‘Barbie’ surpassed $1 billion dollars at the box office this week, making Greta Gerwig the first woman director to be the sole directing credit on a billion dollar movie. The internet meme would say “This Barbie is the director of a billion dollar movie.” What’s with the hype? How do long-time Barbie fans and Barbie skeptics both walk out of the theatre pro-Barbie? A Public Affair host Carousel Bayrd doesn’t own anything pink, but even she saw the movie, twice.

Kicking us off is Milwaukee Film Programming Director Kerstin Larson to break down some of the most notable moments for the movie and explain why she thinks the movie has been such a big hit. Heads up! This part has a lot of spoilers!!

Then, we talk about the 100+ marketing partnerships the ‘Barbie’ movie has with Dr. Patricia Huddleston. (Did you know that Progressive insured the ‘Barbie Dream House’?) Dr. Huddleston is Professor of Retailing in the Department of Advertising + Public Relations and Michigan State University.

Then, we round out the show with a conversation about body diversity in the movie with Renfrew Center Regional Assistant Vice President Kristin Szostak. What does it mean that everyone (except Midge of course) is Barbie? Szostak says this is a step in the right direction, even if there was still a lot of body representation that is still missing.

Photo by Girl with red hat on Unsplash

 

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