Like Shakespeare suggested, masterful art is revealing, with the best theater acting as a “mirror” to humanity.
This certainly is the case with the new hit movie Barbie.
Barbie, whether consciously or not, aligns harmoniously with feminine archetypes and journey’s defined in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. These theories were laid out by female psychoanalysts and mythologists in response to the prominent Hero’s Journey. These “journey” or archetype theories rely on psychoanalytical foundations laid by Jungian and Freudian psychology.
Jung and Freud proposed that humans share universal symbols and narratives that combine into stories that then manifest in dreams and art. These manifestations seem to serve a deeply subconscious therapeutic purpose in understanding the world and how to most meaningfully interact with it.
Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie’s willingness to portray so many different perspectives on womanhood, has turned this story into a kind of parable that will meet you where you’re at.
And in spite of any of the artist’s original “agenda,” or what your feminist or conservative neighbors may think — the profound storytelling of Barbie gives you the privilege of drawing your own conclusions.
These theories suggest that everything I or anyone else now says about Barbie will likely reveal more about them, than the movie itself. And though the following analysis is my own, I think there’s a good argument to be made for what Barbie is really “about.”
Barbie showcased beautifully, humorously, and candidly the divinity of womanhood.
As a “Ken” watching this film, I was surprised by how revelatory this movie was for me.
As illustrated by Dr Jordan B Peterson, a story like Barbie showcases a feminine archetype with the masculine in the background. Similar to how The Lord of the Rings showcases a masculine archetype with the feminine in the background. That said, insights for both genders can be mined valuably from either archetype. However, the emphasis is worth noting for greater insights into the primary utility of the story.
As a Christian, white, male — hearing about the “feminist woke agenda” in the film, I was worried about what accusations might be launched at me. I was genuinely relieved to discover that the caricatured portrayals of the patriarchy were repulsive to me. Rather than feeling called out, it was encouraging to see that what most women find oppressive in males, were elements of our culture that I actively try to pull down or repel every time they begin to pop up in my circles.
(*Though me writing on this topic is a great example of what I am perhaps most guilty of as a “toxic male” — man-splaning. And you probably can’t believe that I actually just referenced Jordan Peterson and The Lord of the Rings or that I’ve chosen to write on this movie at all — but I ask that you indulge my “guitar playing” for just a few more paragraphs, and hope you hear a different tune.*)
I was raised in a home where I watched my mother lead in business organizations my whole life. The emphasis she placed on having a successful and meaningful career — while also balancing her gifts for nurturing and homemaking astounds me to this day. From lullabies over the phone on business trips to places like the UN, sitting on boards with executives and millionaires — to being at my plays every night of the performance, and letting me vent for hours about my life over thousands of home cooked meals (even when I was the only child at home). In my life there has been no shortage of an example of what a capable leading woman looks like.
Therefore, this being my background, in no way was I able to relate to patriarchal sentiments of despising or resenting women leadership.
Additionally, my personality (for whatever reason) lacks a proclivity towards competition. My first year in high school I joined a mountain biking team. And where others were ambitiously chasing placement, I was found happily obliging my intent peers “on your left’s” as I blissfully took in the landscape. To my poor teammates detriment, in my one year on the team, I struggled sincerely to summon a drive to be the best; rather enjoying a peaceful and fulfilling ride on my bike through the mountain side.
While largely spared from the humorous yet sharp targeting of masculine discriminatory, aggressive and competitive tendencies — I was taken back by the sensitivity and profundity of other lessons being directed at men. Particularly, the development of an independent sense of self, and an integral character apart from feminine judgment or companionship.
One of my favorite songs is a song by Kenny Chesney called, “Always Gonna Be You.” (*I told you there would be a guitar*). Though one of few country songs showcased on my playlists — it perfectly encapsulates for me this independence from a companionate identity and feminine judgment.
“I could jump on some old highway
Run a thousand miles or more
Unlock some hidden mystery
Behind a distant door
I could sail the seven oceans
‘Til I crawl upon some long forgotten shore
But it’s always gonna be you
Always gonna be you
I’m looking for”
At this point in the song, like most country songs, we might conclude the man sings about his all-encompassing search for a woman’s companionship. But the song continues:
“I could find an empty church
Get down on my knees
Tell myself that mercy is a matter of degrees
Then lay down in some angels arms
Convinced I’ve found the one I’m dreaming of
But it’s always gonna be you
Always gonna be you
That I love”
To me suggesting that this man’s primary love and searching is reserved for his personal relationship with God.
This song helped unlock in me a sense of independence and self-worth that has truly changed my life for the better.
Seeing Ken discover this same independence, sporting a spiffy sweater saying, “I Am K-enough” — reminded me again of my divine worth, independent of companionship. In spite of the many supreme blessings that can only become available in marriage, truly, a man’s most important relationship is the one he has with himself and the one he has with his Father in Heaven. Without those being firmly set in place as a priority, a man likely won’t be able to make that great of a companion.
But far more impactful than any of the insights I gained for myself as a male – was the truly epic, sensitive, candid commentary on womanhood.
Following the film I heard from many friends (mostly girls) who loved this movie. They said things that touched my heart. As we spoke, I felt that I was also possibly getting a sacred glimpse into where they were at in reconciling their own femininity.
They said things like,
“Men and women offset the weakness in each other. We are meant to work together as equals.”
“The sadder tone near the end was very unexpected and made me a little bit uncomfortable at first but now that I’ve had time to fully process it, I’m so happy they did that. Like once Barbie sees her life from the outside, not even she would want to be stereotypical and perfect.”
“I liked that she met her maker and talked to her about what she wants out of life and who she is now, it made me think a lot of interacting with God, which I was NOT expecting from a movie about a doll.”
“The montage at the end really stood out to me as I was able to recognize the beautiful simplicity of femininity and how blessed I am to have experienced it. I loved seeing my childhood through the lens of the film and seeing how universal girlhood is, then seeing the young adult period, and then the middle aged and elderly period. It just reminded me that life is always beautiful, and that life and girlhood doesn’t end when you become a young adult.”
“As a child who played with barbie’s, it brought back a lot of feelings of nostalgia. [...] all of the barbie’s i had would most definitely be considered the weird barbie.”
I felt that these people, like Barbie, were choosing to see the good that can come from being a woman and being human – in spite of the hurt they could have focused on.
The movie doesn’t shy away from very uncomfortable aspects of what it means to be a woman. Though perhaps exaggerated and condensed in Barbie’s first adventure to the “real world,” she encountered pains that many women experience. This can be confronting as an audience member, and immediately men and women alike may begin to dispense with that pain.
There is much agony and heartache for women. We can come up with many ideas to understand it, or blame it on something. But no matter what your perspective may be on this pain and where it comes from, hopefully we can come to the truest conclusion of all: that life, family, motherhood, and everything else that can come with being a woman — can also be stunningly beautiful.
Barbie’s choices at the end of the film reminded me of another great story about womanhood. A story with lessons, insights and relevance that never seems to fade.
The first woman ever to live, Eve, was presented with a crucial choice. She could live forever in a “paradise” where neither true sadness or true joy really existed. Or, she could partake of the fruit and become divine; able to decide and feel. But in turn bring upon herself pain, sadness, death and ambiguity.
Barbie was faced with that same decision. She could keep her eyes closed and run away from feeling. And in this crucial moment when invited by her creator to feel — it wasn’t the suffering she saw and chose. It was the joy. She saw women, mothers and daughters experiencing unspeakable joy. Like Eve, Barbie bravely chose humanity. She chose love and life in spite of loss, pain, and fear.
Latter-day Saint doctrine uniquely teaches that, “We and all mankind are forever blessed because of Eve’s great courage and wisdom” (Russell M. Nelson).
Like Eve, like Barbie — every person is faced with this decision. When coping with the pain of the world — we can either run from it and generate endless ideas to justify our flight, or, we can face it.
In the end, this is a decision no one but ourselves can hold us back from. It’s the greatest opportunity we will ever have, and it’s never too late to take it.
We’ve seen that women are uniquely gifted in their ability to make these kinds of choices. So in following the example of Barbie, we are invited to summon the courage of Eve, choose humanity, bite into that fruit, open our eyes, and be brave.
And though we may not “know how to feel” — “try.”
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