For anyone not familiar with it, in The Society of the Spectacle (1967) Guy DeBord prophesied the whole of what Western culture (with the U.S. as its apotheosis) has become. He summarized the "spectacle" most succinctly as "mediated life." It can be traced back to people living in caves listening to the telling of stories to pass the time.

A buddy of mine and I have come to regard 'the Spectacle' as almost a sentient thing in its ability to coopt any cultural phenomenon, through the marketing/pop culture complex to which it has given rise. In the process of seeking money via the promotion of 'making money' from any source, including celebrity as its own thing these days, the people involved in that complex have created a culture in which seeking money--or power, with money/wealth as its material manifestation--is the only reason for the existence of society itself.

John Kay of the rock band Steppenwolf referred to the whole of it as the "Monster" (in an eponymous album). For my buddy and I it is the "Beast" of the Bible--though neither of us is religious in that sense, but do both acknowledge the existence of evil, particularly in the form of sheer, unbounded greed.

I haven't seen Barbie, but I have read that it is a satire of contemporary culture. I also read somewhere a long time ago that the most successful satire is one in which its 'targets' don't recognize it for what it is.

Thanks to "Matthew" for what was obviously for me a very provocative (in the good way) article.