How Does Barthes Use Wooden Toys?

In

“Toys,” Roland Barthes talks about French toys, wooden, metal,

and

mechanical

toys for socializing, and dramatic play. Gendered toys leading to

adulthood

for guidance, discovery, and for children who like to use toys but

not

create.

Blocks appeal to all kids, whether it's do it yourself or group

play.

Examples of different forms of play that lead to modern

adult life are armed

forces,

performer, post man, doctor, beautician, and so many more. Little

girls are

trained

to stay at home house-care for the future role as a mother. Natural

wooden

toys were created with shapes which walk, roll, develop life, not

possessions

where the objects act for themselves. They are no longer a

lifeless

or a difficult toy in the

hands of children. Current toys
are elements made from

nasty
awkward material that is not natural substances. It takes complex
mixtures

that
may be hazardous, toxic, and gross that took over the quality toys
made of

wood
that were ideal due to being firm, soft, and warm to the touch. New
age

toys
run on batteries, springs, and lots of parts that cannot be replaced
due to
the mechanics.

Metal toys are cold, hard, and sends

vibrations, but are along the

natural

lines of wood. With the toys these days they don't have a long life

span

due

to the craftsmanship with the chemicals, parts, etc., they don't give

much

pleasure

for the child especially once the toy breaks the play is over for the

child.

Barthes has many great points about toys and I agree about the wooden

toys

aspect that they are the best for children of all ages. Yet, a very

famous toy is Superman, and he is

looked at as an American Dream, due to being created after the Great

Depression. He has superpowers, mighty strength, and his flight, but

yet it was a difficult life to live. He was independent wearing his

tall red boots with his famous colors of red, and blue. Wooden

toys I feel should always be the number one toy to buy over any power

toy or fighter toy due to being organic and chemical free. Blocks and

dramatic play are great and leave a lot to the child's imagination,

whether they want to build or pretend, it's all up to the age of the child and the

capacity of their imagination. I don't feel its just French toys

though!

In
today's times parents will feel a boy cannot play or pick up a Barbie
or have pink and purple and a girl isn't meant to play with a boy toy
such as a Superman figurine or associate with boy colors.

As

ridiculous as this sounds, this is what our society thinks when it

comes to our children and acceptable playtime behavior. But who

decided that pastel colors and dolls should only be enjoyed by girls,

and the color blue and trucks are for boys? Society! Some of Superman's facts such as his inverted

triangle is a symbolism of the female or feminine side of situations.

The “S” is not for super, it's a Kryptonian symbol for “hope.”

The color red is used to depict anger, sacrifice, or alerts. Superman

had full body protection hiding any wounds and making him bulletproof

with a red cape signifying liberation and

flight.

Raised
on images of buxom women and studly men, who state clear ideas

about
what the perfect man or woman is, our cultural ideals laid out in
complete exaggeration. How can we not expect our children to
challenge and eventually

keep
these ideals going to continued generations? I believe that French,
organic toys, would end the ideals our society is brainwashing our
children with. If the children were just left with pure toys and
their own imagination to wander, children wouldn't feel pressure to
fit the “norm” of society. The women in today's times are shown
as full-figured, subservient, and relationship impaired, but strong
and capable because of all these aspects the men are shown as strong,
intelligent, honest, and true, protectors of the weak and small. The
hero is defined and defines society, and the sexuality/gender roles
that the Superheroes of ours and our parents’ time represent are
clear in how our society works and functions. I agree women are given
power and status by the men who hold control, men in power can have
healthy families and relationships while many women give up their
home life for a successful career. Children see this as the hero
rescues thousands, and the adults see this as a hero defeats the
enemy and emerges victorious, and the cycle rolls on. I
feel women do so much these days that we aren't given credit for or
the men try to take power over. When it comes down to “Women
Power” we can handle it all and the men are just our accessory!