Second character vitality
As I perceive it, in Barbie Land Ken feels deep insecurity and lacks fulfilment in life. On this land, ladies run the world and males are simply the assist act. Ken has a robust need to be recognised as greater than “only a Ken”, mirroring the sentiments of males in our society and their need to be seen for who they are surely, not what the media desires them to be. Nevertheless, Ken’s goals clearly mirror the damaging beliefs we try to interrupt away from; he longs to change into “a ten” and escape “blonde fragility”. Although he might not be disrupting them, Ken’s character does appear to focus on how these items can fester.
When Barbie and Ken enter “The Actual World” Ken is met with the realisation that he can obtain his goals of being greater than Barbie’s sidekick – simply by being a person on this society. However, very similar to promoting and the media, “The Actual World” means that to be comfortable, males should base their self-worth on constructed pillars of success, together with wealth, job standing, belongings and recognition. For males who don’t match these beliefs, their masculinity and self-worth is questioned. Allan, Ken’s good friend, says: “I’m a person with out energy. Does that make me a lady?” Ken claims: “Homes are simply extensions of males.”
There’s undoubtedly a nod right here to the detrimental measures of success and masculinity that the media contributes to. Nevertheless, ironic or not, plainly Ken finds fulfilment and pleasure via assembly these beliefs, believing that these stereotypical measures of success are what make males comfortable.
Regardless of this, it does appear like there’s a extra advanced character arc highlighting the challenges of those beliefs of masculinity. Based on critiques, Ken finally ends up dissatisfied with who he’s in each worlds, displaying the unobtainable, poisonous nature of those stereotypes. Barbie tells Ken, “possibly it’s time to find who Ken is…Possibly it’s Barbie. And it’s Ken.” I like the concept of Ken’s identification being left open-ended, shifting away from the restrictive narratives that the movie has explored and Ken’s difficult relationship along with his masculinity. Evidently Ken’s identification is left undefined and limitless, which is strictly the way it must be for all males.
A gateway into the dialog
Whether or not it could provide any actual resolutions to the problematic roles of gender we nonetheless face day by day, I’m uncertain, however I salute Barbie for bringing the dialog to a mass viewers in a approach that doesn’t really feel confrontational and preachy. It seems to probe on the necessary points across the damaging stereotypes of male success, and my hope for Ken is that audiences really feel a depth of character come via and are taken on a journey to self discovery and freedom with him.
It’s not Barbie or Ken, it’s Barbie and Ken
Can Ken save males? Can Barbie empower girls? Is that this a film about empowered girls or about disempowered males? It’s much less about both or, and extra about ‘and’. Feminism has by no means been about girls being superior, identical to altering the male narrative has by no means been about giving males extra benefit than they have already got. It’s in regards to the significance of each genders exploring their identities and potential, collectively.
Wouldn’t that be a beautiful factor…