Film: Barbie

March 31 • 6 p.m. • ECC Theatre

Guest Lecture

Eileen G’Sell

G’Sell, who teaches writing and media studies at Washington University in St. Louis, is a poet and culture critic whose work focuses on gender, sexuality, and economic class. She was born in St. Louis and earned a BA at Knox College, an MA at the University of Rochester, and an MFA at Washington University in St. Louis. Her first full-length volume of poetry, Life After Rugby, was published in 2018 by Gold Wake Press. Her second book of poetry, Francofilaments, was published in 2024 by Broken Sleep Books. Her first book of nonfiction, Lipstick, joins Bloomsbury Academic’s Object Lessons series in 2026. Neighborhood Reads will be in the lobby selling copies of Lipstick at the event.

Film

Barbie is a 2023 fantasy comedy film directed by Greta Gerwig. Based on the fashion dolls by Mattel, it is the first live-action Barbie film after numerous animated films and specials. Starring Margot Robbie as the title character and Ryan Gosling as Ken, the film follows them on a journey of self-discovery through Barbieland and the real world following an existential crisis. The supporting cast includes America Ferrera, Michael Cera, Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae, Rhea Perlman, and Will Ferrell.