Deeper meaning9/6/2023 ![]() The first time Coraline goes out to explore her new Oregon home, she's trying to find an old well by water witching. ![]() ![]() A "fairy ring" is a naturally occurring growth of mushrooms that forms a circle, typically in grass. One prominent symbol that serves as foreshadowing in the film is the fairy ring that Coraline stumbles into. Obvious symbols like the black cat, the water witching, and the tea-leaf readings are present, but even the buttons, the mice, and the bleeding hearts in the garden are packed with relevant meaning: Bleeding heart flowers are meant to symbolize the bridge between life and death, and similar themes are certainly present in the Other World. They’re created to help fill a need of the practitioner, just as the Other Mother needs to fill her void with a new child. ![]() The doll itself, of course, is a totem, like the poppets used in magical practices for over 4,000 years (often for less-nefarious purposes than the Beldam’s dolls were). They’re also used for protection.įorcible and Spink possess what's commonly known as “the sight” or " second sight" (typically some kind of precognitive or clairvoyant ability), as shown when they read Coraline's tea leaves and see that she's in “terrible danger.” They also see a “tall, handsome beast,” and while this reading was a bit off the mark, the Other Mother certainly transforms into a tall, spindly beast by the end of the film. Outside of the story, these objects are commonly known as hagstones or fairy stones, but they’re used for the same purpose shown in the film: to see what can’t be seen. The blind souls of the children the Beldam has discarded plead with Coraline to find their eyes so that their souls may be set free.Įven the tool Forcible and Spink give to Coraline is called a "seeing stone" - it allows her to see what's invisible to her eyes alone. Across many different cultures, eyes symbolize the soul and protection. Within the opening doll sequence, this symbolism begins with the eyes and mouth - features commonly associated with human identity that are repeated throughout the film. In classic meta-Gerwigian fashion, Handler provides context to Barbie’s purpose in life and inspires her to choose her own life instead of being subjected to false pretenses.The spooky symbols and objects in Coraline aren’t just for set dressing or mood-setting much of what's on screen is relevant to the story. Much like the father figure Geppetto, Ruth Handler acts as the guiding figure in Barbie’s life, as her creator and pseudo-mother. It expresses the depressive reactions that arise when dealing with the truth and lies of building one’s identity. The Pinocchio Complex also tackles a dual concept of purpose and existence, where we question what we were created for and how to grapple with the grueling task of staying alive and happy (preferably). Within the context of ethnicity and nationality, this means negating stereotypes and controlling your own narrative. Similarly, for trans men and women, this means denying their cis identity for a more authentic gender representation. Related: The Barbie Movie Would Never Work Without This One Aspectįor women, the Pinocchio Complex means eschewing the objectification of patriarchy, no longer existing as something to control but as a person with their own agency. ![]() By including discontinued versions of Barbie and Ken dolls as well as incorporating new editions like Cellulite Barbie, Gerwig highlights the embarrassing lowlights that the company tries to hide. This again echoes this movie's major theme: accepting everything about yourself, flaws and all. And she also pokes fun at her own faults, briefly quipping about her bouts with tax evasion, which ultimately led to her resignation from the company in 1974. Ruth discloses that Barbie was named after her daughter Barbara, emphasizing the mother-daughter dynamic permeating the plot. Handler represents the highlights and shortcomings of the Barbie brand as she brings attention to the full spectrum of who she is. When Barbie reaches the pinnacle of her existential crisis, literally running away from the people trying to box her in, Ruth magically appears as a moral compass in a world of deceit and trickery. As a major influence on the Barbie brand throughout its peak, it’s only appropriate that she remains present when building out the film. Ruth Handler is known as the woman behind the most famous doll of all time, co-founder of the Mattel company who served as CEO for nearly thirty years. Related: Margot Robbie's Barbie Ending, Explained ![]()
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