Introducing Culture War Barbie?
Elon Musk has entered the Barbie chat by mocking the summer’s biggest box office hit on Twitter. The billionaire wrote: “If you take a shot every time Barbie says the word ‘Patriarchy’, you will pass out before the movie ends.” Musk’s tweet was in response to a Barbenheimer meme that compared Twitter to Barbie and Musk’s new X name for his social network to Oppenheimer.
Musk is the latest to accuse Barbie, from filmmaker Greta Gerwig and starring Margot Robbie, of being left-wing propaganda. Despite earning the biggest opening weekend of the year and racking up $162 million domestically, Barbie has faced criticism for its alleged political messaging. Mattel executives have tried to keep the film from seeming political, with Robbie Brenner, Mattel Films’ executive producer, stating that the film is “not a feminist movie”.
Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro also criticized Barbie in a viral YouTube video. He claimed that the politically speaking, the film suggests that men and women are on two sides and hate each other, and that the only way to have a happy world is if the women ignore the men and vice versa. Shapiro predicted that Barbie would fall off a cliff at the box office. He even set fire to Barbie dolls on a BBQ in protest.
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Texas Sen. Ted Cruz accused the movie of pandering to the Chinese communist party, claiming that the inclusion of the “nine-dash line” on a map favors China’s territorial claims of the South China Sea. However, he admits that he didn’t see the film. Podcaster Matt Walsh, known for his anti-trans documentary, dubbed Barbie “The most aggressively anti-man, feminist propaganda fest ever put to film”. Ginger Gaetz, the wife of Republican Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, called for a Barbie boycott, criticizing the portrayal of Ken’s “disappointingly low T” and “beta energy”.
Despite these criticisms, the vast majority of Barbie viewers seem to disagree. The film has received a 90 percent positive critics score and an equal 90 percent positive audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. This rare critical and viewer blockbuster success demonstrates that Barbie is resonating with audiences. It is noteworthy that this achievement has been accomplished without being a superhero film or an extension of a preexisting cinema franchise.
Leading up to Barbie’s release, the creative team and cast spoke about the decade-long journey to getting the iconic doll on the big screen. They emphasized their vision for the Gerwig movie, co-written with Noah Baumbach, as a feminist and inclusive take on the toy brand. Issa Rae, who plays President Barbie, stated that the point of the movie is to portray a world where there isn’t a singular ideal. She expressed her concern about the representation of white Barbie dolls, stating that if perfection is just a bunch of white Barbies, it won’t resonate with everyone.
Barbie’s success at the box office and positive reception from both critics and audiences challenges the notion of it being left-wing propaganda. While it has faced criticism from certain conservative figures, the majority of viewers seem to appreciate its message of inclusivity and empowerment. Barbie’s impact goes beyond its box office numbers and demonstrates the power of films to challenge societal norms and inspire audiences.
