Admittedly, yes this is an unusual post to appear on my blog but when I saw these amazing photographs created by Dina Goldstein recently, I couldn’t help posting about them! Whilst we all consider the lives of Barbie and Ken to be idealistic, with many women aspiring to the unrealistic proportions sported by the popular blonde doll – these creative photographs suggest that a ‘darker’ side may lay beneath the surface of their ‘dream’ life. Of course, the photographs are a little tongue in cheek and despite many criticisms that they ‘offend’ and ‘mock’ homosexuality, I personally think they are great! I am a huge lover of photography, especially concept fashion photography – and these photos embody what being creative in the fashion photography industry is all about!
The photographs are edited in such a way that the models really do look plastic and ‘doll’ like, and I love how everything featured in the photograph really depicts the ‘barbie’ doll house! Although each image is powerful on it’s own, altogether they create a quirky, quite humorous story-line whereby Barbie’s suspicions of Ken’s sexuality are confirmed when she discovered him having an affair. She eventually does a Britney and shaves off her hair to look more like a man, Ken’s preferred choice.
You may have previously heard about creative photographer Dina Goldstein, as she is renowned for her more ‘realistic’ fairy-tale portrayals. The ‘fallen princess’ collection by Dina explores where the traditional Disney princesses which we have all grown up to love and somewhat ‘aspire to’, have now ended up. Beauty (from Beauty & The Beast – surprisingly) is shown to be addicted to all things plastic, having resorted to endless face lifts and eye surgery to keep her looking ‘princess’ like. Little Innocent Red Riding Hood has clearly got fed up of all the round trips to her grandmas and instead, has stuffed herself full of the food – as she appears to have gained a little weight since we last saw her. Ariel, having been banished from the underwater world and unable to rid herself of her mermaid tail – has now resorted to living her life in an aquarium, whilst Cinderella spends her evenings in the pub to find her Prince Charming.
What do you think about Dina’s interpretation of the traditional fairy tale? Do you believe every tale still has a happy ending or do you think these are just humorous versions?
