The 'American Girl' Phenomenon.

[Webcat Profile]

Caught this article whilst researching stuff on Charles Manson and early Walt Disney films, the phenomenon known as 'American Doll'.

"American Girl, whose flagship store on Fifth Avenue sells $110 lookalike dolls with customized clothing, hair, eye and skin color to match its owner, has sold 21 million mini-me's to girls from New York to far-flung Texan towns since its inception in 1986."

Basically, the company sells dolls that are mini versions of the little girls who buy them - complete with all the necessary accessories, such as matching outfits and even matching horse's for those with a horse at home!


"Mirror image: Maya, 10, and Leela, eight, live in Northport, New York with their American mother, and Indian father; photographer Ilona Szwarc captured the sisters with their prized American Girl dolls for her project 'American Girl' in 2011."

'New stores are opening all the time, the company is really spreading its product. In cities like New York, Los Angeles and Dallas, the kids have more access.

'But even in rural Texas, obviously they can buy the dolls online, but more often than not they will buy American Girl vacation packages, where they fly to Dallas as a family to spend three days in the store.

'It is growing like Disney World, the culture of it,' she said.

The girls in Ms Szwarc's photographs range from six to 13 years old, an age demographic that is as foreign as it is fascinating to her.

'Girls really hang on to them, they associate themselves with the dolls,' she said.

'American Girl has really extended the age of their consumers with products which, until recently, were only accessible for girls "Age 8+". So when you're 13 you're still playing with them.

'In Europe it's not like that, it's embarrassing if you're playing with dolls at an older age, it's seen as baby behavior.'

A behavior, she explained, that their parents not only accept, but encourage.

'Their moms are actually really happy about this, happy it is prolonging childhood. They play a big role in the dolls; without them the dolls would not be there.

In 2010, buyers could easily spend up to $600 on a doll and some accessories.

'It was only a little moment when I met them, so what I witnessed is not entirely representative,' she said. 'But I saw "this is a mini version of me."

'Whether it was to see what [the girls] will wear that day - trying different outfits on their doll, for example. Or sometimes it was more "this is my daughter;" the girls looked at them as a pseudo child.'

'But they are also reminiscent of the must-have celebrity Barbies, and American Girl dolls are a democratic way to approach this,' she said.

'Now everyone can be their own star.'

The final quote from Ilona Szwarc, the photographer who highlighted the dolls with her series of photographs :'Now everyone can be their own star. sums up the phenomenon known as 'American Doll' - a harmless consumer product/toy that has struck a chord with american mum's and their daughters and encouraging prolongment of childhood?

Or rampant exploitation of childhood for fiscal gain (what toys don't these days?) with the added bonus of manipulatiing young minds to believe they can be a 'star' simply by purchase?

A sort of 'American Idol' or X-Factor without the need for talent?

Just Money, and apparently lots of it.



"Webcat was slightly disappointed with her 'American Doll'..............."





http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2272145/Photographer-Ilona-Szwarcs-intimate-portraits-reveal-fascinating-insight-American-Girl-phenomenon.html#axzz2K2mbZUqq

http://www.americangirl.com/index.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Girl

Edited because the photo wasn't showing!

[Cornbread714 Profile]

Not quite sure I get the Manson connection...

[domdabears Profile Website]

I think my sisters had those.

[Webcat Profile]

Not quite sure I get the Manson connection...

Oh, I was just looking up stuff on Mr. Manson when I found this article amongst the sites that I discovered and thought it would make an interesting thread.

Nothing to do with early Walt Disney Films either - but that could be another thread.

[Webcat Profile]

:lol:

I think my sisters had those.

Did the doll actually look like your sister?

I don't know why, but I think it would be a little 'creepy' to have a doll that looked exactly like yourself.

Maybe I'm odd, but I keep thinking about those horror films, where the doll comes to life and kills everybody.

But obviously lots of people like them, with 21 Million sold since 1986.

[The57ironman Profile]

I don't know why, but I think it would be a little 'creepy' to have a doll that looked exactly like yourself.

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.....sorry, i just had to...

[Phoenix rising Profile]

I find that a tad weird, no wonder the world is fucked

[Ufosarus Profile]

I don't know why, but I think it would be a little 'creepy' to have a doll that looked exactly like yourself.

.


.....sorry, i just had to...

people who do all that type of shit with their kids are creepy weirdos if ya ask me

[Webcat Profile]

I don't know why, but I think it would be a little 'creepy' to have a doll that looked exactly like yourself.

.


.....sorry, i just had to...

people who do all that type of shit with their kids are creepy weirdos if ya ask me

Exactly!!

Children are their own individual character, why not just enjoy watching them grow into their own individual person?

A child is not its parents.

A child is itself.

And it's children that will change this world - for better or worse.

Maybe if children played with dolls from other classes/religions/ethnics/etc. they may start to appreciate that people are different the world over?

Different but the same as them.

Human.

When they become adults, they may not wish to kill them, but understand them. Live in peace with them.

Afterall, they are human's too.