Tel Aviv-born, Canadian photo artist Dina Goldstein, of Fallen Princesses fame, which depicted the far from happily ever after mid-lives of Disney princesses, has a new photo series, this time depicting the imperfect life of Barbie, titled In the Dollhouse.

As in her previous series, there is a distinct feminist perspective in Goldstein’s latest work. Though the shots feature the troubled relationship of Barbie and Ken— he’s apparently a gay man who likes to try on Barbie’s stilettos—Barbie is clearly the protagonist. The sequence closes in on her emotional deterioration as she struggles, in vain, to win her man’s affection. The narrative gets a little confusing at the end when, after cutting her hair and dressing in drag, perhaps to please her man, Barbie’s head pops off.

Goldstein enlightens us on her website:

Barbie, the idealized woman. More than any other childhood construct, Barbie represents the concept that Beauty is Power and necessary to attain Happiness. However, when Ken, Barbie’s handsome but emasculated boyfriend, expresses his individuality, the value of beauty as an apex trait is exposed as a cheap, plastic facsimile.

See the website for Goldstein’s full photo series.

Previous: A Darker Look at the Lives of Disney Princesses

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In our favorite Disney movies, we’re led to believe that once the credits roll, the princesses live happily ever after with their fictional counterparts. Well, Dina Goldstein, a photographer born in Tel Aviv, created Fallen Princesses, a photo project depicting the women in a darker, more realistic light. Snow White is unhappily married, Jasmine is a warrior in Iraq, and Rapunzel lost her hair in chemotherapy. Though the project is a couple of years old, it’s only recently been getting the attention it deserves.

Goldstein was inspired when her daughter’s princess interest began, Cargo reports.

Jordan, my daughter, was three at the time and was just starting to get into the ‘Princess phase’. Princesses were everywhere and I too was getting introduced to them. ( I grew up in Israel in the early 70’s , and was not exposed to Disney at all ). Just around the same time my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. The two events collided and made me wonder what a Princess would look like if she had to battle a disease, struggle financially or deal with aging. I began to imagine what could happen to the Princesses later in life and after the happily ever after. Naturally they would have to deal with challenges that all modern woman face. My first idea was Rapunzel going through chemo and losing her precious hair. I began to loosely sketch and came up with ideas for the rest of the images. With a very limited budget and a lot of volunteer help, I shot the series over two years.

Oh, and Ariel is locked in a fish tank. Reality sucks.

(Photo by Dina Goldstein)

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