Stevie Stigall | Staff Writer
July 25, 2023
A new holiday has stepped onto the scene for July 21. Barbenheimer Day.
At first glance, Barbenheimer looks and sounds like a weird combination of words that make no sense. Is this new slang that only Gen Z will understand? Not exactly. Barbenheimer is the word that mixes the movies Barbie and Oppenheimer which premiered on July 21, a monumental day for Barbies, Kens and cinephiles alike.
Barbie is a live action film that follows the dolls of many children’s childhoods. Directed by Greta Gerwig, the movie tells the story of Barbie and Ken leaving the paradise that is Barbie Land and going to experience what life is like in the new world. Barbie and Ken get exposed to the highs and lows of humans.
Oppenheimer, directed by Christopher Nolan, is a movie about the creation of the first nuclear bomb created during World War II. It tells the story of physicist, J. Robert Oppenheimer, and his team as they work on the Manhattan Project. The film portrays the race to creating a bomb before the bomb and the emotional aftermath from making a weapon of mass destruction.
Although Barbenheimer is a meme, it symbolizes the merging of two different genres, audiences and embracing differences. It shows how two movies of different “vibes” can still be appreciated by any and everyone. Fans across social media have been able to come together and create a community instead of rivalry in a poetic acceptance of others.
Our GSP community embraced the release of Barbenheimer by celebrating with a dance in the amphitheater. Despite a little rain, we dressed up in our best Oppenheimer, Barbie or Barbenheimer attire and danced to pop classics.
