Greta Gerwig, celebrated for her directorial prowess and ability to breathe life into complex characters, has ventured into the world of mainstream cinema with the 2023 release of "Barbie." This iconic toy-based franchise, often criticized for perpetuating certain stereotypes, is now under the direction of an auteur known for her nuanced storytelling and feminist perspectives.
Greta Gerwig's auteurship is characterized by a consistent exploration of female experiences and the complexities of relationships. Her films, including "Lady Bird" and "Little Women," often delve into the themes of self-discovery, autonomy, and the dynamics of family and friendship. These recurring themes are the cornerstones of her directorial style, setting her apart as a filmmaker with a unique voice.
Gerwig is also known for her naturalistic dialogue and the creation of relatable, multi-dimensional characters. Her films are replete with witty, authentic conversations that resonate with audiences. This ability to craft compelling characters and engage them in thought-provoking conversations is central to her auteur identity.
Greta Gerwig's involvement in the "Barbie" project brings with it the promise of a fresh and feminist perspective. Several elements shape her approach in directing this movie:
Reimagining Barbie's Identity: Gerwig's choice redefine Barbie as a character who is not solely defined by her appearance or fashion choices but as someone with multifaceted interests and ambitions. This could challenge traditional notions of beauty and self-worth often associated with the Barbie brand.
Empowering Narratives: Gerwig infuses the "Barbie" story with themes of empowerment, individuality, and self-discovery. Her films often focus on female characters finding their own voices and forging their paths, and this theme resonate strongly in "Barbie."
Challenging Stereotypes: Gerwig has a history of addressing and subverting stereotypes in her work. With "Barbie," she challenge gender stereotypes and promote inclusivity and diversity in the toy world, reflecting her commitment to creating stories that are relevant and progressive.
Exploring Relationships: Gerwig's films are known for their exploration of complex relationships. In "Barbie," she emphasize the importance of friendship, familial bonds, and personal growth, adding depth and emotional resonance to the narrative.
Nuanced Dialogue: Gerwig infuses the film with her signature witty and authentic dialogue. This could humanize the characters, making them relatable and endearing to audiences of all ages.
Discussion Questions:
- Pick a scene that is no longer than 1 minute to describe its Mise en scene.
- In what ways did Gerwig challenge and reshape traditional stereotypes associated with Barbie and her world, making the character and narrative more relevant for contemporary audiences? (Cultural Context)
- Lastly, Did you like the film? Why/Why Not? Have you watched any other film by this author? Which one is your favorite?
1. I will examine the Mise en scene for the scene where Barbie (Margot Robbie) meets Weird Barbie (Kate McKinnon) after she begins to have thoughts about death and she starts to malfunction (her feet are flat, her toast burns, she falls off her roof while leaving) all the Barbies in Barbieland advise her to visit Weird Barbie for help (21:40-22:10) Through this scene Barbie and Weird Barbie are mostly standing across from each other highlighting the juxtaposition between the two. Barbie (Robbie) is stereotypical perfect Barbie who wakes up and normally lives a perfect life in Barbieland, while Weird Barbie is a Barbie who was once perfect but was played with too hard and is now rejected by the other Barbies and is isolated by herself with a house in the mountains. Weird Barbie is what Barbie risks becoming if she can’t go to the real world and help the human who has formed an emotional connection with her and is now sad, whose emotions have been causing fear and changes within her. This juxtaposition developed more with the use of color and costume. Weird Barbie’s house is a mix of swirls and loud colors (orange, yellow, blue, green, pink) with no uniformity, unlike the houses in Barbieland (which can be seen in the distance) which are uniform and all the same shade of pink. Weird Barbie and Barbie’s outfits are also very different. Weird Barbie has a pink dress that has wacky designs on the bottom, thighs with wacky designs on them, crazy hair, with marker on her face. While Barbie wears a blue dress, a ponytail with a bow, and clean white socks matched with blue shoes. In this scene, Gerwig uses full-body shots and medium shots to make the difference between the two apparent.
ReplyDelete2. As Sasha says when she first meets Barbie, Barbie is traditionally associated with being a blonde with unrealistic body ideals and pushes the idea of what a stereotypical woman looks like. But in Barbie, Gerwig doesn’t reduce Barbie to this stereotypical idea, but more as a complex character with feelings and ambitions/wants. When Barbie arrives in the real world she is catcalled, ogled, and objectified in a way that makes her feel uncomfortable and self-conscious. Barbie also experiences changes to her body, cellulite, which makes her feel insecure. Barbie also feels lost and confused when she comes to a new world that is drastically different from her normal world where she has such a huge mission to try and complete (and feels similar emotions when she returns to her own world and everything has changed from how it was before.) This has an emotional toll on her, as she cries at a bus stop shortly after arriving in the real world, and even experiences feelings of anxiety. At the end of the movie Barbie even expresses her own want to turn human.
3. I loved the film. I think that when I first heard that a Barbie movie was in production this wasn’t what I was expecting. I was expecting a typical Barbie movie about her life in the dream house and some type of problem happens. But I am glad that it wasn’t what I was expecting and had light-hearted/comedic moments mixed in with exploring deeper themes such as body image, gender stereotypes, and other feminist themes. I’ve only seen one other Gerwig movie, Lady Bird, which I enjoyed. I love Gerwig’s exploration of relationships in that movie, namely complex mother-daughter relationships, which she also does in Barbie by exploring Sasha and Gloria’s relationship. I also would like to watch her remake Little Women over break.
1.In the 18:04-18:40 scene, Margot Robbie as Barbie faces morning routine malfunctions at home and on a volleyball court. The costumes signify summer, with vibrant attire setting the seasonal tone. Bright lighting enhances the upbeat atmosphere. Robbie's movements convey a sense of displacement, adding depth to Barbie's character. The camera angles, initially wide to establish the setting, subtly shift to a low angle during her fall, emphasizing vulnerability. Overall, the scene expertly utilizes mise en scène elements for a visually and emotionally impactful cinematic experience.
ReplyDelete2. Greta Gerwig achieves this by featuring characters with diverse backgrounds in all storylines, moving beyond the traditional blonde and specific body type associated with Barbie. This shift towards diverse perspectives aligns with the evolving cultural context, reflecting changing views on identity, diversity, and empowerment. The intention is to establish a profound connection between Barbie and the contemporary audience
3. I really liked this film. One of the reasons is because I grew up watching Barbie, and witnessing the continued creation of Barbie movies brings me lots of joy. The nostalgic connection to my childhood, combined with the enchanting storytelling, makes these movies a delightful experience. While I haven't explored other works by this director, this film's direction has sparked my interest, leading me to explore more of their cinematic work. The director's ability to connect with the target audience is amazing , as the film captures the essence of what makes Barbie a timeless and cherished character for many. Overall, this experience has not only rekindled fond memories but also inspired a newfound curiosity for the director's cinematic work.
Starting at the scene 1:07:40 is a cowboy, single shot and high angle of barbie. The Cowboy shot allows for the audience to see the various things Barbie has thrown on the floor to show she has given up. The Single short emphasizes Barbie allowing for the audience to feel her feelings too. The high angle reflects Barbies feelings of weakness as she has been kicked out of her dream house and doesnt know what to do. Starting at the scene 1:08:08 is a close up shot paired with a ground level shot as Barbie is faced down on the floor. The close up shot shows Barbies sadness and confusion, as for the ground level it reflects the inferiority she feels at the moment compared to the Kens.
ReplyDeleteGerwig challenges and reshapes traditional stereotypes associated with Barbie and her world by showing that Barbie hasnt positively affected women the way she believes. In Barbie land Barbie believes that she and the others have had a great impact on women in the real world because Barbies have been things like Presidents and doctors and suppoesdly shown women in the real women that women can be anything.She also believes when she visits it she will be praised and loved by all women. This is not the case however, when she meets Sasha, she is met with the harsh reality that women arent at the top or even the same level as men. Sasha tells Barbie has made difficult and unrealistic beauty standards for women to reach and she hasnt helped in the slightest. After hearing this Barbie is in shock and when she goes back to Barbie land she finds out her home as been taken over and gives up all hope to get it back. However Barbie pulls herself out of this slump and all the barbies come together to take back Barbie Land and they eventually give the Kens just as much say so everything is equal. This is more relevant to audiences because it showed that Barbie was not perfect but in the end was empowered.
I remember I heard about Barbie coming out around 2 years ago and I was so exited because I like both Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling and thought the casting was perfect and its a movie about Barbie! I didnt know what the movie was about before watching it in theaters and it was a shock because I expected to be something like the cartoon movies. Even though it wasnt what I expected I enjoyed so much more as the purpose behind the movie was moving and I think using Barbie to display Gretas thoughts was perfect;
1. (-1:50:05 – -1:49:05) In this scene Barbie wakes up and says hello to the other Barbies around her. She gets herself ready and we see that her house is very pink and so is she. The scene also shows us that Barbie likes to always look perfect. Also all her friends were either working, waking up as well, or something else.
ReplyDelete2. Gerwig represented Barbie as a symbol of acceptance, inclusivity, and self-discovery, who breaks free of expectations and embraces her individuality. Gerwig has created a character that relates to those who have faced similar problems coming to terms with their identity. Overall, Barbie is a relatable character that people can like because of everything they have in common or have also experienced.
3. The film was okay overall because the humor was a stupid kind of funny. Also, the story had lots of dumb-funny humor. No, I have not watched any other films made by Greta Gerwig.