Doll (Object Lessons)

"Object Lessons is a series of short, beautifully designed books about the hidden lives of ordinary things. The haunted doll has long been a trope in horror movies, but like many fears, there is some truth at its heart. Dolls are possessed-by our aspirations. They're commonly used as a tool to teach mothering to young girls, but more often they are avatars of the idealized feminine self. (The word "doll" even acts as shorthand for a desirable woman.) They instruct girls what to strive for in society, reinforcing dominant patriarchal, heteronormative, white views around class, bodies, history, and celebrity, in insidious ways. Girls' dolls occupy the opposite space of boys' action figures, which represent masculinity, authority, warfare, and conflict. By analyzing dolls from 17th century Japanese Hinamatsuri festivals, to the '80s American Girl Dolls, and even to today's bitmoji, Doll reveals how the objects society encourages us to play with as girls shape the women we become. Object Lessons is published in partnership with an essay series in The Atlantic ."-- "Dolls commonly serve as a tool to teach motheringto young girls, but more often they are avatars ofthe idealized feminine self. (The word "doll" evenacts as shorthand for a desirable woman.) Theyinstruct girls what to strive for in society, reinforcingdominant patriarchal, heteronormative, white viewsaround class, bodies, history, and celebrity, in insidious ways. Byanalyzing dolls from 17th century Japanese Hinamatsuri festivals, tothe '80s American Girl Dolls, and even to today's bitmoji, Doll revealshow the objects society encourages us to play with as girls shape thewomen we become."-- Site de l'éditeur Title Page Series Page Half Title Copyright Page Dedication Contents Introduction Play Date #1 Chapter 1: Bodies That Matter: The Barbie Doll Play Date #2 Chapter 2: All that Money Can Buy: The Porcelain Doll Play Date #3 Chapter 3: The Stories We Tell: The American Girl Doll Play Date #4 Chapter 4: How to Live Forever: The Celebrity Doll Play Date #5 Chapter 5: Virtual Proxy: The Avatar “Doll” Conclusion Acknowledgments Notes Index "An examination of dolls and how they model an idealized feminine self, instructing girls what to strive for, and reinforcing dominant patriarchal, heteronormative, white norms"-- Provided by publisher