Professor Popinjay's Compendium of Perspicacity

A Non-Review by Professor Popinjay

Just so there’s no confusion, this article is a non-review of the documentary of the same title directed and co-produced by Arianna LaPenne.

What do you get when you put three alleged narcissists in one office building? A neon colored shit storm apparently.

I liked Lisa Frank stuff. I didn’t sport any of it of course. It was the 80’s. Kids were especially harsh if some boy expressed even a hint of what was unfairly deemed “femininity”. But who doesn’t like cute animals and pleasing colors?

As time marched on I watched Lisa Frank products change. They went from cute animals to depictions of something akin to Bratz dolls. And then, they just disappeared entirely. Occasionally I’d see some stuff in the dollar store but the designs were terrible! I needed to know what happened!

The documentary “Glitter & Greed: The Lisa Frank Story” answers a lot of questions. It’s a sad and bitter tale rife with real anger and real tears. Don’t be surprised to hear some genuine cursing from these artists of adorable brightly colored animals.

I don’t usually go for this kind of thing. I abhor drama of most sorts. Drawn to this however by my own curiosity and rumors I had heard, I couldn’t look away. The story this documentary presents is intriguing as it is appalling. The plight of the slighted artists involved is heartbreaking. The lack of insight and accountability from the upper management is astounding.

Frequently, the documentary will introduce a person and my initial reaction is disgust at their defensiveness and blame shifting. The next step in each part of this four part series shows another aspect that at times made me sympathize with the previous person in focus.

Sometimes a person’s defensiveness would change to sincerity and suddenly it was easy to tell they were lying before but what they’re saying now is the truth. This was very evident by the slight change in their tone, the set of their jaw, their entire composure. It’s hard to say a narcissist is lying though. They believe every word they say.

I kept watching, hoping there was a light at the end of the tunnel; some redeeming factor indicating everything came out alright in the end. The fact of the matter is though, Lisa Frank’s story continues. There’s a part two to this documentary that Lisa has yet to live. For the sake of her fans and everyone who has worked under her in any capacity, I hope changes are made for the good.

Art and money have been strange bedfellows ever since artists decided they liked to eat. The bitter moat of souls involved in creating Lisa Frank art may not have been initially reflected in the art itself which may explain the intrigue surrounding this tumultuous company. The wake of hurt and frustration and ruined lives left behind as this company barreled over everyone decade after decade is a testament to the truth of three idioms:

-A house divided will fall

-You don’t get honey by kicking the bee hive

-All things flow through relationships

I once drew an homage to Lisa Frank. It was a labor of appreciation for the joy her company brought to girls everywhere and even some boys. I won’t post my artwork now. I won’t support a company that treats people this way. And I’m afraid if Lisa saw my homage, she’d probably try to sue me.