Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie

About Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie

"Tiny Shoulders: Rethinking Barbie" is a 2018 documentary directed by Andrea Nevins that delves into the evolution and impact of the iconic Barbie doll. The film explores Barbie's origins and her cultural influence throughout the years. It debates the feminist influences and implications tied to Barbie and portrays the designers who have modernized the doll to better reflect present societal norms.

Making / Production

The documentary was produced by Nevins alongside Cristan Crocker. Its development involved plenty of historians, cultural experts, and feminist critics, whose insights have been integrated throughout the film.

Actors

• Barbie (voiced by various actresses) - As the primary subject of the documentary, Barbie's journey from a 1950s novelty to a cultural icon is thoroughly detailed and analyzed.
• Andrea Nevins - The director also lends her voice in the documentary, offering her unique perspective on Barbie's impact.
• Various cultural and feminist critics - These individuals offer their insights on Barbie's cultural influence and feminism-related issues.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film speaks about the fact that Barbie has represented about 200 careers in her 59 years of existence at the time of documentary release.
• An interesting fact divulged in the film is that Barbie was initially inspired by a German doll named Bild Lilli, which was actually a gag gift for adults.

Quotes

• "Barbie, in the end, is a piece of plastic. She's what we project onto her. She's a mirror." - Gloria Steinem
• "Barbie allows girls to imagine anything they can become." - A line from a Barbie Commercial, discussed in the documentary

Music, Soundtrack

Music plays an integral role in the documentary, thematically supporting the narrative. However, there's no specific soundtrack available to the public for this documentary.