Humans have made dolls as miniature representations of ourselves for as long as we have recorded our history. Dolls engage our imagination and reflect our humanity. A souvenir doll can celebrate cultural identity through clothing, personal decoration, and creativity. As we learn more about the world and all its people, these dolls may also depict outdated concepts of foreignness. Dolls can embody stereotypes just as humans can develop such ideas.
Some questions we could ask to help us think about our own point of view are: Who designed and made these dolls? Who sold them and profited from them? Who collected them? Were they “authentic” to the culture and its people? Do the outfits reflect daily attire, or perhaps a religious celebration or festival? Do these dolls pander to a particular tourist market? The limited information in the museum's archives does not provide direct answers to these questions. There is obvious craftsmanship in many of these examples—consider the details in the clothing, jewelry, and the items the dolls carry. Our wish is to celebrate the culture, art, and talent of the makers while also thinking deeply about our biases and how they came about.
We want to hear from our visitors, including those who might have a personal connection to the cultures these dolls represent. Do you have a collection like this at home? What else would you tell us about these dolls?
For Further Reading:
For Inspiration, Betye Saar Turns to Her Doll Collection
Saar's irreverent paintings of dolls from her collection celebrate the catharsis she found in play.
hyperallergic.com/679999/betye-saar-turns-to-her-doll-collection/
