Essay - Develop a Sophisticated Argument About a Particular Media Artifact an...

Develop a sophisticated argument about a p*****rticular media artifact

***** 'American' Media Artifact: American Girl and "Kit Kittredge, ***** Girl"

Despite the recent downturn in ***** economy, over the summer a small film was a seismic, unexpected 'sleeper' hit. It had no special effects, no big-name stars. Yet anyone with a daughter, younger sister, or anyone who ever taken a stroll uptown in Manhattan where girls clutch dolls dressed in the same outfits as themselves dot the streets could have predicted this cinematic success. "Kit Kittredge, American *****," was the first film released by ***** burgeoning American Girl empire. On its first weekend, showing at only five theaters, all of which boasted ticket prices ***** $20, the ***** earned more than $2*****,000, nearly $45,000 per screen while no other movie in the Top 50 that ***** weekend exceeded even $10,000 per *****" (Scott, 2008,p.1). The film is emblematic ***** how ***** American ***** br***** has communicated an image of wholesomeness and idealized girlhood that has proved attractive to girls and mothers alike.

American Girl blends consumerism ***** fresh-faced enthusiasm, historical education with cuteness. The ***** are pricey—more than $100 per doll, ***** can only be bought through the catalogue, website, or at special stores. *****y also ***** a dizzying *****rray of equally expensive outfits and accessories. Some of ***** more elaborate ones, according to the *****, can exceed $200, like a horse-drawn sleigh. But American ***** dolls and spin-*****fs like "Kit Kittredge" have proved irresistible ********** ***** ***** the apparent target audience of young girls from ages three to thirteen, but to ***** parents who wish ***** provide their girls ***** a strong self-***** outside of the ***** offered ***** the Br*****tz dolls ***** Britney Spears. Today's culture asks the question of young girls: "Who are you supposed to be, or to avoid **********? A nerd? A ditz? A flirt? A **********? What kind ***** role models are those make-believe princesses, those Bratz and Barbies, to say nothing of the real-life Britneys, Lindsays ***** Mileys? Mean Girls, Gossip Girls, Girls Gone Wild, Girl Power, You go, girl! What's a girl to do? The short-term answer is *****ly to be: Go to the *****s. In particular, to 'Kit *****,***** the ***** American Girl movie ***** be released theatrically" which ***** meant to offer a safe, child-friendly zone for American Girl aficiona*****s and their friends to escape (Scott 2008, p.1).

Part of the appeal of "American Girl" is the femininity of its universe. ***** the film, Kit's beloved father ***** spirited away ***** look for work in Chicago during the Great Depression, and few *****others or male friends intrude. All of the main American Girl dolls have best 'girl friends' with ***** own plastic incarnations and their own *****. Unlike Hermione Granger ***** Princess Fiona who ***** "*****manent sidekicks in serial sagas owned by Harry Potter and Shrek," it is plucky Kit who saves the day (Scott 2008, p.1). Kit's prepubescent appearance and lack of sexuality is a comfort for mothers *****nd