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Barbie Torturetography Edit
Is This a New All-American Pastime?


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Barbie Torturetography
Is This a New All-American Pastime?
Barbie Torturetography - Is This a New All-American Pastime? (GALLERY) 2
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Barbie Torturetography - Is This a New All-American Pastime? (GALLERY) 8

Barbie Torturetography - Is This a New All-American Pastime? (GALLERY)
Is This a New All-American Pastime?
Published: Dec 5, 08
Comments: 7
Views: 12,660

The photographer Tom Forsythe first sparked the secret desires of many when he released his first Barbie torture photos a few years ago. His work featured Barbie in a blender, caught up in a bed pan, and even cooked up with some enchiladas. 

When Mattel heard of the plight taking place with their beloved blonde, they did what only felt natural—they sued Mr. Forsythe. Four years later, with the help of ACLU, and $2 Million dollars in legal fees, Tom was able to win the right to free speech in his art. 

Since then, there have been a slew of Barbie dismemberments. Even children seem to consider torturing Barbie as another form of ‘playing.’  Demonstrated in this gallery is our obsession with taking Barbie out of her perfect life context and seeing if she is really still smiling in the photographs.

In the face of this Federal lawsuit, I knew I had to fight back. My work is obviously ‘fair use’ - political and social criticism presented with humor and parody. I wasn’t going to let a corporation known for selling an impossible beauty myth to so many generations of children get away with censoring my work. -Tom Forsythe (tomforsythe)

References:  tomforsythe

Filed In:  art bizarre graffiti modern unique






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FOUR WAYS TO REACT: vote, favorite, add more examples of Barbie Torturetography or comment about Is This a New All-American Pastime?.

Sandra Winn on Dec 5, 08  423 Trends   1,248 Comments
One of my home schooling friends tried the Barbie electric execution experiment with her children last year, and they had a blast. Unfortunately, she forgot to take pictures.
Sandra Winn on Dec 5, 08  423 Trends   1,248 Comments 0
Ayman Helweh on Dec 5, 08  2,236 Trends   2,640 Comments
@Sandra, wow! And we blame movies and video games for teaching kids violence... The mother thought this was good for children? Wow!!!
Ayman Helweh on Dec 5, 08  2,236 Trends   2,640 Comments 0
Sandra Winn on Dec 5, 08  423 Trends   1,248 Comments
@Ayman, She does a lot of science experiments with her children that are normally geared around plants, chemical reactions, construction, and so on. Her children are not violent and neither is she or her husband. They don't allow their kids to play violent video games or watch violent movies. She wasn't teaching violence to her kids, it was a science lesson/experiment that happened to use Barbie, nothing more.
Sandra Winn on Dec 5, 08  423 Trends   1,248 Comments 0
Ayman Helweh on Dec 5, 08  2,236 Trends   2,640 Comments
Hmmm, I don't know about you Sandra, but electric execution sounds like a pretty violent concept and idea to me. I surely think it is wrong to have a blast experimenting with the idea of electric execution with children, even if its on a Barbie. But thats my stance and to each his own.
Ayman Helweh on Dec 5, 08  2,236 Trends   2,640 Comments 0
Sandra Winn on Dec 5, 08  423 Trends   1,248 Comments
@Ayman - agreed, to each their own. :-)
Sandra Winn on Dec 5, 08  423 Trends   1,248 Comments 0
Marissa Brassfield on Dec 5, 08  3,415 Trends   4,045 Comments
This stuff is twisted. I used to chop off my Barbie's hair, or "paint its toenails" (smear nail polish all over its feet, and the carpet), but this is a bit odd.
Marissa Brassfield on Dec 5, 08  3,415 Trends   4,045 Comments 0
Sandra Winn on Dec 5, 08  423 Trends   1,248 Comments
I think that Barbie has undergone all forms of dismemberment and 'torture' (just like other dolls) since she first came about. The only difference is that now it is being publicized. I don't think it's anything new or surprising other than the attention it's received. I never liked Barbie's as a child but I loved to cut the hair on my Chrissy doll and play with stuffed animals. My step-brothers were the animal and doll torturers and are all are great guys: one is a cop, another ex-Air Force serviceman, and the last one works on boats.
Sandra Winn on Dec 5, 08  423 Trends   1,248 Comments 0
Favorited by alex lyn on Jun 25, 09

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Barbie Torturetography