"Fake babies" -- the term makes me cringe!

by Martie Massie
(Virginia)

I'm a longtime reborner...over 6 years. When the term "fake" babies materialized, basically because of a British video, it literally turned my stomach. I HATE the word "fake". "Fake" implies something dishonest. Reborn babies are far from "fake"...they are real artistic interpretations of real babies.

To some, the term "reborn" is confusing. Originally it applied to religious rebirth, as when as person who had turned away from God had returned to the fold renewed in his/her faith and allegiance. Reborn babies, as in the real sense, cannot return to a faith that they had not lost, so the term took some by surprise. But it is what the pioneers of the artform decided to call it, and for lack of a better term, it stuck. It has taken a long time but the term "Reborn babies" is more widely known and accepted.

Afterall, it would sound silly to call them "remade" babies, or "remade" dolls even though "remade" dolls is the most closely correct term to describe the artform. Babies aren't reborn..Dolls are remade. But either way, they are not "fake". They are imitations, artistic renderings of what a real baby looks and feels like. They are impressions, as each artist takes an ordinary doll (or doll kit) and imprints his or her own impression upon it, the expression of their own idea of what a real baby looks and feels like. Just like beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so is realism.

Speaking of doll kits, I like the idea of taking an ordinary "doll", one which was produced in a factory, and stripping it down to the naked sculpt and re-rendering it. Kits are wonderful because they free up the reborners time to paint and create, and we all know the amount of time that is involved in creating these artistic works of art. But even though our time is never really compensated, it is worth it to see the results and hear the appreciation of all those that love the babies we create. I think the idea of stripping and re-creating was more appreciated by the collectors. I still enjoy reborning a doll even though it's a lot more time and work.

One more thing. I don't like Secrist's term "newborn" babies either which they have attempted (and I think failed) to create a new term for a reborned kit. A reborn is a reborn no matter what the artist started with, doll or kit. As far as the term "fake" I never have and never will use it. I think it's degrading and sends the wrong message. Babies are beautiful...reborns are beautiful. Beauty is not fake.