Barbie (2023)
Greta Gerwig's Barbie (2023) is a vibrant and subversive take on the iconic doll's world. It expertly balances playful satire with deeper commentary on identity, gender roles, and societal expectations. The film's use of color is one of its most striking features. The palette in Barbie is not just a visual treat; it's a tool used to communicate deeper themes, delineate worlds, and evoke emotions. Color plays a significant role in shaping the narrative, establishing contrast, and symbolizing transformation in Barbie. From the pastel-hued paradise of Barbie Land to the muted reality of the human world, color is a dominant force.
In Barbie, the opening scenes boldly immerse viewers in the surreal and hyper-feminine world of Barbie Land, where everything is drenched in vibrant, over-the-top pinks and pastels. This color palette makes it clear to the audience that they are entering a fantastical, exaggerated space that is almost cartoonish in its perfection. Every detail of Barbie Land is bathed in shades of pink, purple, and soft pastels, from the architecture of the Dreamhouses to the characters' clothing and accessories. This creates a visually cohesive and immersive world.
In Barbie Land, color unequivocally represents simplicity and an idealized form of femininity. The endless sea of pink represents the narrow, one-dimensional expectations placed upon Barbie dolls. Everything here is aesthetically pleasing and reflects an idealized version of girlhood and perfection. The excessive use of color plays into Barbie's iconic branding and sets the stage for Gerwig's critique of societal ideals. The film boldly exposes the absurdity of a society that expects perfection from women by enveloping the audience in a bubblegum pink world. It forces viewers to recognize the artificiality of the environment.
Pink is the dominant color in Barbie Land, and it holds cultural significance as the quintessential "feminine" color. Every Barbie in this world—from Margot Robbie's "Stereotypical Barbie" to Issa Rae's "President Barbie"—embodies a different facet of this hyper-feminine ideal. The perfect lawns, bright skies, and coordinated wardrobes reflect the harmonious and carefree life Barbies lead in their utopian society—and it's clear that this is the ideal they strive for. The use of pink here symbolizes not just femininity but also control, structure, and adherence to the societal norms that govern Barbie Land.
This strict color palette powerfully underscores the naivety and innocence of Barbie Land. The pink hues create a sense of safety and predictability, which starkly contrasts with the more complex and uncertain reality of the human world, which the film explores later.
When Barbie (Margot Robbie) and Ken (Ryan Gosling) leave Barbie Land and enter the human world, the color palette immediately shifts. The vibrant, exaggerated hues of Barbie Land give way to more muted, neutral tones that reflect the grounded, often harsh reality of modern life. The shift from pink to earthier tones—beige, gray, and subdued blues—clearly symbolizes the clash between Barbie's idealized world and the complexities of the real world.
In the human world, the lack of color vibrancy unquestionably reflects a loss of control and the discovery of imperfections. This transition in the color scheme powerfully illustrates Barbie's mounting unease as she grapples with the realities of life, patriarchy, and her own identity crisis. The muted colors symbolize the absence of the comforting certainty she enjoyed in Barbie Land. She is faced with the complexity and unpredictability of human existence.
Furthermore, the stark contrast between Barbie Land and the human world's color palettes powerfully highlights the glaring disconnect between the idealized versions of femininity promoted by Barbie culture and the real experiences of women. As Barbie interacts with real people and learns about their struggles, the toned-down colors of the human world unquestionably reinforce the grounded, more nuanced reality that exists beyond the glossy surface.
Ken's (Ryan Gosling) experience with the human world adds another layer of meaning to the film through its use of color. After Ken is exposed to the human world and the concept of patriarchy, he decisively returns to Barbie Land and begins transforming it into his vision of "Kendom." The color palette changes again. Barbie Land is no longer the pink utopia it once was. Instead, bold, aggressive colors like black, blue, and red take over as Ken imposes his newfound patriarchal ideals.
The shift from pinks to darker, more traditionally masculine colors is a clear reflection of Ken's attempt to assert dominance and reshape Barbie Land into a reflection of his male-centric worldview. These colors, typically associated with power and authority, create a sense of discomfort and unease, symbolizing the disruption of the harmonious balance that once defined Barbie Land.
Ken's adoption of this "manly" color scheme is both comedic and insightful. The exaggerated masculinity and the aggressive introduction of bold colors serve as a clear and powerful satirical commentary on how gender roles are often shaped and reinforced by cultural symbols, including color. This change powerfully illustrates how identity can be easily shattered when it is based on external ideals rather than authentic self-expression.
Color defines spaces and tracks character development throughout Barbie. The evolution of the color palette reflects Barbie's journey of self-discovery and existential awakening. As Barbie questions her role in Barbie Land and her identity, the strict color codes of pink and pastels begin to blur, symbolizing her internal conflict.
As the narrative progresses, the vibrant pinks of Barbie Land become more subdued, clearly indicating Barbie's growing awareness of the complexity of identity and life. This visual change is most evident during scenes where Barbie has her most vulnerable moments, such as her conversations with America Ferrera's character Gloria and the elderly woman at the bus stop. These moments are visually toned down, clearly marking the emotional depth that goes beyond Barbie's traditionally superficial world.
By the end of the film, the color palette is a blend of both worlds. Pink is still there, but the use of color is more nuanced and multifaceted, symbolizing Barbie's acceptance of her multifaceted identity. The world around her is no longer limited to a single shade of femininity. It opens up to the broader spectrum of human experience.
Color in Barbie is inextricably linked to the film's examination of gender roles and societal expectations. The stark separation between the pastel pinks of femininity and the darker, more "masculine" colors Ken adopts in his "Kendom" mirrors how society often pigeonholes individuals into rigid gender roles. The clash of these color schemes reflects the tension between traditionally feminine and masculine ideals. It forces us to question why certain traits or behaviors are color-coded in the first place.
The exaggerated, hyper-saturated world of Barbie Land unapologetically celebrates and critiques traditional femininity. Pink is often seen as empowering in Barbie culture, but it also shows how femininity can be packaged and commodified. The film uses this visual language to start a conversation about gender expectations. It encourages audiences to think about how much of identity is shaped by cultural norms and aesthetics.
Greta Gerwig's Barbie (2023) uses color as a powerful storytelling device, reflecting the film's exploration of identity, gender roles, and societal expectations. The vivid pinks of Barbie Land symbolize both an idealized femininity and the constraints that come with it. The muted tones of the human world offer a stark contrast, highlighting the complexities of real-life existence. Barbie challenges audiences to think critically about how color shapes perceptions of gender and identity through its playful yet pointed use of color, making it a visually rich and thematically resonant film.
The color palette of Barbie mirrors the journey of self-discovery, illustrating how identity evolves from the one-dimensional expectations of society to a more authentic and multifaceted understanding of oneself. Color is not just an aesthetic choice in Barbie; it is a crucial layer of meaning that elevates the film's narrative and emotional depth.
