I don't believe it is as innocent as it appears. Call me a cynic, but whenever the media and top news sources start paying attention to something I'm compelled to ask why. Why this?
When “Socality Barbie" first came on the scene I took it as yes, immature, but still just a satirical account overall poking fun at some of the cliches of Instagram. I didn't really pay much attention other than checking out the account a couple times to see if I could figure out what the voice behind the doll was really getting at in her own masked way. At that time I thought I understood. (For the record even though I saw the humor in the parody I was never okay with her singling out Socality, borderline bullying or mocking Jesus).
When “Socality Barbie" first came on the scene I took it as yes, immature, but still just a satirical account overall poking fun at some of the cliches of Instagram. I didn't really pay much attention other than checking out the account a couple times to see if I could figure out what the voice behind the doll was really getting at in her own masked way. At that time I thought I understood. (For the record even though I saw the humor in the parody I was never okay with her singling out Socality, borderline bullying or mocking Jesus).
It was when out of nowhere mainstream magazine after magazine and website after website featured the account so that within a week Barbie had officially blown up and her satirical jabbing became one of the most hyped trending phenomenons of social media pretty much overnight.
It only took a minute to realize it shouldn’t be a surprise that so many main stream media sources, ESPECIALLY the likes of Vogue, Nylon, People and Seventeen would jump on board promoting an account that makes fun of the photographer, millennial, Pacific North West, Instagram, Jesus loving sub-culture as a whole.
As I sit here sipping my direct trade, artisan coffee from a local shop I think of the irony of who is now behind this plastic doll - pushing her to the top of our news feeds and excitedly pointing their finger at a so-called “inauthentic” subculture.
What's so sad is that, using Barbie as their spokesperson, the mainstream media is planting the seed in their reader's minds that these Instagram trends are cliche and inauthentic. Do you hear me? THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA IS TELLING US WHAT IS AND WHAT ISN'T AUTHENTIC?! Do you see the irony? I'm not delusional, I understand that a majority of what I see online isn't always real or showing me the whole story. I've come to expect that. I don't expect anything more from any magazine or website. Now I could have expectations of these media moguls...the power they've shown they have. If they can get a barbie to a million followers imagine if they chose to raise up someone who was actually working on solutions to the issues of our day!
Honestly, if we're going to start pointing fingers, as a woman, and as a wife & mother, I've got a finger to point at them -
I don't want your superficial safety or security and that means I certainly don't want a 12 month subscription. If we're going to raise up the issue of who should be called out for being inauthentic I think Vogue Magazine and the like should be first to take the stand.
I'm way more over the photoshopped images than of seeing the same foggy places over and over.
I am more sick of the two pages of warnings after every pharmaceutical drug you advertise than the people standing in the middle of a photo taking in the fresh, mountain air.
I'm more sick of the fake smiles than the Iceland Air shoutouts.
I’m tired of the stereotypical woman you attempt to convince us is the ideal time and time again.
I think it's cliche to claim we’re all beautiful to be followed up with how we can fix everything about ourselves.
I’m sick of the underlying message that happiness can be achieved by living for ourselves.
I’m sick of the expensive designer clothes. The perfectly styled hair. The best sex. The ritzy cars. The pointless life.
I am more sick of the two pages of warnings after every pharmaceutical drug you advertise than the people standing in the middle of a photo taking in the fresh, mountain air.
I'm more sick of the fake smiles than the Iceland Air shoutouts.
I’m tired of the stereotypical woman you attempt to convince us is the ideal time and time again.
I think it's cliche to claim we’re all beautiful to be followed up with how we can fix everything about ourselves.
I’m sick of the underlying message that happiness can be achieved by living for ourselves.
I’m sick of the expensive designer clothes. The perfectly styled hair. The best sex. The ritzy cars. The pointless life.
I don't want your superficial safety or security and that means I certainly don't want a 12 month subscription. If we're going to raise up the issue of who should be called out for being inauthentic I think Vogue Magazine and the like should be first to take the stand.
I am not defending the cliches and overdone Instagram images. In fact I really love when I see people changing it up and am huge supporter for not posting for the likes or followers. I love variety. I understand the need for less cliche and more heart.
Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. - Romans 2:1
At the same time I’m not going to allow the kings and queens of inauthenticity led by a person who hides behind a doll tell me what is and what isn’t authentic. There's a reason I don't read much from those sources and I certainly don't read anything from them expecting it to be authentic.
Obviously this is just a small collection of my thoughts on this and there is so much more that can be discussed. Basically what I'm getting at is if you're going to point out the speck in your brother's eye you'd better be prepared to address the plank in your own. This is why we need to be careful when we cast judgement on people who use social media differently than ourselves.
Obviously this is just a small collection of my thoughts on this and there is so much more that can be discussed. Basically what I'm getting at is if you're going to point out the speck in your brother's eye you'd better be prepared to address the plank in your own. This is why we need to be careful when we cast judgement on people who use social media differently than ourselves.
Oh, and to steal from The Princess Bride,
You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
xoxo,
Esther
