Not My Dollhouse

“Not My Dollhouse,” is a photographic discussion on social issues and the quest for perfection. Mass media and advertising define an ideal image that we are meant to strive to emulate. In contrast, there are many social issues that plague humanity. These do not hold the same limelight in society, and are often ignored and cast to the wayside. I chose to use Barbie as my model, because I felt she represented the “perfect” human form. I also found it interesting that a figure like this is marketed and sold as a children’s toy, and to be admired. I find issue with this, as these “perfect” dolls are used by children to engage in life based play. I placed my perfect Barbie and Ken in situations to depict the underground life that is not acceptable or deemed unpleasant. The photographic tableaus utilize scale shift, as the Barbies are placed in real world settings. The social issues are depicted in an overt manner so that irony and humor is used to bring light to each topic.