by:
Robertson, A. F.

Publisher:
Routledge
Published:November 2003
ISBN:0415944511
Format:Paperback
Pages:288

Description: From Booklist
The enormous popularity of the Cabbage Patch and American Girl dolls has not gone unnoticed, either by major corporations or by anthropologists. Fascinated by this multibillion-dollar business, Robertson invested time probing the psychology not only of doll collectors but also of the companies that manufacture and advertise dolls. Robertson begins with a little history of the use of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century dolls as clothing models, and then continues with analysis of the allure of dolls' physical amenities and the way owners often emotionally bond with their dolls. The typical height of dolls is 14 inches, and their eyes and hair are usually the most compelling features (i.e., the main reasons they are bought). Yet it is by entering the bedrooms and living rooms of America that the author becomes privy to the behind-the-scenes details, where he and readers learn why these kinds of collectibles are purchased, from filling up empty nests to recapturing a sense of belonging. A fascinating look at the inner longings of collectors. Barbara Jacobs
Copyright # American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author
A. F. Robertson is Professor of Anthropology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is the author of seven books including Greed and Beyond the Family.

Book Description
Exploring the nexus of emotions, consumption and commodification that porcelain collectible dolls represent, A. F. Robertson tracks the rise of this multi-billion dollar market; interviews the women themselves; and visits their clubs, fairs and chat-rooms to understand what makes the dolls so irresistible. Lifelike but freakish; novelties that profess to be antiques; pricey kitsch: These dolls are the product of powerful emotions and big business.