Week 10 - Consumer Culture and Identity in the USA

For this weeks blog I chose to look consumerism in the United States and how it creates an identity within the mainstream American market. A good example of this is the marketing of the "Barbie" doll product, and how this has adapted to commercialism and also political correctness. Barbie was released before any such issues were as prominent in the public eye as they are today. However, like most products, it has had to develop with "the times" and make sure every issue is addressed correctly.
The website I found looks at how Barbie has developed from the supermodel look to, as of May 1st 2000, 'Presidential Barbie'. The original blone haired, blue eyed Barbie doll is a rare commodity nowadays. Since its release, the 'Barbie' brand has issued dolls with varying hair colour, then different race, and now, along with the ever increasing issue of equal rights for women, a Presidential Barbie, which could perhaps be more of a ploy for Hilary Clinton's Presidential campaign than some might think.
Over the years Barbie has come to echo how society has adapted to political correctness, and in turn tried to plug itself to all areas of society. An example could be the issue of Ken, who was included in order to present a family image, trying to show perhaps the perfect image of American life.

Ed

http://www.alternet.org/story/9064/