The Bobble Head: Get Your Dumb Idol Here!

I recently came across a humorous post of a cat’s head on a Barbie doll’s figure. 

And the quote accompanying it?

“Yet another unrealistic standard of beauty for women.”

I immediately thought of those bobble head toys of many celebrities and characters.

And it struck a nerve.

For, honestly, within our culture, this post isn’t that far-fetched. It may seem ridiculous, this Barbie doll body with an actual feline’s head on top of it.

But, come on. What absurd things have we put out there in the name of image? What crash diets, what severe beauty aesthetics and value measurements have come and gone, changed, only to resurface, once again, in some other strange, distorted fashion?

It still doesn’t address the fact of how we often refuse to confront the real issue.

We want an instant, easy “solution,” one which only focuses on the often unrealistic exterior.

 After all...

“The body type portrayed in advertising as the ideal is possessed naturally by only 5% of the American females.”

The Renfrew Center Foundation for Eating Disorders, “Eating Disorders: A Summary of Issues, Statistics, and Resources”

Our pursuit of an emaciated standard is unrealistic, much like this cat head/human female body hybrid.

Furthermore, the construction of such weird, absurd and extreme idols does not work...

 “What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols? Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.”

Habakkuk 2:18-19

Unfortunately, we often choose not to believe Scripture. We are thoroughly convinced this bobble head option will be our magic cure.

This will fulfill us. This is our answer.

Years ago, in popular culture and image history, there was a celebrity phenomenon called “the Lollipop actresses.” These famous starlets were known to diet to a point in which their much whittled frames were disproportionate to their now seemingly, gigantic heads. They looked like lollipops.

And, again, Habakkuk pops up...

“What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols? Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.”

This humorous cat/Barbie post underscores an uncomfortable, unflattering issue.

In one way or another, we make the graven image (the idol).

In one way or another, we allow it to influence us and teach us lies.

In one way or another, we expect the dumb idol to spring to life and, therefore, give us life in return.

One little hitch to that plan?

“there is no breath at all in the midst of it.”

You and I may not have a shrine erected to a cat head/Barbie body within our homes, but, really, honestly, couldn’t there be some form of image we wish to embody? Be honest.

And that is the spiritual, hard work challenge.

What is your Bobble head? What is your idol?

And how is it failing you?

A little afterthought here...

“I returned, and saw under the sun... time and chance happeneth to them all. “

Ecclesiastes 9:11

Just recently, I came across another similar bobble head post on social media.

Only now, we have a dinosaur head on a female body.

It is absurd and yet again, illustrates the point of how, there truly is “nothing new” going on when it comes to the frenzy of an accepted beauty image.

And there is nothing new about the drastic distortion, presented as “achievable” or “normal.”

Therefore, it is up to each of us to, in our own unique way, identify, confront and see these images for what they are, dumb, powerless idols, stacked up against the reality of our presence, wonderful, incredible  us.

And again, if you need a scripture cheer to underscore that...

“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…”

Psalm 139:14

No bobble head can promise that.

None.

Copyright © 2020 by Sheryle Cruse