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Barbie says a lot about the world. I can't think of any other icon that is more widely distributed or so accepted as an image of femininity. Barbie is a defining force for both women and men, for the culture in general. We have chosen this image, voted for it with our dollars, promoted it unconsciously or consciously. When archeologists dig into the ruins of our world they will find the Venus DiMilo of the 20th century: Barbie. |
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This page used to display a series of "Alternative Barbies":
digitally morphed improvements to a vintage "Twist 'N' Turn" Barbie.
I suspect that this page
was the main focus of Mattel's legal threats
against this website, since these images took the familiar mass marketed icon and
gave it a whole new twist, clearly a twist Mattel never intended.
Kate Moss Barbie, Satanic Barbie, Fat and Ugly Barbie. After the opening of
barbie.com (summer 97), Mattel is competing with web sites that present Barbie as
a cultural icon ripe for critique, commentary, and parody.
The "Alternative Barbies" were parodies, and so are protected under the Fair Use clause of copyright. Still I have to proceed cautiously lest I incur the wrath of Mattel and face a costly legal battle. What you see here are the de-Barbied images, names changed and faces obscured to protect the not-so-innocent. I continue to be amazed by the power of plastic in America. |
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back to The Distorted Barblie contact napier@interport.net |
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