BARBENHEIMER
BY KAT FRAZIER ILLUSTRATION BY KIM LANGHIRT
Dressing up to go to the theater is no longer an activity of the past! A sense of community within theater spaces has been revived with a hot pink dress code for “Barbie” and a dark, neutral aesthetic for “Oppenheimer.” With a double screening of them both quickly becoming the most popular way to see these films, “Barbenheimer” has emerged as a combination of the two most anticipated films of the summer. “Barbie,” with its bright pink and glittery aesthetic, stands as a stark juxtaposition to the dark and somber tone of “Oppenheimer.” Theaters were quickly losing their sparkle before the trend of dressing up on theme took over the commercial film space. Now, with the younger generations bringing back the fun of the theater, it is becoming a more popular space to spend time and enjoy a night out.
Within the entrances of theaters, groups of people have been found excited to experience the full Barbenheimer experience. Swarms of people wearing bright pink clothes and glitter can be seen in every direction. “Barbie” had definitely stolen the show with its distinct look.
At face value alone, the movie is a great community event that gets people from all ages involved and engaged. With a closer look, though, the crowd of Barbie fans was doing more than just wearing pink. It was a crowd of majority women, recently reminded how wonderful it is to celebrate other women. In the line for the classic “Barbie Box” picture, there was no pushing or frustration, but instead there was absolute patience all around. Instead of rumbling about someone taking too much time, the other girls in line would smile and encourage the girl modeling to try out new, fun poses. “Barbie” was a chance for women and girls alike to appreciate the essence of girlhood, unabashedly pink and overwhelmed with love.
The viewing experience in this review is “Oppenheimer” first and “Barbie” second. This choice was a popular option due to most people not knowing what to expect for “Barbie,” while “Oppenheimer” had a predictable (yet still striking) tone to the film. The two films were more similar in their mood and topics than expected.
“Oppenheimer” is a film surrounding concepts of existentialism, the human experience, and how our current society results in feeling out of touch with oneself. This movie pushes the viewer through a large range of heavy emotions, but ultimately ends with the understanding of the human experience and the level of control one has over their own life.
“Barbie” also does all these things but with a more feminist perspective. This movie shines in its own light because while the control one has over their own life is an important topic, there is a distinct difference between the control a man may have and the control a woman may have. “Barbie” covers the same sense of existentialism but in a much different form and aesthetic. America Ferrera’s monologue certainly makes the film worth all of the hours spent to doll up, even if your makeup is smudged with tears by the end!
