BY: MORGAN KILGER, NEWS EDITOR
Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Like many girls my age, I saw the Barbie movie when it hit theaters over the summer. I have read or seen many different opinions of the film online. Most of them point out how relevant the movie is, which I agree with. Some of them don’t.
The main theme of the Barbie movie is that women and girls are often overlooked in a male-dominated society, but that shouldn’t stop them from being who or what they want to be.
It was more than a bubbly film about the world’s favorite doll.
Barbie was empowering for women and girls, and it took social media mere hours after its release to discuss the theme of Barbie. The film was empowering; I felt I was worth something in a society that often overlooks female accomplishments.
However, this empowerment quickly faded.
A few weeks ago, Barbie returned to the limelight after the Oscars. Barbie was nominated for Oscars in eight categories: Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Song, Best Costume Design, Best Set Design, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress.
Barbie did win in most of these categories, one being the best supporting actress. America Ferrera portrayed her role excellently. However, the most notable win was “Best-Supporting Actor” — wait? The best-supporting actor for a female-based film?
Ryan Gosling, who played Ken, won Best Supporting Actor for Barbie. I’m not saying Gosling doesn’t deserve the award. I adored how he portrayed Ken — I thought he was “Kenough.”
He really is, just Ken. Okay, that’s enough of the Ken jokes.
When Gosling won Best Supporting Actor for a female and feminine-based film, there was a bit of backlash.
The main premise for Gosling’s backlash was that Margot Robbie, who played Barbie, and Greta Gerwig, the film’s director, weren’t nominated. Two of the most important women surrounding the film weren’t even nominated.
This outraged feminists all over the world, including myself. It’s frustrating that the lead actress and the director for the film of the year weren’t nominated.
kilgermi22@bonaventure.edu
