Unpacking Barbie

  • Abigail Jones: Widening Participation Tutor, LCF and Associate Lecturer

This Lightning talk starts at 13:40 in room T303. Back to Lightning Talks

Brief description of session and activities

This workshop explores an innovative way to encourage students to engage with wider concepts linked to cultural and historical studies. It starts from the premise of object based learning- looking at Barbie and discussing the connotation around her existence in 21st century western culture. “At first glance historians are likely to see Barbie as either the quintessential icon of American femininity, a symbol of female liberation, or as an agent of female oppression” Miriam Forman – Brunell.

This workshop takes place on a pre-entry course Make it @ LCF funded through WP at LCF which is offered to all students who have successfully gained a place through the college progression scheme (CAPS).

The 1st year and in particular the 1st term is a crucial time for students, practically and academically they are left wondering what is being asked of them and to what standard.

ISHE is their first written assignment and for many students is like white water rafting, many students had no idea of what and why they need to take on board. The workshop will

  • Give a context to the student workshop 
  • Get staff to experience the activities that students experience 
  • Reflect on student quotes from the activity
  • Discuss and consider the wider implications such activities can have for students.
  • Share what other participants in the workshop do to encourage student engagement with cultural theory at an early stage. 

Unpacking Barbie workshop is a creative student-centred, ‘active-learning’ exercise. This workshop is underpinned by research on ambiguity and pedagogy within art and design in higher education.

“knowing can be embedded, encultured, embodied, encoded, and embrained, they are not simply about knowledge that is explicit, written and overt. Knowledge is situated within the practices and cultures of human activity” Mind the GAP

This quote is highly significate to what I see as an essential part of my role both as a tutor/workshop leader and as a practising fine artist.

Will students be involved in the session? If so how?

N/A

What will participants take away from the session?

  • Creative ways of unpacking a topic and ideas on to provide a fun, safe learning environment that encourages peer learning   
  • Barbie designed Hand-out