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Leave Dora alone
By adamg on Mon, 03/16/2009 - 12:48pm
Mommy Niri draws a line in the sand, vows to fight plans by Mattel and Nickleodeon to transform Dora the Explorer from feisty little wanderer into tarted-up fashion plate:
... When I was a Big Sister (part of the Big Brother, Big Sister organization) I remember them stating how little girls have few strong role models and colored girls even less so. Being a person of color and having two young impressionable daughters, this is a topic too close to my heart to not write about. To be true to Dora, if they wanted her to grow up, then they would make her have a focus on something other than appearance. There are enough Barbies and princesses out there, do we really need more of the same. ...
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Comments
hmmm...
well, boots seems happy as
well, boots seems happy as always
that's amazing
Where'd that come from? Incredible. And, depressingly, probably not too far off-base.
It's Lara Croft's friend,
It's Lara Croft's friend, Skipper.
Funny, but
That made me laugh, but I saw the real one on the news last night. She looks like a cute 10 year-old, who wouldn't hang out with the Bratz.
Nice to see
Dora will be putting aside those childish ideas of being an explorer and get into her new and more appropriate role as a junior hootchy mama. I hope Diego gets some sexxxy snaps on his cell phone! Say clic! Take a pic!
Now if they can just make Alicia give up that stupid idea about being a computer whiz at an animal rescue center, Nick may save a lot of young girls from the totally boring fate of studying math and science.
Thanks Nick for helping young women everywhere understand that it's not important what they do or think about so much as that they're totally hawt!!
Don't you get tired...
Don't you get tired... of such out-of-touch cliches?
The "cool" and "hawt" girls of today, from what I've seen, are extremely self-empowered by technology. They just sometimes use it in ways...ahem... other than how you or SwirleyGirl might choose for them.
Example: "mean girls" socially torment their peers using online profiles and online bullying in ways you never would dream up in a thousand years.
Example: some percentage of girls, be it 1 or 50, cannot bear to be in front of a digital camera for 5 minutes without taking their clothes off.
And, frightful as it may seem, these behaviors are not mutually exclusive with high intelligence.
Just as, I imagine, it may seem frightful that the team behind any sexed-up Dora will likely be dominated by high-achieving females.
Women, meet other women. Film at 11.
Okay.
I'm reasonably sure the picture above is "fan art" or somesuch. If you're surprised at this, you've probably never run into the Rule 34 phenomenon and you're a lot better for it.
But if the fan art theory is indeed the case here, then has anybody actually seen the redesign or is this a case of people Taking Umbrage before all the details are out there? Cause Lord knows that'd be an Internet first.
The press release linked here says the redesign look will be announced soon. Soon implies future. Future implies we don't know everything about it yet. Unless you've got some more links to share.
I can see this going a few ways:
1. Dora goes all Barbie and guh it's depressing.
2. Dora goes all Bratz and guh it's disgusting.
3. Dora grows up a bit and, while turning tween with outfits and earrings and whatnot, still gives positive messages to girls.
I'm going to lean towards #3 in this case since Nickelodeon does believe, somewhat, in the sanctity of its preschool learning characters (overmerchandising them to the levels of ubiquitousness doesn't count) but I am willing to bet right about now, people are assuming the worst from one press release and imagining #2.
But, but, but
They use the word "tweenaged" in the press release. They should be punished just for that (especially since they consider five-year-olds "tweenaged").
Point well taken.
"Tweenaged" is pretty rank, all things considered. I think anybody who uses the word legitimately should have their right to not be bombarded with heavy blunt objects rescinded.
$59.99
I'd be more worried about ponying up the $59.99 suggested retail (other items sold separately) than I would be about the doll's looks. Sounds like a $200 - $300 investment, if you want Dora and some of her friends to grace your abode. And, if you want them to have a snazzy place to hang out with their cool accessories, time to look into refinancing your own house.
Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com
Ugh
I don't mind the growing up, but it disgusts me how the focus in the article is all about buying jewelry, clothes, and changing Dora's appearance. What are their grand mysteries going to be? Figuring out the difference between real and knock off Coach bags?
I doubt the new version will be as tarty as the joke picture above, but I'm pretty sure our slightly tubby (ie, normal) little girl is going to lose a lot of her baby-fat in the new version.