Ken vs. Blaine
I never dreamt that Ken will one day have to face-off with other guys for Barbie's affection. What else more can Barbie (or any girl for that matter) want from a perfect guy who worships the very air she exhales? If you have no inkling of an idea what i'm ranting about, Barbie just ditched Ken for a beefed-up klutz aka Blaine. Who wouldn't want a younger, beefier guy in their life? I would. But isn't love suppose to triumph over all else? Wrinkles and all? And what sort of image are we portraying to kids? Sigh, read on.
'til death do us part or when you have a beer gut
Toys are just no longer the same as it used to be 15 years ago. Back then, toys were just that, toys. Now it's mtv influenced ala the fast and the furious lifestyle. I pity Barbie. If she had a voice, I doubt this is what she truly wants. I feel it's such a pathetic marketing ploy just to keep Barbie in the business. (okay, disclaimer here, I'm merely giving my opinion based on my limited knowledge on this) Okay, let's venture into the issue of love. When you swore to love each other 'til death do us part, I believe it wasn't done for the sake of it. At least... during that moment of fluttering hearts and dizzy happiness. Perhaps for once, we should really mean what we say. Or just don't say it at all.
Commitment phobia
Okay to be fair, what about the what-ifs? What if this was Barbie's idea all along? What if she's afraid of commitment and settling down? A younger bloke would seem to solve the problem, superficially though. You don't need to settle down when you have the world at your feet. It's an option. Being young and carefree (or even for the young at heart) gives you that freedom. But who says you can't have fun while staying commited to each other? You'll just be experiencing a different sense of fun. One that has the word responsible preceding it.
Invasion of childhood innocence
So Barbie and Ken might not be the ultimate role model of a perfect family. But kids grew up with them. Glitzier clothes and cooler gadgets aside, both B&K did stood by each other. I'd say keep the drama confined to mind numbing soaps and protect the innocence of childhood. Sure you may inject some bickering into the B&K story to spice things up. By all means, have cat fights and tantrum throwing as well. It's part of a healthy relationship approach of 'we-talk-things-out', no? But take a moment and ponder upon this: Is it really necessary?
Blimey, it's reality, loosen up!
Yup, it's the age of tell-it-all. Aren't we suppose to expose our kids to the realities of life instead of cocooning them up? And tell it to them via their play things. It's something they can relate to without having to scratch their heads sore. But if we're going to run our awareness campaign through such channels, I guess it's just so inappropriate. And debilitating.
We as consumers determine the marketability of toys. We can decide what sells and what doesn't. At the end of the day, it's not about Barbiedom drama, but about teaching our kids wholesome values.
I hope Barbie changes her mind. For good.
p.s. I think I took the issue out of context. Sigh, I guess it's because I missed my childhood. Back then, the only worry I had was whether mom would buy me that faux fur coat for Barbie. And matching winter boots.
