How Barbie EXPOSES Our Modern Identity Problem (Spoilers Ahead)

Here's a surprising take. I actually REALLY loved the Greta Gerwig's Barbie movie (starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling), despite what everyone is the opinion streets had to say about it. I'm looking at you Ben Shapiro and Krystal Ball.
Have you seen the Barbie movie? And if you did, did you pick up themes of identity, insecurity and/or individualism? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
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[@nicolcacola]

This is just so interesting to me, how others interpret the movie. My 20 year old daughter saw the movie and said she absolutely hated it. How Ken was emotionally and mentally abused by the Barbies, which is very much her experience with how Gen Z views masculinity and men in general.

[@jayleemittens9858]

That's the point. Kens are treated in Barbieland the way women are treated in the real world.

[@jayleemittens9858]

The point is that when there is true equality in the real world, then there will be true equality in Barbieland too. Are you mentally challenged honeybun? @@timemachine1944

[@sasha43630]

It depends on who you hang around. I’m not trying to demonize anyone but hyper liberals are 9/10 the ones that do this. I am not liberal and believe that you are the company that you keep so I don’t have any liberal friends either. I’m not conservative either, I am a moderate. But yes this is really sad. As a member of gen z I’m genuinely scared about how the world will look once my generation reaches 40.

[@sasha43630]

@@jayleemittens9858 women can own property, have jobs, and can be in Congress. The Kens in the movie couldn’t even sleep on a bed.

[@jayleemittens9858]

Women can do all that.... NOW. Before the womens rights movements, they could not. Barbieland is akin to the real world BEFORE women fought for their rights. @@sasha43630

[@basicforge]

Thanks Kimi. I like to say, "Do not let the world tell you who you are." On the other hand, God does tell us what his design is for our lives.

[@ecashtoenslavement4320]

Being an objective individual with love in your heart allows much understanding. Nice video Kimi!

[@iymspartacus7089]

I’m definitely not the target audience for this movie and have no intention of seeing it, but I’m always interested in hearing other people’s perspectives. Thanks for your insight, Kimi.

[@alexrich9202]

Once again you offer such a well balanced wholesome perspective that is rooted in truth and humility with the goodness of God. Thank you Kimi!

[@AGStack9999]

Thank you Kimi. I appreciate your review of the Barbie movie. You're amazing. 🕊️

[@RavenC1357]

I love your takes. My teenage daughters loved it, I can't wait to see it.

[@neddanison9202]

If the message is "you're good enough just being yourself", then Mister Rogers would approve.

[@louster35]

Kimi, I'd like to just say that you're a breath of fresh air in this divided world. So happy for you seeing your personal growth along your journey and also very grateful for the thoughtful content you provide us. Keep up the good work! :)

[@alexrollinsberg4736]

I love your analysis and completely agree. Thank you for your integrity and independence. i saw the film a second time and these themes were even clearer.

[@lux_atl]

Prob my favorite YT thinker. Thanks for your thoughtfulness.

[@asimplecadence]

Did you watch Shoeonhead's review?! It was really interesting!!

[@joen4642]

I just cannot watch it but I appreciate your take on it.

[@philiprobertson1102]

Thought provoking as always! Perhaps the big take away is the question of identity but does the average person conceive it that way? You are watching it as a Jesus follower should, with an open yet transformed (or at the very least being transformed) mind. Most people including, sadly, some who identify as Christian probably don’t think about it at all. For them I think the overall impression would be that it is a fun movie with all the jokes being at men’s expense. I am not as critical as Ben Shapiro but his comments about the nonsensical plot are, I think valid. As far as being a feminist movie is concerned I think that is fair but it is a fairly incoherent feminist view (but perhaps that is intentional in order to convey a more subtle point). There is the repeated use of the term ’patriarchy’ and reference to the book “Toxic Masculinity” which as you know isn’t just about some men being toxic but is claiming that simply being a man is toxic. Having said all that I am increasingly frustrated and irritated by those on the right who embrace a Christian ethic but do not go deeper and highlight the fact that without a dynamic relationship with Jesus we really are all (conservatives, Liberal, and Marxist or postmodern) blundering around in the darkness and the real truth about identity eludes us. (To be fair the Daily Wire people do sometimes allude to the importance of this but for all practical purposes their conservatism seems to have a free-standing life of its own which can get along quite well without demanding people answer the question Jesus asked “who do you say that I am”. Without embracing Jesus’ own answer to that question we cannot hope to see His kingdom come which really is our only hope! God bless you Kim. Ps I loved reading your testimony including your story of deliverance. It is a privilege to accompany you a little bit on your journey (albeit remotely).

[@Nyonyozimusic]

This is such an important point. Thank you! I’ll keep that in mind for the next review!

[@zippidisx2749]

I think one thing you are missing is it is in fact very extreme. Where I think you are thinking there is nuanced in this movie is mainly from written incompetence. This movie is ideology in a nutshell 10 fold but the writer is so bad at her job, that she fails in her own message many times.

[@Nyonyozimusic]

I think the extremity is meant to be hyperbolic and therefore satirical. Dunno if that makes sense.

[@zippidisx2749]

It does I just doubt the writer was that clever.

[@Mazurana1000]

Kimi, I started watching this video of yours yesterday and , at about 2 minutes in, I decided to spontaneously go and catch the movie - see it for myself, form my own opinion first. :D I've also seen the mostly scathing commentary and was intrigued by people's very diverse reactions. My verdict? I mostly liked it. There were some aspects that I found problematic, but there were also elements that I appreciated and enjoyed seeing on screen. In short, I disliked there being not one healthy, rounded, or at least average male character. They were all caricatures of negative stereotypes: immature narcissists, icky sexists, incompetent dimwits... Ken was, for me, bruised male ego personified - being wronged doesn't give you a license to turn toxic. :/ And you cannot inspire people to listen and take your point of view into account when you mock and belittle them. :( Also, I disliked how the Barbies, when attempting to dismantle the patriarchy, resorted to sexual manipulation and playing dumb - not a good look for Kens, not a good look for Barbies. Not an approach I would propagate. What I liked was the affirmative depiction of healthy, genuine female experience and relationships! That tear-jerking sequence near the end (scenes of gentleness, warmth, friendship, motherhood...), the respectful and loving inclusion of older women-mentors, lack of catfights and very different women supporting each other... But the message which spoke to me, which I took away was: "Life is messy. Things will never be perfect. Embrace it nonetheless."

[@Nyonyozimusic]

Ahhh I’m so stoked to hear this inspired you to watch it for yourself, and thank you for sharing your review too!

[@dominicscott9145]

Saw it yesterday with my wife & daughter. There were some laughs in it but we were talking in the car on the way home trying to work out what the positive message was? There was plenty it was against but couldn't really work out what it was for (other than just 'WOMEN' generally). Looking back it all seemed pretty cynical and hopeless. Just like 'being a women is impossible and sucks and men are idiots' and that was pretty much it. Nothing optimistic, uplifting or empowering for young girls to be inspired by. Our eventual verdict was 'Was OK, but it's no Legally Blonde'.

[@Nyonyozimusic]

I totally hear you. I had a huge debate about this with a coworker recently 😭

[@dominicscott9145]

@@Nyonyozimusic I was also repeatedly slapped with the irony that the biggest box office smash in years was written & directed by a woman, produced by and starring another woman, based on an iconic toy of a woman, that was designed by a woman who also was CEO of the company that manufactured the toy for 30 years (all of which is great!), but the massage of the film is that in our world men control everything. But I decided to leat that one go & try and enjoy it.

[@luckynonna]

But should tjese children's movies be politically?

[@alexferrrnadas1410]

❤

[@clubx1000]

23y

[@joydanleigh7711]

🩷🤍🩷🤍🩷🤍🩷

[@kraevinmoorehed1776]

I honestly don't know why conservatives are upset . It's Barbie.... I expected it to be a very " girl power " movie, and it was . Just like I expected it to be . It's Barbie!!!!! It's meant for little girls .

[@ciattathompson7461]

I really liked it. I had my doubts going in but loved the ending. I really appreciated how everyone acknowledged their weaknesses, and Barbie apologized to Ken. Very cute movie. I'd re-watch.

[@tedgemberling2359]

Thanks for a great review! I think my favorite moment in the film is when Barbie is at Sasha's school and is going over to talk to her. A young boy says, "never talk to Sasha!" Apparently Sasha is known to be a scary person, and in fact Barbie is traumatized by her. As she walks away, the boy says "people never learn." That was so funny to me. Correction: I just checked the credits, and it looks like the person who warns her there is a girl, not a boy. She is just called "Warning Girl" on IMDb and is played by Elise Gallup.

[@Nyonyozimusic]

Yes, that part!!

[@Bazzlieo]

I didn't mind the movie as much as I expected, it definitely had a little nuance to it, it just was a little preachier than it needed to be. Mostly just a runtime issue I think

[@Snk13_ty]

I really enjoy listening to the way you express your views without biased. You're a very intelligent and aware person who makes great points. Keep up the good work ❤. I'm Independent politically and very proud of that

[@joshuaconniff7712]

I'm glad you enjoyed. I won't be watching, i watched too many barbie cartoons and movies with my sisters when i was growing up. That's enough for one lifetime

[@elizabethl6187]

Do you think Barbie should have dealt with toxic feminism, too? Ken’s arc has more in common with women through the 20th century. Seems like that would have been more honest filmmaking. But I enjoyed seeing how it gave you a lot of food for thought. Thanks for posting this.

[@koyaanisqatsi2855]

Here is my question for you Kimi (after following your journey for a while). The message that you took from the movie was it also the message that the movie was telling or just YOUR take on it. Interpretation is NOT intention.

[@mskool79]

I saw the Barbie movie today. I thought it was pretty good. Ken was funny and I liked weird Barbie. I also liked how it was the woman who was playing with Barbie because that was something she did with her daughter before she hit the teens. I was fine with Barbie and Ken going their separate ways.

[@emmafox4069]

I agree with you completely. I think a lot of people went into the movie with strong preconceptions and saw exactly what they were expecting to see. I do think it seemed preachy at times, and could have benefitted from taking the advice “show, don’t tell.” The long monologues were a bit annoying. Oddly enough, I actually cried at exactly the same time as you lol.

[@scaryguppy1071]

I haven't and probably won't see it but props to you for being able to have your own opinion on it and not hating it just because it's the popular thing to do

[@Bran08Eman]

I get it, don't judge a book from its cover, I will therefore go see the movie with an open mind.

[@fallabeaufaebelle]

I haven't seen the film yet, but i'm excited about it! Always appreciate your insights. Wanted to add that in this day and age when people buy their movie tickets online, I take absolutely zero stake in parents complaining they took their kid to a film and didn't expect it wasn't family friendly or that something surprised them. As an adult, I'm able to take those risks of going into a film and not knowing what to expect beyond what I gleam from a trailer and it's rating. But parents are able to see full breakdowns from various online sources and see films reviewed so they should know exactly what will be in those movies be it political, gruesome, violent, cursing, use of things like alcohol, etc. Parents can't use the excuse that they dont want to spoil the film for themselves as a reason they don't look ahead at these things, especially if they're going to turn around and complain about the film's content. If you want to be responsible, then you wait. The film is rated PG13, so parents should know it's going to have the vibe of a G or even PG movie. So you wait for information to come out, you screen it, and then you decide if you want to take you and your kids to it. The Barbie trailer never came across as "family friendly" to me. But even if it did, parents have a responsibility to look ahead at these things and then decide if this film is something they'd be okay with their child seeing and if they might need to talk to them about some parts. In the age of the internet, there are no more surprises and it's up to you to make the responsible choices for what works for you and your kids. Overall, when I see that I just think of the problem of where we are today that no one wants to take accountability for their own choices. They want to have a mortal crusade and feel justified to crucify the enemy and witch hunt those who oppose them when, in fact, they had complete control over how much of a "victim" they are from the get go. I think you nailed that the majority of critiques about how "political" it is being and your insights on "us vs them" boils down to people are refusing to make choices for themselves. It gives them a pass imo when it would've been easier to just look into the film, decide if you want to see it, and walk out and take away from it what you will. Maybe it wasn't your cup of tea or maybe you loved it more than you thought you would, but at least you made that choice for yourself and it allows you to have the experience yourself without feeling you have to put yourself in a box to appease someone else. Also, fantastic insights on who the target audience was, Kimi! Though I haven't seen the film yet, your illustration of "Barbieland vs Reality" as satire makes me think of "My Life in Pink" (1997) by Alain Berliner, a French film that would be incredibly relevant today and includes a little girl who escapes into a "Barbieland" type world to escape from a reality seeking to force her into a box. The conversation of the patriarchy is also discuses in a French short film "Oppressed Majority" (2010) by Eleonore Pourrait. The short takes place in an alternate world similar to the set-up of how "Barbieland" functions and has elements of satire despite the very disturbing elements it includes. I believe this film is available for free on KZbin or online and has been banned in its home country. Judith Butler talks about coercive control, specifically in regards to gender identity, and her theories are very intersting. You can find her work online and here on KZbin as well. But your point of how groups will form and feel they are beholden to laws to maintain a structure of identity and will enforce those laws on others (with violence, if deemed necessary and therefore justifiable by them) is something she also discusses in her work. You might also like the KZbin channel Finding Sky. One recent video she talks about Pride and the LGBT community in regards to how she as a lesbian feels disconnected from the community and goes into how asking for tolerence and rights has flipped the script and become oppressive. Another she talks about the identity crisis found primarily in Gen Z and I think you'd find that one very interesting. Different topics but at their core I believe you'll find them really insightful. I always love how you return to God. He is in all things and I believe we're finding these groups trying to enforce their ideologies as they stray further from His light by taking Him out of the discussion. Modern society, especially youth, live on a spectrum of narcism of displaying either false bravado or overt insecurity and truly at their core are they not the same? Is it not all pride? Hate is not the opposite of love. The opposite of love is apathy. Insecurity is not the opposite of pride. Pride is not just the belief that you are perfect and can not make a mistake, but also lives in the idea that there is nothing you can do and this is just how things are (the external locus). In the end, it all leads to the entitlement we're seeing from people. The opposite of pride, imo, is humbleness, it is to be grateful. We may not be where we want or expect to be and we might want more than what we have, but when we walk with the Lord we understand we are taken care of even if it's not in the way we might prefer. Christians have suffered horrendous fates for their beliefs, but I believe they were not abandoned by God. It's the entitlement we see these days that makes so many unable to wrap their head around that. They do not understand the difference between entitlement and grace. Entitlement being you believe you earned something you have not and demanding it whereas grace is being given something you do not deserve yet being grateful for it. To understand He lives in us and we are made in his image yet we exist to be imperfect so that we are given true freedom which is the opportunity to make a choice for ourselves, and to choose to have a relationship with Him, gives such a sense of inner peace amidst the chaos. I love how you share His message with love and light rather than with force. You speak the truth and you do so in the hopes of sharing this inner peace with others and I'm constantly in awe of how He is working through you. Thank you so much for sharing your voice and your story with us, Kimi :)

[@Nyonyozimusic]

Thank you for this incredibly thoughtful comment! ♥️

[@MrRushepoo]

sounds like "they" got to you. how is it okay to be pleased in any universe where all men are painted as villains? even the ones who, lets say, invented the cameras that the movie was filmed on. don't you have a father, uncles, brothers. surely its not an apocalyptic film for men. they will be who they are regardless but really KIMI, you're "fine" with it. okay then.

[@sharpaycutie2]

I am 1000% surprised you even remotely liked anything about this film from the humor to the messaging. I couldn’t get on board with anything about this film and even I knew from the trailer that this film was nefarious and nature then seeing it and seeing other peoples reviews about it it was just confirmed everything, and it’s just ridiculous that Barbie would even want a film like this made that completely undermines their brand and their Mascot. But no surprise there a lot of wonderful brands have been hijacker’s by modern culture and will jump on board to sell their crap. For one, I never thought of Barbie more than anything as a doll. I never saw her as a symbol of women working or anything more than that. I just saw her as an entertainment thing for a little girls, and for them to play, pretend to let their imagination run wild because that’s all we do with dolls is let our imagination run wild, so it just surprised me a lot of people have this emotional Response to a doll because I never felt that connected to a doll before Especially one that doesn’t even carry the message that these women who went to go see the movie assumed that she carried for decades . I mean why even care that Barbie has a diversity issue because Barb is not just a name. It’s a brand. She is represented by a blonde hair, plied white woman, and that’s OK because that’s who the character is and the fact that people complain that there’s so many white Barbies as opposed to in the other ethnic groups is really ridiculous because the brand is about her in her life, and what she’s doing, her friends are the supporting roles in her brand they’re not a group. But once again Lazy parents who drug their kids to see this did more damage cuz films these days are just Trojan horses for ideology to turn people into chaotic hateful beings.