TEXTUAL STRATEGIES, PLASTIC TACTICS

The material manifestation of the popular culture icons Batman and Barbie are examined in terms of the subjectivity suggested by each. This article argues that the essential manifestation of Batman is as a textual object while the essential manifestation of Barbie is as a plastic object. These two modes of manifestation, in turn, are examined in terms of the cultural positions of domination and resistance they reflect. Key Words materiality play subjectivity strategy tactic As icons of popular culture Batman and Barbie stand virtually unparal-leled. Both have endured decades of changing tastes and fads. Both have achieved an impressive level of global ubiquity. And both have received considerable academic attention. Barbie (see Lord, 1994; Rand, 1995; Rogers, 1999) has been read as an object of hegemonic femininity, an exemplar of postmodern consumerist culture, and a queer icon, to name only a few readings. Batman (see Brooker, 2000) has also been read as an object of hegemonic masculinity, an exemplar of schizoid postmodern culture, and a queer icon, to name only a few. Two assumptions underlie the present exploration of these cultural icons. First, that Barbie and Batman can be productively read against each other. Second, that the temptation to read them primarily as representations of gender and sexuality might be productively bracketed in favor of starting with their materiality, the different ways each icon is materially manifested in the world. Weaving these two startin