I was looking through my google reader just the other day and I came across an article on Mariel Clayton’s work depicting Barbie as a psycho-killer.
A picture for your reference:Â Ok warning: image is macabre.
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I actually really appreciate Clayton’s work. Although the works are really sadistic and macabre but for someone who’s seen macabre art (and news for that matter), her works aren’t that horrific. The amount of details in the images are evident of the effort and work Clayton takes to produce each image/scene. The images leave me with sense of admiration for her craft.
I like the idea of subverting Barbie – the perfect doll – to a crazed persona because Barbie is an idealistic, unrealistic fantasy that is marketed to young girls. I think Clayton is saying that the attractive Barbie, perfect girlfriend / mother material can also be a psychopath killer. Why not?
And another:
I thought this was really funny. It says: Barbie – The Final Chapter. After years of bingeing, purging and boob jobs. Ken tells Barbie he’s leaving her for another younger, thinner… man.
Alright, to wash your mind of those scary images above, check out Clayton’s cute albeit lethal Barbie image.
The title says “Happy Chew Ears!” How cute! Ok wait… on closer look is that actually a plate of ears?
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If you are keen, you can check out more of Clayton’s work here:
http://www.thephotographymarielclayton.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/marielclayton/
You can even purchase her prints here:
http://www.redbubble.com/people/sniperphotog
She covers a range of interesting themes in her websites, do check them out! 🙂
To illustrate the influence/impact of Barbie on the modern world of fashion, I’ll end off the post with a Barbie doll-like image of Alessandra Ambrosio on Love Magazine: