I enjoy this a lot. I feel like video essays on YT can sometimes emulate academic work without using academic work, and end up coming off pretentious and unclear. The fact this *is* academic work mean you've skirted that issue and the work feels complete and sure of itself. I hope you got a good grade for this, because it's great.
Brand new subscriber here - I really enjoyed this video. Your voice, the editing, the background music not being too loud or jarring, and obviously - the content. All of it makes me excited to check out more of your AG videos. Thanks for sharing!
American Girl always screamed tradfemme to be ever since I first heard of it (6 or younger, the neighbor girl was obsessed and introduced it to be). I wasn’t really into dolls outside porcelain or goth (Monster High or Bratz). I only ever wanted one American Girl doll for the sake of having one (I got one for free out of a storage locker my great uncle bidded for, Kit). I went to a store once in the Mall of America. Saw all the girls around me, eating with their dolls, doing their hair, piercing their ears. I don’t know if it was my disinterest in the dolls or social anxiety, but we didn’t stay very long
Great job on your research video. I had the Pleasant Company Addy in 1994. I no longer have her, but I replaced her with a Beforever Addy in 2015. Addy was my first introduction to the history of slavery. I learned so much from the books in the 1990s and even now. Addy Walker is my only AG doll. Reading all 6 of Addy's books and now the short stories, gives us more insight into Addy's life which is so much more than just being an enslaved person. Pleasant Rowland and the team that she chose to help create Addy Walker"s story and the coordinating doll did a great job. I would say Pleasant Rowland accomplished her goal, which was to give an introduction to children about the different eras of American history through books, the accompanying doll, and their accessories.
I share your passion for these wonderful dolls (but call them dolls is reductive, as they are much more); I am adult, older than you and live in Italy (yes: Italy, you well understood); despite it, I began to build my A.G. dolls collection: I already have three of them and the fourth is coming; as they are not imported in Europe, I have to order them in U.S.A. and have to pay them much more than how they cost you, due to the expensive shipping fee, but it doesn't matter: they are too charming and adorable, with the other dolls brands there is no comparision, they are angels; I love, really love that they are inspired to real people and each of them has her own history 😍. The idea of historic dolls is simply brilliant, I believe that Mrs. Pleasant Rowland is a true genius and I'll never end to thank her; maybe (I hope) one day her name will be read on the U.S. history books. As I already wrote in other comments, I believe that these dolls and accessories deserve to be exported even outside America: no need to open A.G. stores (which probably wouldn't have sense outside the States), but distribute them in the biggest exsisting toys and modeling stores (how already happened in Canada, as I know): in Europe (and not only) there are many chains (for example in Italy there is "Toys Center" - the counterpart of "Toys'R'Us") which would be happy to sell these products; many italian friends of mine, once seen my A.G. dolls, literally felt in love for them 🤩and liked have one too, then if someone believes that they wouldn't be appreciated outside the States: keep the faith, it is not so.
Hi, I'm an Italian doll collector and I fell in love with AG dolls too! ❤ But the costs of importing them are just too much 😢 I hope one day we will see them on the shelves!
People give Pleasant Rowland a lot of shame but shes a woman who invested her own money and built this empire that is a household name. A lot of luxury dolls have been created and never had a second year.
Why do social activists and analysis expect dolls to solve the world's problems? Questions of racial discrimination, gender roles, income inequality should be asked of politicians, media, and influencers Asking why dolls haven't solved these problems would be like asking you tubers why they havent solved racism?
hi there, i appreciate your comment! this essay was for one of my high school classes where i independently studied academic literature discussing how toys can negatively enforce gender stereotypes and roles, lack the diversity necessary in america, and be seen as an item of wealth and privilege (in this case, american girl dolls). nobody expects a toy company to solve complex world issues, however, i believe that we should hold billionaires to high standards regarding equality! at the end of the day, this essay was simply just for both fun and school credits; i enjoy looking at how complex issues can affect toys and there’s nothing wrong with that! i also do activism in my day-to-day life, as it’s very important to me as a person who’s multiple minorities. life is more enjoyable when we don’t take ourselves *too* seriously. again, thank you so much for your comment and i hope that i could give you a new perspective - i hope you have an amazing day! 💗
I enjoy this a lot. I feel like video essays on YT can sometimes emulate academic work without using academic work, and end up coming off pretentious and unclear. The fact this *is* academic work mean you've skirted that issue and the work feels complete and sure of itself. I hope you got a good grade for this, because it's great.
loved this! essays about dolls are always so interesting
Brand new subscriber here - I really enjoyed this video. Your voice, the editing, the background music not being too loud or jarring, and obviously - the content. All of it makes me excited to check out more of your AG videos. Thanks for sharing!
that means so much to me, thank you so much!! 💗
American Girl always screamed tradfemme to be ever since I first heard of it (6 or younger, the neighbor girl was obsessed and introduced it to be). I wasn’t really into dolls outside porcelain or goth (Monster High or Bratz). I only ever wanted one American Girl doll for the sake of having one (I got one for free out of a storage locker my great uncle bidded for, Kit).
I went to a store once in the Mall of America. Saw all the girls around me, eating with their dolls, doing their hair, piercing their ears. I don’t know if it was my disinterest in the dolls or social anxiety, but we didn’t stay very long
I love your channel so much!!
I loved this video i always love watching dolls essays 💕 this video was really interesting and well researched
Great job on your research video. I had the Pleasant Company Addy in 1994. I no longer have her, but I replaced her with a Beforever Addy in 2015. Addy was my first introduction to the history of slavery. I learned so much from the books in the 1990s and even now. Addy Walker is my only AG doll. Reading all 6 of Addy's books and now the short stories, gives us more insight into Addy's life which is so much more than just being an enslaved person.
Pleasant Rowland and the team that she chose to help create Addy Walker"s story and the coordinating doll did a great job.
I would say Pleasant Rowland accomplished her goal, which was to give an introduction to children about the different eras of American history through books, the accompanying doll, and their accessories.
just found your channel! this is super insightful.
I share your passion for these wonderful dolls (but call them dolls is reductive, as they are much more); I am adult, older than you and live in Italy (yes: Italy, you well understood); despite it, I began to build my A.G. dolls collection: I already have three of them and the fourth is coming; as they are not imported in Europe, I have to order them in U.S.A. and have to pay them much more than how they cost you, due to the expensive shipping fee, but it doesn't matter: they are too charming and adorable, with the other dolls brands there is no comparision, they are angels; I love, really love that they are inspired to real people and each of them has her own history 😍.
The idea of historic dolls is simply brilliant, I believe that Mrs. Pleasant Rowland is a true genius and I'll never end to thank her; maybe (I hope) one day her name will be read on the U.S. history books.
As I already wrote in other comments, I believe that these dolls and accessories deserve to be exported even outside America: no need to open A.G. stores (which probably wouldn't have sense outside the States), but distribute them in the biggest exsisting toys and modeling stores (how already happened in Canada, as I know): in Europe (and not only) there are many chains (for example in Italy there is "Toys Center" - the counterpart of "Toys'R'Us") which would be happy to sell these products; many italian friends of mine, once seen my A.G. dolls, literally felt in love for them 🤩and liked have one too, then if someone believes that they wouldn't be appreciated outside the States: keep the faith, it is not so.
Hi, I'm an Italian doll collector and I fell in love with AG dolls too! ❤ But the costs of importing them are just too much 😢 I hope one day we will see them on the shelves!
People give Pleasant Rowland a lot of shame but shes a woman who invested her own money and built this empire that is a household name.
A lot of luxury dolls have been created and never had a second year.
Great job. I always love learning more about the history of American girls. Thank you
Great video essay! I really enjoyed it.
Such a fantastic video! Just subscribed, I've loved AG and jellycats for a while now and am neurodivergent so this channel is such a wonderful find 😊
Awesome!
Why do social activists and analysis expect dolls to solve the world's problems? Questions of racial discrimination, gender roles, income inequality should be asked of politicians, media, and influencers
Asking why dolls haven't solved these problems would be like asking you tubers why they havent solved racism?
hi there, i appreciate your comment! this essay was for one of my high school classes where i independently studied academic literature discussing how toys can negatively enforce gender stereotypes and roles, lack the diversity necessary in america, and be seen as an item of wealth and privilege (in this case, american girl dolls). nobody expects a toy company to solve complex world issues, however, i believe that we should hold billionaires to high standards regarding equality! at the end of the day, this essay was simply just for both fun and school credits; i enjoy looking at how complex issues can affect toys and there’s nothing wrong with that! i also do activism in my day-to-day life, as it’s very important to me as a person who’s multiple minorities. life is more enjoyable when we don’t take ourselves *too* seriously. again, thank you so much for your comment and i hope that i could give you a new perspective - i hope you have an amazing day! 💗
love this video
this was such a interesting and well researched video!! the editing style was also so pretty, this is hands down one of my favorite video essays
thank you so much aradia!! that means so much to me 🤧💗