The men being presented as ‘dumb’ or probably more accurately as ‘accessories’ is an inversion of how women are often portrayed in films, as accessories to men, or as motivation for men (ie the daughter that gets kidnapped in Taken, the wife that gets killed, the mom that gets killed, the love interest who is trapped, or the sidekick girlfriend that is only there to prove the male protagonist is straight. They rarely have anything substantial to do and rarely get their own character arc). Anyone who is offended by how the Kens are portrayed probably haven’t spared a brain cell to look at how women are usually portrayed in film. And also Ken gets a big character arc and positive resolution that just is almost never afforded women in films with a male protagonist.
I am a woman, and I am so confused as to why other women are literally simplifying this movie and saying it is all about women. The movie was so much more complicated than that, and I wouldn’t expect any less from Greta Gerwig. The movie definitely explores each person’s inherit value in society as a man or woman by doing this gender reversal angle. Not to mention the ideas of humanity vs. “perfection” and process of bringing an idea to life. But by bringing up that secondary theme of what it means to be human versus perfect, it shows how our every day lives are not very cut and dry. There’s a lot of gray areas, and in an interview Greta even said she wanted to lean into those messy areas rather than just make the movie a generalization.
same! i first watched all the shitty reviews and was prepared for the worst, but then watched a movie. and had same exact response. I think Gerwig's overestimated brain capacity of an average american youtuber. it truly escapes me how one can watch this movie and interpret it 'men-hating propaganda"
At last.... someone who actually understands what the movie (and song) is about. The thing is that the movie is primarily a parody. The movie's message that men are 'kenough' is actually (and equally) a message that women are 'enough' and 'great at doing stuff' and don't need to be defined by, or validated, or approved of... by men. Great movie. Great message. For every Barbie and Ken.
I’m just Ken made me so proud to be a man. Barbie movie clearly celebrates and even fetishizes men. All men can see the pain and struggles and the BROTHERHOOD Ken experiences. It’s a masterpiece.
@@ButteredToastandChocolateMilk no disrepect but you have no idea what you are talking about, this song is clearly about a male perspective. Stop talking in "them", the Barbie movie is both pro men and pro women. Why do people like you always have to make a you vs them out of things, its frustrating.
This song wasn't originally in the movie. The writer/producer did other songs for the film and made "I'm Just Ken" demo. Played it for Director Greta. She loved it, Ryan loved it and asked if he could SING the song in the movie. She re-wrote the scene to fit it in... and now we have an extraordinary happy accident.
I love your take on the song. I think what some people miss is that Ken represents a lot of women in the real world (because the world he was created in treats him like a secondary thought/character). Women since childhood (especially historically speaking) were only thought of as the Eve to the common man's Adam. What Ken represents is how women in general have had to fight against this programming to come into their own (still a work in progress). This doesn't negate the tightrope that men have also had to walk in the roles they have been expected to play, especially in the last 20 years. So I appreciated the apology that Barbie gave Ken at the end of the movie signifying the culmination of Barbie's self awareness arc at her privileged status in her own world. Let's hope that bleeds into the real world too.
Watching Barbie gave me serious depression, seeing Ken in his rebel phase because of a girl not liking him the way he likes her is something I can totally relate to. Luckily that phase of my life is over and I'm happily married to my Barbie.
To Eli Hollingsworth: Some people have said "Oh the movie is too "Woke" or politically feminist or LGBT ....but it's really not ...those messages are there but it goes way past that....The main message is "You don't need to let other people define you or your "ok-ness". The movie is about becoming a self actualized human being...That no you don't need to be sticking your finger down your throat and puking to measure up to an impossible standard set by someone else or society...A world where an elderly lady can take in and believe a compliment that she is beautiful just as she is...and this theme runs through to include Ken as he searches out his own identity...but also addresses that people are still "OK" even if they are not "The very "top of the heap in business or owning possessions etc etc...outside things ......that "Average is beautiful too....This movie throws a pie in the face of a society who grew up watching a television that lied to us.....and as children we swallowed it up...but now see it for what it is/was A LIE, false programing that caused 98 % of people to believe they are not good enough....but now,slowly, we all are "waking up" and measure ourselves by our own "yard stick" and decide for ourselves whether we are OK...That is something we decide between GOD and ourselves. And yes it's even OK if you from time to time think/wonder about death...that is what being a living, feeling human being does...it's natural...and OK....in fact I would think it would be rather UN-natural to never think of this. There are no humans that stay young and "wrinkle free" for ever. We have our own power....unless we give it away to other people. Glad to see some people are starting to "WAKE UP"....PS..Some of us couldn't wait for Ken and this movie to come out to set out on this journey for ourselves .....we saw our own need to step out toward personal freedom and started walking some time ago....I hope you can join us.....ask yourself..."How free do I want to be"?
If I may ask one thing.. how are we gonna get greatness if there are no believers in becoming better than you are.. don’t get me wrong I have dealt with those things from joining a gym hate it or learn piano didn’t work out just average in that regard was good at running but it’s started to hurt when I run and so no fun either and ect ect .. but we need people who are great so we can get new advice or new golds and it’s comes with suffering and hard work so .. maybe it’s unrealistic for many to get a body like Ryan Gosling or Margot Robbie or something like that but we still should have respect for effort and dedication and not let “ good job Whiplash reference “ being the norm or something like that…!
@@bacht4799 There will always be those who WANT to be better for themselves. "I want to be a great dancer...singer...actor, etc.' Some people will always want to be great and some won't and either way is good, is great, is enough.
Don't forget that it's still a Barbie movie and so the "Be what ever You want to be" stands. I think the idea is that You can dream, fight and do all you need to be the Best you can be, but if at the end, you don't become the top of the top, it's ok because you are you and that's great too.
As someone who has always loved poetry analysis and also loved the Barbie movie, thank you for really breaking it down in a video for people. The song is a brilliant way to show a man’s journey from the hyper-macho persona that he has been taught to be, and see and hear learn how to build a brotherhood among all kens, learning that they don’t need the Barbies to get their emotional needs met, they have each other. And THAT is what’s truly powerful. From someone on the outside looking in (as in, I’m not a guy) I’m so happy to see the pain of a group of people finally be recognized in a way thats not demeaning. I think thats why Kens plot line stood out to me ( someone who very much claimed the title of feminist for most of her life, although now I add “intersectional” in front) even more than Barbie, the namesake. Because the thing is, we already know that women get harassed its nothing new. But the journey that Ken goes through, I haven’t seen that explored before yet I see traces of it in every man I meet and its so sad. Men seem to be treated as one big scary hive mind instead of individual (fellow) human beings with their own stories and experiences. Thats why “I’m Just Ken” is so powerful, it’s pro-man without being anti-woman and I love to see all of the joy love that has come from this movie and song. Awesome vid!❤
Yes!! Ken (in the flipped world of matriarchy) is from the non-dominant viewpoint! Which is women (and other non-dominant groups) in the real world. To me, the song isn't about how "men" are enough...it's about how the others are.
@@nanciejeanne233 I hope one day that you'll believe it is for everyone, even men! Everyone feels under represented and under attack, everyone has their own problems and everyone relates to ken, whether they are "dominant" or not. Men struggle alot with this too and most men are in the exact position ken is in the movie! No matter your gender though, I do hope the song made you feel enough :)
I was struck at the reversal in roles. Up to now and maybe still many women were defined by their relationship to a man. Point being, I think, no one wants to be powerless or 2nd class or dependent on the attention of another to be happy, to be realized as a human being.
Not until the 1970s were women allowed to get their own credit card. Girls were expected to be married off before the age of 25. But usually in the 16~20 back in the 1950s and further in the past. During the wedding, they said "Man and wife" in the old days. This kind of thinking does continue today, there are guys openly talking about "We need to go back" and also take away women's right to vote. In the late 1960s, the ability to get a divorce was vastly improved. Lots of women divorced men they never wanted to be with. I remember a quote from a guy in his mid-40s who was being interviewed back then. "Who will make my dinner?"
@@shaivjoshi4063 ? Symbol doesn’t mean exactly the same! Or for instance we should have seen Barbies beating the shit out of Kens and kill them sometimes -# domestic violence. In what world do you live that men buy houses for women? Oh you mean those women who stay home to raise the children and take care of the whole house? Well nowadays, a lot of women take most of the role of raising the children and the house AND also works and pays half of the mortgage. But you know all that for sure…
Well said. The writing (and acting and directing and music) for this film are all so brilliant. The key thing about the Barbie movie is that the antagonist is the patriarchy - for both Barbie and Ken - and we get to see the impact when the script is flipped.
The serious nature of the material you're talking about is important! It seems like a silly movie, but it contains deep topics about identity. Good video, earned a sub.
Wow, amazing interpretation ❤. In addition to what you said, this seems to be the struggle of most people stuck in traditional roles as say defined in the fifties.
I’m so happy there’s a song for male empowerment. As a mom of teenagers as they grew up it was so obvious that there was a lot of media to empower girls and not enough to empower boys. And everyone regardless of gender struggles with what Ken struggled with and what Barbie struggled with.
I've definitely been playing this on loop as well. As a woman, I was way more invested in Ken's character and arc. I honestly didn't really care about Barbie's problems. They seemed petty in comparison to Ken's struggles. He's the true main character, in my opinion. I was rooting for him the whole time 😂
I loved it when Barbie busted Ken. He needed that. It was the final push he needed to try to find himself. Hopefully in another movie. I love how Barbie was kind and gentle about it. And I love how Ken was in a position and headspace to accept it and grow from it. He is Kenough. For himself. For the world. And I'm sure, for a Barbie who is made for him.
Let’s be honest she wasn’t gentle about it… she didn’t give a rats arse about him the entire movie. But Ken absolutely needed to be just Ken. Far far away from the emotionally unavailable Barbie
@@resonatingspiritI don’t know what you’re going through, friend, but I hope you’re taking it easy and not blaming yourself. I won’t press against you too hard, since this can be difficult to see when you’re hurting. Barbie was more than reasonable. As I said, she was gentle. She didn’t say Ken was bad, or not enough, or anything negative at all. All she said was that it wasn’t her thing and she even validated Ken and pointed him in the right direction. She comforted him after she had won, when she absolutely didn’t need to. She’s the first one who tells him that he can be his own man, apart from herself. Indeed, he has to be before he can part of any healthy relationship. Ken only dons the “I am Kenough” shirt after having his revelation confirmed by others, and firstly by Barbie herself. Barbie isn’t obligated to provide all the things Ken asks of her. Even Ken knows this, to his credit. He is sad, but he isn’t angry, and he doesn’t demand. Most importantly, at the end, Barbie is absolutely and completely clear. Barbie and Ken isn’t happening. This can be brutal to hear, but it is the kindest way to end it. She didn’t string him along. She didn’t gloat. She didn’t destroy him.
@@resonatingspirit100 percent correct. dont know why calling something out always has to have a "who hurt you" response. and the response comment didnt even get the movie right either
@@arewestilldoingphrasing6490 I don't know what you've gone through, either, but that's the gentlest way I've ever seen a woman do that. If you have any example where the woman put the kibosh better, feel free to refer to it.
I love how some of the people on the comments here act like the entire movie is about woman and how woman struggle so mutch, movies can have more then 1 meaning, It aint all about you
I agree with you!! The movie is NOT about all the negative things the public is putting out! Can we PLEASE remember how this movie has hints of THE TRUMAN SHOW, traveling to other realities!!! I just bought some Barbie nail polish - the polish is named BON VOYAGE TO REALITY!!! AND I’ve been listening to Ken on repeat also! I think it’s the best song in the movie!!! THANK YOU!!! 🎀🛍️👠💄💍🎀
As a little girl of the age... It was a delight to see my toys come to life. I had a Ken, and he was awkward. ... He didn't come with a lot of great clothes. He wasn't articulated, he was stiff, and we didn't have a lot for him to do. ... He was there.... The song Is so catchy, I love it, and I really appreciated Ken's growth arch!!!
He doesn't even get it -_- again, seeing Ken through the lens of being a commentary on men, rather than seeing how Ken's experience is literally reflective of a role reversal of the lived woman's experience, is the reason why we are all stuck. Men also need to de-center men in order to move forward.
@ryushinu84 The Role reversal is exemplified in the streetcar named Desire reference, with Ken's powerful emotional display toward Barbie, flipped, because he's on the second floor of her house, looking down, powerless to control that which he shouldn't, Barbie's autonomy, which goes beyond physical possessions or land. Also, Ken's name is written on his workout-fannypack in the classic Metallica font. Metallica's pinnacle achievement being Master of Puppets. look up ken. then look withinin your fannypack of freedom; cut the strings that control you and us all.
@@ryushinu84 - Ken is both a role reversal and a character who men can relate to. The entire sequence of this song displays many forms of masculinity. The Kens are literally having a Gene Kelly musical number. Men and women should never be defined by a romantic partner. Everyone needs to find their own identity. “Barbie” celebrates healthy femininity and healthy masculinity, while criticizing the toxic forms that hurt everyone.
Barbieland is the caricatural opposite of the real world! Kens are just how women feel and are treated in the real world and how they rebel to exists for themselves. In the end Barbieland is more equal where Barbies and Kens just get both their ways and thrive together and independently. It is a a positive message for equality in the real world 🤗
By contrast Allan has none of these insecurities. He may be an outsider and marginalized by the Kens but he is ok with that and is ok with the Barbies running things because it doesn't distract from who he is.
I wish they did more with Allan. He was sort of representing gay people actually. In society, gay people are subject to the patriarchy but are protected from a lot of the men v women dynamic since they don't date each other. Allan was outcast by the Kens but he wasn't really accepted by the Barbies either. Mostly just used by them, begrudgingly. Allan could have been a good foil/comic relief for both versions of Barbieland but he was mostly just a joke. Actually now that I think about it maybe Allan was too well done lol.
@@aawillma Allan the father of Midge's baby however so maybe he's not gay but bisexual? He seems confused about a lot of things so that may be one more area that is true of.
@solracer66 HA! Creepy Midge... I didn't actually mean to imply Allan the character was queer, but that his outsider/outcast perspective was like the queer perspective of men/women relations in society. Allan isn't claimed by either team and seems confused about why the Ken/Barbie relations are so contentious in the first place. Allan represents asexuals and aromantics too actually. And maybe neurodivergent people. He doesn't GET it, but he does want the best for everyone in his sweet confused way lol.
This movie in general was so much deeper and thoughtful, yet funny, than I ever expected. I know people who won’t go to see it because they think it’s a little girl’s movie about dolls.
I wouldn‘t say Barbie is about one singular particular thing. It‘s a surprisingly complex movie that tackles numerous things at once. But in my opinion the primary message is that objectification absolutely degrades your identity.
You know, when the Mattel team are so worried about Barbie in the real world but don't give a blink for Ken, I couldn't stop thinking that Ken had been a breach the entire time.
excellent analysis. I would say that the Kens in the movie are intended to be an example of a role reversal. For eons of time women have often experienced being just an accessory to men. In times past they had no worth other than who they were married to etc. Greta Gerwig said that the movie is meant to be a satire, although done lightly. A satire is when we hold up something to an absurd level so we can see the ridiculousness of it. Kind of like All In the Family did for racism. And yes, the movie is a masterpiece in my opinion. Packed with so many interesting ideas and "I'm just Ken" is fantastic. I give it a 10. I bet Ryan Gosling wins an Oscar. Also they could win for best score, best set design and so many other things. I saw a comment that one man wrote where he said that young men these days are not connected to themselves. They don't know who they are. They feel empty. They are taught very early on not to show their emotions and that everything is about achievement and money, etc. It's become very materialistic for many young men and women, where it is all about how you look, what you have, who your boyfriend or girlfriend is, and what your friends think. And so this song is saying, you are enough just as you are, man or woman. There is a line in the movie where Barbie says basically that, that you are not your looks, your things, what you have done, etc. You are just you, plain and simple. I love this message for everyone.
The role reversal falls flat. Lacks not only historical but social context. Barbie didnt care enough to know where the kens lived. The barbies have their careers and posessions and dont need a man. Men still want women and find women with their careers and possesions. The kens were subverted and manipulated to prevent them from voting. The Women were the biggest anti women suffrage supporters bc they believed it would come with responsibilities such as being drafted. When the Kens ruled, everyone was happy and they actually spent time with the women and helped them when they asked for it (something the barbies take advantage of) The barbies came in all shapes including fat while the kens were fit. The women were gifted nobel peace prizes and government positions when in real life men had to earn that. The only role reversal I saw was the cheerleading. Bossbabe career women wasnt a role reversal Bc career men who have cars and houses still have families. Men gave women the right to vote and men appointed women into the supreme court. Barbies couldnt do that. The role reversal was equity based and specifically lacked anything comparable to have a foundation to reverse the gender or power roles.
I agree that's what she was going for. But she failed. Some lyrics are distinctly male and can't be flipped. And those tie the lines with ambiguous gender to masculine meaning . Plus it's ken singing the song and there are many examples in the song tying it to Ken. So, I think greta failed in her attempt.
Wow, thank you for this really serious take on the movie which I (as a woman) liked, but I was feeling bad, because many girls got the wrong point. And even my friend (man) said, that it was stupid movie. So I am really gratefull, that somebody saw it the same way as I did. That there was deep storyarch for Ken as well. 😊 Thank you for this video. (And I was especialy fond of the sentence about G_d 😏)
Keeping my fingers, toes, and all my internal organs crossed, hoping that everything in the universe aligns to give us Ryan performing this song at the Oscars.
Barbie doesn't define what masculinity should be, ken does this to himself. He defines his worth in relation to Barbie, and she just isn't interested in him. The message of the movie is an allegory for both men and women. Barbie land is the real world turned upside down. Women are in charge and the center of attention and power and everything else. In the real world men still are. Hence the board of Mattel being men in the movie which reflects real life. Very few women or other minorities serve on boards of major companies. The point was ken(women in the real world) not defining themselves by the relationship they are in with Barbie(men in the real world). That they BOTH should be independent a define their own worth, not what the culture decides what men and women should be.
Totally my Gym song no lie legit just told off THREE toxic girls who kept me around just to use me for my attention and energy and money. Nah F that. I am getting shredded and doing me.
I didn’t realize the lyric about it being a crime to love thanks for that. I think the line about blond fragility is live and die a life of blond fragility. Could be wrong but I’m obsessed with both those sets of lyrics and it took a bit before I heard that. 😀
I just found out that Ryan gosling sings and plays piano in a creepy band called Dead Man's bones! There's a children's choir in it and they sing the creepiest lines.I liked it.
I like this perspective. I just wish the movie made more effort to achieve a synthesis of the two groups. The Ken's still aren't treated equally by the end of the film. They only get some rights. I don't think this is a good way to paint the barbies especially with the method they used to take back barbie land. They used the genuinely loyal and loving Ken's nature against them.
The message of the movie is not "Barbieland is wonderful". The movie starts from that idea and then breaks it down to show the negative effect the brand and the world have on both dolls and people (through America Ferrera's character). Barbieland doesn't divorce itself from Mattel at the end, there are tiny little steps toward respecting men and normal women but for the most part the problematic status quo is restored. The happy ending is not that Barbieland is now perfect, it's that Barbie and to a lesser extent Ken have learned to separate themselves as individuals from Barbieland's expectations and requirements.
I am Kenough. 😅 Love this review. You speak as quickly as the people in the movie… did Greta make you do this 🤔 haha. Great job. I want a Ken movie, just saying x
We can relate with Ken. We have all simped for someone. We have all had a crush and someone has emotionally used you, as women do. Let me insult your Dad and you think I'm an a$$. Let me Insult your Mother and see your rage come apart - you see that's what happens in the movie, they Use the helpful side of the Ken's (the Male spirit that wants to Help) and the Barbies twist it to their own purpose, with the help of feminism. Naturally the Barbies seen to happy with Ken's 'oppressive rule', Barbies have to kidnap other Barbies to brainwash them with a dump of what a women goes that (that can be equality applied to Men) example: I have to be strong, but too strong as to come over as toxic. I have to helpful but not too helpful that I'm labeled a creep, I have to respectful, but too respectful that others will think I'm weak ... you see this is life. This is why this movie is a masterpiece.. the Duality that is .. life
Most people seem to also miss the over the top role reversal going on here. For much of history, women have been attachments to the men in their lives. "Let me introduce Mr. & Mrs. (insert husband's last name here)." A girl was attached to her father until marriage, her husband until his death, and then her sons decided her fate. Women have really only been deciding who they are as individuals for less than a hundred years, only a few decades if we really get into it. It's a great song. Who are we when we aren't defining ourselves in relationship to someone else? I love it.
Ypu don't know real history. Men hve protected and provided for women since start of human civilization. Infact even now. Men an rip you apart a new one but we don't do it due tp the kindness in us. Be more greatful.
I see this as commentary for so called incel community or at least potencial incels. You are all your life nice and polite and as reward you get ignored, mocked or even insulted. Not just by one woman, by any of them. That would change one in very bad way, who would accept it. In the end you can see that show at least empathy or respect can be major step for better view for life, genders should accept each other.
Dude I clicked on the video thinking there was a secret meaning. This is litteraly what the song is about. Obviously. This is why it's funny because it's clear, bold and out there...
It's problematic that the central Ken doesn't seem to have anything that he feels accomplished in besides "I do beach" and doesn't have friends who are other Barbie world characters, but that's a problem that makes sense to work through here that does come up with the dolls. Barbies are more numerous, the natural focus of the play, and easier to come by used or as gifts, so,if a woman can do a role, why use a Ken? If you have a Ken, it's likely because you're wanting family or romantic play options, so you reserve your Ken for use as the perfect male love interest and everything else is defined by that. I think the comedy in the movie about public disinterest in the famously unsuccessful "Allen" doll, who was meant as a friend for Ken, shows how little girls Barbie play preoccupies itself with men's identities as they relate to the self and other men. Quite frankly, if Allen had existed in my collection, I would have defined him first of all in relation to romantic possibilities with Barbies. Guess that shows me being socialized to idealize and too exclusive a focus on things romantic as a young kid WAY the hell before I was ready to be in love with any person. That's a product of patriarchy and a problem, as a mindset, for dealing with both sexes. I wonder how often boys use female characters in their male-coded play and what aspects of our ways in the world get exaggerated or forgotten. To be fair, Kens have some jobs and life callings too, in the Barbie doll world. I recall a photographer Ken and the Ken I once owned was packaged with the child doll tommy, as a kind father, taking this same-gender child out for some outdoor fun in a child carrying backpack. But it's true that I primarily chose that Ken model as a kid because I thought it was a good deal to get the necessary Ken doll with an extra child doll. I then proceeded to buy a mixed clothing pack including a suit for him which became the only thing he wore from then on, as he played the positive romantic lead in my fantasy princess fairy tales and soap operas. His relationship with my favourite Barbie and ,secondarily, other characters was what made him incredibly important to include, usually as the second main character.
The fact that in this rendering of the tale Barbie does not have deep feelings for Ken is quite ironic and immediately puts the focus of Barbie as “being good a doing stuff”, among other things, including setting up a crisis for Ken.
What cracks me up is the hatred from the conservative men. They are definitely showing their male fragility. When in fact you shouldn't live your life dependent on others. Just be yourself and love yourself like no other ever will.
Actually, what I realize listening to this is how smart what's going on with Ken's representation in this movie is. If I told you this was a comedic character with low self esteem struggling with his masculinity and taking it out on women and other men, usually you'd think that would be painfully immature comedy and funny in a way that's unsettling at a deeper level. A big reason this works in a much less painful way than every other comic character doing similar things is that a) the movie makes it clear that Barbie is happiest not in love with Ken and this by no means needs to be an unfulfilling or unworkable reality for her and b) the presumed horrifying violence and injustice that installs patriarchy in Barbieland is either enacted off screen or acted out with campy, humorous symbolism which don't revel in violence -- violence and injustice are mostly rendered in astheticised symbolic ways that become absurd and ridiculous to balance out the really heavy pain that the audience doesn't need to see to realize the terror of.
Ken is only neglected when he defines himself in relation to Barbie without taking into consideration who Barbie is and what she actually wants. This is a seed for the idea that one would need to subjugate another in order to get what they want.
There are multiple layered messages. His point is great and well said. However, the Ken message is a role reversal of sorts, the kens get the perspective of being female. If Ken were Barbie in the scenario it wouldn’t have gotten a shrug about challenging societal roles. The fragility comes from those that think Ken is treated unfairly and see it at “man hating”. The point IS the reversal. Hey Ken, you didn’t love being treated that way? Well guess what, those that you consider under you are holding up a mirror.
If it is a reversal, what does the ending say about the message we should get from this?... did the director want to communicate that going back to a patriarchal structure (since it's a reversal and Barbie world is a matriarchy) is ok? Is this a pro-patriarchal movie where patriarchy and matriarchy just switched places?
Helen Mirren said it best, “One day Kens will have the same power in Barbie land as women do in the Real World.” I can't tell whether this guy is beating up the Barbie movie, feeling sorry for the emasculated Kens, because his opening is contradictory to his closing. I loved the movie, I laugh every time I have attended a viewing (four and counting). I was not even a Barbie doll fan, but this movie provided me with an entirely different vantage point of Barbie and how she has impacted women and girls.
I was pleasantly surprised at how, as the film progressed, Ken’s seemingly joke status becomes something much deeper. As a cranky old feminist (who nonetheless feels sorry for men in a lot of ways), I of course felt Ryan-Ken’s anguish. While the structure of the film got a little messy toward the end, the content was smart as well as funny/silly. But hey, it’s a messy discourse.
Because boys usually don’t play with Barbies only girls did that’s why Ken doesn’t have all the stuff the Barbie has. In Barbie land, Barbie has the houses and the cars because Ken was just made to be Barbies boyfriend because boys didn’t play with Barbies. If they did they wouldn’t make cars and houses for Ken.
To me, the message is for not about men! Ken (in Barbieland) is the secondary person under the Matriarchy, so it shows hiw that feels. In our "real world", women are secondary (in out patriarchy) and WE need the self-actualization. Women (and really any person in a non-dominant group) need to realize pleasing the dominant ones isnt our whole purpose. I really doubt that the movie was trying to say how tough it is to be white, straight man.
This is an interesting take, however, I don't feel that all of it directly translates over to the real world. Such as men (including myself) often want to please and provide as the "natural provider" anyway - whether it is in a patriarchal or matriarchal society. So I feel that if that is the case it can't really be NOT supporting mens struggle whilst also being good for womens struggle too. Not too sure what race has to do with it though... In almost every group though there are people who are primary and secondary as you say, i just don't see it as being a society problem, peoples personalities often are the dictator of such reactions (some give some take) whilst also the general biology of carers and providers also pitch in to develop the certain types of people in the way they care about themselves or other people. I am glad the song makes it feel empowering to all though :)
The amazing thing about this movie is that Ken's arc is BOTH. Yes, it is an indirect commentary about how in patriarchical scenarios, women are the accessory, women are the Ken. But the specific issues that Ken goes through are actually modern issues for men. The one area modern straight men do not have the automatic and assumed power in is dating. Ken feeling entitled to a relationship with Barbie because he's attracted to her. He has literally been told his whole life that as long as he does what he is supposed to, he will get what he wants most, Barbie. He ends up feeling confused and lost about his purpose when, despite being the ideal Ken, she doesn't reciprocate his feelings. That is not some coded feminist issue. That is a struggle heterosexual men in general are going through right now. They are doing everything they were shown they had to do, and sometimes it's hard as hell, and they are not getting what was promised. It isn't just a crisis of privilege and entitlement, but of purpose and identity. Ken is representing both men and women in the movie. It's shockingly well done and can be a real bridge of understanding between women's rights and men's rights if enough of us can take our heads out of our own asses long enough.
