Room 400 | Fine Arts Building Greta Gerwig’s Barbie has taken global cinemas by storm, earning over $1.4 billion and counting. Beyond all the box office revenues, which have provided a boost to movie theaters around the world this summer, Barbie has also spurred rave reviews from its vast fandom and critical reactions from cultural commentators. Even the French Communist paper L’Humanité pondered the phenomenon: “Can a movie be both a thinly disguised commercial to sell toys and an inspiring feminist comedy? It appears so.” This Willson Center Cinema Roundtable addresses the story, themes, style, cultural implications and gender politics of Gerwig’s big pink production. Panelists include Kate Fortmueller (Film, Media & Theatre, Georgia State University), Antje Ascheid (Film Studies), designers Ivan Ingermann and Julie Ray (Theatre and Film Studies), and Chris Cuomo (Philosophy and Women’s Studies). Richard Neupert (Film Studies) moderates. The event is free and open to the public, which will be invited to join in the lively conversation. This event is part of the 2023 Spotlight on the Arts festival, presented by the UGA Arts Council. Friday, November 3 2023, 4pm
