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01-08-2014, 09:53 PM | #1 |
Mayor of Geek Creek
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Twin Falls, Idaho
Posts: 4,752
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I'm a big fan of this thread:
http://www.hisstank.com/forum/g-i-jo...ture-team.html And this thread: http://www.hisstank.com/forum/g-i-jo...ted-daily.html Between the two of them, I've been thinking a lot about the original G.I. Joe product, and how far the property has fallen since then (and since the '80s) in terms of mainstream cultural and retail relevance. This in turn has generated a question: If the original G.I. Joe was a boys' answer to Barbie (you would buy "your G.I. Joe" and equip "your G.I. Joe" with whatever accessories and uniforms you chose, much the way one would with Barbie; whether an Army soldier or a Navy Sailor, Joe was Joe, much as Barbie is Barbie whether she's a rock star, an astronaut or Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz)... Why has Barbie continued to dominate the toy aisles? I'm sure Barbie's momentum fluctuates (Bratz did a number on her, and I'm sure Monster High has, too, although surely Mattel isn't upset in that case!), but she always has anywhere between half an aisle to a full aisle of space dedicated to her product. The public's attitude towards war can shift, as we saw in the early '70s (hello, Adventure Team!)... but likewise, the type of leftist or progressive or PC consumer who would opt not to buy a "war toy" for a son is just as likely to scorn the gender stereotypes inherent in Barbie... so I ask again: When G.I. Joe's hold on mainstream acceptance continues to dwindle... Why has Barbie continued to dominate the toy aisles? |
01-08-2014, 09:58 PM | #2 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Extensive Enterprises Executive Airfield Boca Raton
Posts: 3,423
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Because Barbie is vapid and superficial like most of society these days.
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01-08-2014, 10:00 PM | #3 |
Barty's Right-hand Man
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Ohio
Posts: 7,138
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I think it has less competition, plus Barbie is one of, if not the, top toys in history.
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01-08-2014, 10:05 PM | #4 |
Cobra Dog Sled Commander
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: The Great White North
Posts: 3,295
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Love of glamour, fashion & non-violence, maybe?
Perhaps young girls (ages 5-10) are playing with Barbie dolls/female action figures while boys in the same age bracket are primarily playing video games or a video game integrated toy like Skylanders? This is merely a supposition. I have no empirical evidence to back any of these theories up with...
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~The Snow Wolf name was chosen due to the known tenacity of arctic wolves to survive (and thrive) in extremely harsh conditions; which is expected of all Snow Serpents and Officers~ |
01-08-2014, 10:14 PM | #5 |
I.O. SpecOps
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: In a secret underground bunker.
Posts: 4,404
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Barbie doesn't have to keep coming up with new storylines. She just gets new clothes and other material possessions. She can change jobs with a new set of clothes and the fangirls don't complain about canon.
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Dr. Venture: Why is it every time I need to get somewhere, we get waylaid by jackassery? http://www.hisstank.com/forum/g-i-jo...r1s-b-s-t.html |
01-08-2014, 10:14 PM | #6 |
Enemy Penetrator
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: New England
Posts: 2,502
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I think it's because Barbie is like the only toy available for parents to buy for their little girl.
Meanwhile, there are many options out their for parents to buy for their boys. And what if parents want their kids to play with army toys? There's an entire aisle of reasonably priced True Heroes in every Toys R Us for them to choose from that always sell out and are then restocked. As far as cultural relevance is concerned, I think Joe is still pretty indelibly engrained in our society's collective consciousness. I mean, I probably hear as many, if not more refferences to GI Joe in the media than Barbie, but maybe I'm biased. That's my opinion anyway. I may be right, I may be wrong. |
01-08-2014, 11:34 PM | #7 |
EQ-Viper
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Canada
Posts: 4,343
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Quote:
I wish Hasbro would embrace the "open play" aspect of toys more with GI Joe. Heck, I'm willing to bet that most of us these days engage in some customization of their Joe figures, even if it's just simple kitbashing and parts-swapping. If Joes were a lot easier to customize and parts-swap out of the box, who knows, maybe Joes can expand to being more than the province of us thirty- and forty-something action figure collectors, which seems like what it is these days. |
01-08-2014, 11:37 PM | #8 |
Cobra Ghost Hunter
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: beckley wv
Posts: 372
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If I had to guess, its because Mattel knows how to market their toys and they keep reinventing Barbie over and over. If something fails, they have a replacement in 6 months. We can't even get a solid wave of joes in a store with any consistency. I blame Hasbro and their crappy marketing
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wva-paranormal bst http://www.hisstank.com/forum/g-i-jo...ml#post4594535 http://www.hisstank.com/forum/buy-se...ck-thread.html Need tailfins for Whale and hydrofoil parts, also looking for a decent eaglehawk Have a lot of vintage parts and vehicles 50 to 99 % complete customizers give me a shout, might be able to hook you up. Picked up 4 bags of vintage vehicles |
01-08-2014, 11:37 PM | #9 |
Mayor of Geek Creek
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Twin Falls, Idaho
Posts: 4,752
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Quote:
I'm willing to bet that most of us these days engage in some customization of their Joe figures, even if it's just simple kitbashing and parts-swapping. If Joes were a lot easier to customize and parts-swap out of the box, who knows, maybe Joes can expand to being more than the province of us thirty- and forty-something action figure collectors, which seems like what it is these days.
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01-08-2014, 11:49 PM | #10 |
Crimson Guard
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: San Diego, Cali
Posts: 1,925
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Most logical post of the century!!!!!
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My B/S/T http://www.hisstank.com/forum/g-i-jo...age-boxed.html My dad's 12'' B/S/T http://www.hisstank.com/forum/g-i-jo...rade-sell.html |
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