What's Wrong With Paolini and Perelli's Virgin Mary Depicted as a Barbie Doll?

RELIGION DISPATCHES
By Joseph Laycock

ARGENTINA---Catholic and Hindu leaders—two religions that normally appreciate religious statues and images—have decried “Barbie: The Plastic Religion,” a new exhibit by Argentinian artists Pool Paolini and Marianela Perelli, featuring 33 Barbie and Ken dolls dressed as saints, prophets, and deities from world religions. The most outraged group appears to be devotees of Argentinian folk saint Difunta Correa (the deceased Correa), who’s also “Barbie-fied.” A spokesperson for a sanctuary commemorating Difunta Correa claimed the saint’s image is copyrighted and threatened to sue. Paolini and Perelli have announced they will not make a Muhammad doll because, they said, Islam expressly forbids images. Paolini and Perelli have claimed to be surprised by this response since they feared getting sued by Mattel, not religious organizations. [link]