UofMUSCLE.com – M.U.S.C.L.E. Figures from Mattel

Modern M.U.S.C.L.E. Culture

Mattel discontinued distributing M.U.S.C.L.E. figures after 1987; however, the impact of these toys has continued to resonant with collectors and even children. Most children are likely shown and/or given the figures by M.U.S.C.L.E. collecting relatives there are still some M.U.S.C.L.E. figures that are used as toys in classrooms.

Sociology 200 will highlight contemporary children that have discovered, or been given the gift of, M.U.S.C.L.E. toys. As “contemporary” is a flexible term regarding dates it seems best to clarify the types of submissions that would be accepted. If you have pictures of children playing with M.U.S.C.L.E. figures from 1992 to the present, then these would be ideal for submission.

Featured Pictures:

1. Example #1 – June 2009
2. Example #2 – January 2010
3. Example #3 – March 2010
4. Example #4 – June 2010
5. Example #5 – November 2011

This is a potnetial Sociology 200 example:

My son had grabbed some extra figures that had been part of an eBay purchase. We sat for 20 minutes looking at the figures – counting figures, counting arms and legs, identifying the different colors and animals. Because I needed to clean-up and leave the house I told him he could pick three figures. He chose a Dark Blue #153 (which he called “Claw” without any prompt), a Purple #68 (which he calls Obi-Wan), and a Flesh #208 (which he calls Luke). The figures traveled with him that entire day and have become a constant plaything during bath time.

If you have any pictures that you would like featured, then please send them to the University of M.U.S.C.L.E. with a brief explanation of the pictures, plus how the children learned about M.U.S.C.L.E. toys.

Thank you in advance for all submissions.