In the six lectures of The Life of Barbie, Professor Emily Aguilo-Perez uncovers the history of a toy that took the world by storm and transformed from a product to a persona, changing the way we look at dolls and imaginative play forever. Barbie was the product of a company—and a marriage—built on experimentation and risk. Her story is one of trial-and-error, innovation, social upheaval and, ultimately, imagination. These lectures will take you on a deep dive through Barbie’s remarkable journey, from her emergence in post-war America, through her many transformations across the decades, all the way to her current, unique place in pop culture. As you will see, once an icon is born, she does not stand still; she evolves.