Apparently, the Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama is a rock star in Germany. So German expert toymaker Marcel Offermann decided to create a doll in the likeness of the junior senator from Illinois.
The 14-inch doll is rocking a black suit, complete with a Stars-and-Stripes lapel pin, a white shirt and sky-blue tie. This collector's doll is available in a limited edition of 999 and it is priced at a hefty €139 ($216).
Offermann, who admits to being an admirer of Obama, has made dolls of public figures such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Pope Benedict XVI and the Dalai Lama.
This is what I think: For starters, the doll does not look a bit like Obama. Moreover, and at the risk of turning an innocuous gesture into something nefarious, that doll looks more to me like those blackfaces that were most commonly used in the minstrel performance tradition which played a significant role in cementing and proliferating racist images, attitudes and perceptions about black people worldwide. That's what I think.
Obamamania Unabated
Marcel Offermann's Obama Doll
Trend Themes
1. Political Action Figures - There is an opportunity to create a new line of dolls and action figures for prominent current and historical political figures.
2. Celebrity Dolls - With the popularity of the Obama doll, there is room for more dolls modeled after celebrities and public figures.
3. Customizable Dolls - Consumers may want to create personalized dolls using 3D printing or other customization technologies.
Industry Implications
1. Toy Manufacturing - Toy manufacturers could pursue lines of political and celebrity dolls to cater to consumers' interests.
2. Collectibles - Collectible item makers could create limited edition dolls and figures that are marketed towards collectors.
3. Technology - Technology companies could create platforms and tools that allow consumers to customize their own dolls and figures.