Okay, so the big controversy this week seems to have to do with a certain Barbie doll dressed as Black Canary. The reactions so far have been interesting.
Brett Singer is bemused by the choice:
For what it’s worth (excuse me while I geek out again) Black Canary is, despite her appearance, a fairly positive female role model. She’s considered one of the best hand-to-hand fighters, male or female, in the DCU (that’s “DC comics Universe”) and is currently the leader of the Justice League. She takes no crap, kicks major ass, and asks questions later. Barbie once said, “Math class is tough!” (source) So you could make an argument that Black Canary is a better role model than Barbie, and therefore the doll is empowering.
I don’t really see the point of doing this, especially since Barbie’s target audience is young girls. So while I think the Vast Christian Right Wing Conspiracy is a bit over the top, I do think it’s kind of an odd choice for a Barbie doll. What’s next, Big Gay Ken? Oh wait, they did that already.
Glenn Walker thinks the Christian Voice needs to do their research:
The other thing, the most important thing perhaps, is that Mattel will be marking this product, due for release in September, for adult collectors. It is specifically part of the Black Label Collection, packaged and marketed specifically for the adult collector market. Hear that, Christian Voice? Not for kids. So why the whining?
And if Black Canary’s costume is so offensive, where have you been since 1947? Where were you when she was featured on popular TV series like “Smallville,” “Justice League Unlimited” (a cartoon! and you all know those are just for kids!) and “Birds of Prey?”
Livejournalist Jarodrussell just doesn’t like the fishnets:
You want to say “some girls just like fishnets,” fine. You wants to make the same, stupid crack about guys staring at her legs, fine. But then don’t go on about how from personal experience you know how wise it is to have a heftier material between one’s skin and the elements. That’s just…AURGH!
AURGH!
I’ve tried to just ignore this, because frankly I think that Barbie Canary looks more like Lord Fanny than Dinah Lance. But when someone goes on about how great a thicker material is for a fight and then all but says, “Except for her legs, because how else are the villains supposed to tranq., cut, stab, or claw her in a fight,” my inner geek won’t be quelled.
So what do you think?
July 20th, 2008 at 4:36 am
There’s nothing more offensive about this Barbie than all the others. Either you accept that Barbie is a somewhat sexualized fashion model of a doll, or you don’t. I don’t like Barbie. I think she sends girls the wrong message about impossible female proportions and so on. But this one doll is nothing unique.
I just don’t get while Dinah wears the fishnets again. Her previous costume was sexy but more practical. Fishnets just seem silly. Except for Zatanna since that’s really a costume and not a uniform for a kick-ass fighter (and since Zee can just conjure up new hose and Dinah has to buy 200 pairs a year).
July 20th, 2008 at 10:40 am
I like her dagnabit, and I’m going to go out and buy one when they become available.
So there.
July 20th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Christian Voice is a fascist group in the uk, I think Christian Voice need to fuck off altogether, Not do research.
July 20th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
What’s really stupid here that no one is addressing is that at the $40.00 price point (did I get that right?), this Black Canary doll is not intended for sale to little kids, but to collectors.
July 20th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Actually, Squashua, Glenn Walker addressed that. He didn’t give the price, but he made the rest clear.
July 20th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Christian Voice strongly opposes abortion,[4] homosexuality[5][6], no-fault divorce[7], ’safer sex’ education, and use of the Scottish Gaelic language for broadcasting[8]. CV believes in restorative justice[citation needed] and also the reintroduction of the death penalty for murder.[9] CV has called on the monarch to base British law on the Bible.[9]
Christian voice claims that Islam is not an Abrahamic religion. [10]
Who cares? There’s no point replying to these bigots.
July 20th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
MickF has made all the argument that needs to be made. Well done!
July 20th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
If the Christian Voice wants to attack the Barbie character (and Mattel by proxy) for dressing up as ‘questionable’ characters/icons such as Black Canary because of their choice of clothing….perhaps they should pay attention to all incarnations that the doll/figure has gone through over the years. As a matter of fact, this icon has been a role model for hundreds of thousands of young girls much like the original GI Joe has/had been for young boys.
But, back to the matter at hand, if the Christian Voice wants to attack a doll for conveying a salacious image, it should focus on things like football cheerleader outfits worn by live, flesh & blood women - not something that only exists on a printed page, despite whatever implications it may/may not present.
July 21st, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Seriously, you guys need to stop referring to Christian Voice in the plural. It’s a one man band - a Stephen Green (who probably hasn’t seen the American cartoons mentioned above, or been to many American football games). He’s not significant, sensible, or worth giving any consideration to.
July 24th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Livejournalist Jarodrussell is actually a hive creature combined of wondergirl.org feminists and devotess of Queer Eye who’ve been left fashionless since the show ended.
It’s true! I read it on blogspot!