this post was submitted on 03 Aug 2023
1657 points (94.6% liked)

World News

39011 readers
2796 users here now

A community for discussing events around the World

Rules:

Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.


Lemmy World Partners

News [email protected]

Politics [email protected]

World Politics [email protected]


Recommendations

For Firefox users, there is media bias / propaganda / fact check plugin.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/media-bias-fact-check/

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 

For some women in China, "Barbie" is more than just a movie — it's also a litmus test for their partner's views on feminism and patriarchy.

The movie has prompted intense social media discussion online, media outlets Sixth Tone and the China Project reported this week, prompting women to discuss their own dating experiences.

One user on the Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu — a photo-sharing site similar to Instagram that's mostly used by Gen Z women — even shared a guide on Monday for how women can test their boyfriends based on their reaction to the film.

According to the guide, if a man shows hatred for "Barbie" and slams female directors after they leave the theatre, then this man is "stingy" and a "toxic chauvinist," according to Insider's translation of the post. Conversely, if a man understands even half of the movie's themes, "then he is likely a normal guy with normal values and stable emotions," the user wrote.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago (5 children)

Out of curiosity since I haven't seen the movie but saw some reviews: is the representation of society (the way they depict it in the movie) meant to be like real life? Or is it more of a satire / exaggeration of it? Because the things that were described in the reviews about the "real world" bits definitely didn't sound like how things appear to be in most parts of Europe that I've been to (or lived in).

[–] [email protected] 51 points 1 year ago

The best satire reframes real life in a way that you suddenly see just how insane reality is. The Barbie movie does this very well and it presents real things that still happen every day all over the world in the course of the movie

[–] [email protected] 30 points 1 year ago

It's an exaggeration, albeit with merit. Tbh the whole film's pretty surreal. Funny as fuck though and worth a watch

[–] [email protected] 17 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (4 children)

The representation of "real world" is meant to be an exaggeration of real life, both as satire, and to underline issues women face and systematic advantages men receive. I think that part was quite good at doing what it was trying to do, it was funny as well, and Will Ferrell is of course hilarious as CEO.

What didn't really resonate with me, and kind of rubbed me the wrong way, was later in the movie, when "men" were portrayed as being simultaneously incompetent at everything they do, and at the same time manipulative and power hungry. By all means, it was funny, and got the point through, but I think they went too far in portraying the "bad guys" as both stupid and malicious, but also hard to overcome.

I think the message of the movie (the way I understood it) would have gotten through in a better way if they had made the resolution less dependent on the "men are dumb" caricature, and played more to "women are strong", they could maybe even have brought in some "men and women can actually function together if they talk to each other".

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I didn't see the Kens as dumb or bad guys. They were toys who took wrong lessons from history by accident. None were bad bad, well maybe Mattel because of profits.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago

when "men" were portrayed as being simultaneously incompetent at everything they do, and at the same time manipulative and power hungry

Can't help but be reminded of something.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

You don't need to portray men as vicious to make your point about women being virtuous.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I mean... both the kens and barbies where very dumb, not the main one since its implied that she got redpilled by going into the real world, but the other ones are dumb since they just do hedonistic shit all day and when the kens come with the "we rule now" mentality they kinda just accept it without fight, it takes the complaining of the mother character to spark discontent to the barbies. But its more because everyone in barbieland is kinda like an alien.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

Satire, Mattel headquarters is MIB/Scooby Doo crossover :D

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It's over the top exaggeration to highlight plot points.

I didn't find the purported themes really resonated with me tbh.

The sets and costumes were amazing and there were some funny bits tho.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

What would you say some of the themes are? Based on the trailer it's kind of difficult to figure out what the movie is really about.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

I'd say it's better to see without any prior knowledge