This is the inaugural episode of the limited series Off the Syllabus. In this series Prof. Matthew Vernon interviews professors in the English department about a movie they love. This is an opportunity for them to explore a topic that is not necessarily something they study, but that they are nevertheless excited about. This first interview is with Prof. Desirée Martín about the 2023 film Barbie by Greta Gerwig. We talk about toxic masculinity, Los Angeles, and Matchbox 20.