesting character and the movie was really about him. And love hearing your take on this. I wouldn't write about film, which was just mediocre, has it not been for the almost unilateral adoration of it. So I was curious to hear about your thought process for that, thank you!
Thank you for the perspective. I walked out of Barbie thoroughly confused. I'm still trying to put into words my takeaway and want to thank you for helping me to do so, literally, just now. Ambivalence is great word for what the entire wave of " celebrating women" that I see everywhere in art right now is causing me to question.
As always, thoroughly enjoyed your ease at articulating your perspective, and all the knowledge you provide. I clicked on the Elinor link and started to scroll through her work and was awed, thinking "she could be one of my new favorites," and then I realized I was already "following" her account, yet i've never seen any of her posts come across my feed. I'm assuming I follow her because you've mentioned her before, but it gave me an eerie feeling that IG is showing me more shit from accounts I don't follow than gems from ones I do. SO. . . thank you for possibly mentioning her again!
Elinor was my teacher in MFA, and has been a constant inspiration since then. I am glad you rediscovered her.
Great post, Dina Litovsky! I actually liked Barbie, but your take on it has helped me see the film in a slightly different light. Thank you for that.
Sorry to ruin it for you . But not really :)
Good work. Provocative and persuasive.
Thank you!
An absolute delight read. I am glad I am not alone in the sentiment. Your words resonate with my soul !
Good to hear :)
I must say I so agree with you. I can sometimes feel like a bitch when it comes to the intensity of my energy on this topic. Thanks for an essay that resonates.
You didn't. Quite the opposite.
Now I am curious!
By "quite the opposite" I didn't mean that I liked the movie more, but that I understood the movie better. Your insights shed light on something I didn't want to admit (I saw the film with with two strong women who LOVED the film, and my offering any type of criticism would have ruined their ecstasy; or perhas I was just unprepared (read: scared) to deal with their potential fury).
However, what I had problems with is perfectly crystalized in John Truby's review (which I read a week after seeing the film). I sent you the link via Facebook Messenger, but if any one of your readers are interested in reading his review, they can go to https://www.facebook.com/JohnTrubyScreenwriting and scroll down to the August 2nd post.
In your review you said, "The film was able to get away with masquerading commercialism under the guise of celebrating women". Okay. Possibly. I don't have a problem with celebrating women and making that super-commerical. However, what pinged my senses was this line (or a part of it): "... for this kind of self-congratulatory feminism is the antithesis of the approach I have taken in my own work." "Self-congratulatory feminism" was the key phrase for me. A kick in the groin. And suddenly, I remembered that while watching the film, I too thought that I would have preferred Barbie to be grittier, the story to be dirtier, and her journey in the 'real' world to be more difficult; not just harder on Mattel but also harder for us to watch. I've been scouring the Web for Diablo Cody's original script, but no to avail. If anyone has a copy and willing to share, I'm willing to barter :). Anyway, I hope it somewhat satisfies your curiosity, Dina.
Keep up the good work and have a great weekend.
Alex
Thank you for link to the review, I like that take. I also thought that Ken was the most interesting character and the movie was really about him. And love hearing your take on this. I wouldn't write about film, which was just mediocre, has it not been for the almost unilateral adoration of it. So I was curious to hear about your thought process for that, thank you!
Thank you for the perspective. I walked out of Barbie thoroughly confused. I'm still trying to put into words my takeaway and want to thank you for helping me to do so, literally, just now. Ambivalence is great word for what the entire wave of " celebrating women" that I see everywhere in art right now is causing me to question.