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xchrom

(108,903 posts) Sat Sep 6, 2014, 05:14 AM Sep 2014

Why Kim Kardashian Is the Perfect Icon for Our Sick Society [View all]

http://www.alternet.org/economy/why-kim-kardashian-perfect-icon-our-sick-society

Kardashian represents the pinnacle values of late-stage American-style capitalism: opportunism, effortless celebrity, obsession with wealth and image, narcissism, and above all, making a fortune doing nothing useful.

In her ripened curves, the fruits of unbridled capitalism are made flesh. In her dogged ambition to be rich and be seen, she is the Lady Bountiful of the Celebrity-Industrial Complex, endorsing any product that will have her, no matter how contradictory. Diet systems? Of course! McDonald’s? Mais oui! The mirror image of the market stripped of regulation, she is the marketer unburdened by responsibility.

Turning the world into a camera, Kardashian takes self-obsession to new heights: She is the queen of the selfie, compiling a 352-page series of snaps into an unpublished book called “Selfish,” soon available to all in hardcover. Her smartphone gaming app, “Kim Kardashian: Hollywood,” invites players to follow her animated image as she frolics through a commercial playground. The app is already worth $200 million after a midsummer release, its candy-colored cartoons perfectly reflecting the infantile ethos she represents.

Kim Kardashian is simply the id of capitalism run wild, the narcissistic force that wants what it wants, when it wants it, an incarnation of the fulfilled wish to talk and think about absolutely nothing while rolling in snuggly designer sheets. Unattached and oblivious, the spoiled child becomes the American avatar of freedom and self-expression, something elevated and even holy.

83 replies

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Highlight:

Why Kim Kardashian Is the Perfect Icon for Our Sick Society [View all] xchrom Sep 2014 OP

We're the keepers RandiFan1290 Sep 2014 #1

My questions are, other than herself, who else has she exploited? MrScorpio Sep 2014 #2

Celebrities have a big influence marions ghost Sep 2014 #5

And to that I have to ask, if she were a man and did the exact same thing... MrScorpio Sep 2014 #6

I think so marions ghost Sep 2014 #8

I'm still trying to figure out what harm she's posing here MrScorpio Sep 2014 #12

I don't see K as a philanthropist sorry marions ghost Sep 2014 #15

So charity gets only 10% of what she collects from Kim Kardashian. That's not enough. Louisiana1976 Sep 2014 #77

Bieber? He posts a lot of selfies. cwydro Sep 2014 #47

Narcissist no-talent males have an easier time becoming Senator. Or President. villager Sep 2014 #52

...and do infinitely more damage.... marions ghost Sep 2014 #73

magic Johnson's son. e online rich kids of beverly hills roguevalley Sep 2014 #69

I hate to step into this JustAnotherGen Sep 2014 #11

I'm sorry... MrScorpio Sep 2014 #13

PMK JustAnotherGen Sep 2014 #14

Well, It's not as if I know what goes behind closed doors with any of them MrScorpio Sep 2014 #17

I know too much JustAnotherGen Sep 2014 #18

Certainly those who exploit should be condemned Shankapotomus Sep 2014 #9

That's a good question. Louisiana1976 Sep 2014 #79

From my understanding.... The Straight Story Sep 2014 #19

Well, I don't agree with that essay either. MrScorpio Sep 2014 #23

Just wanted to remark that a lot of feminists are positive to selfies. KitSileya Sep 2014 #24

The OP article clearly says marions ghost Sep 2014 #25

"their body, their choice, not my business and more power to them." alp227 Sep 2014 #59

what it means is The Straight Story Sep 2014 #67

Isn't this the same argument right wingers make about criticizing Obama? alp227 Sep 2014 #70

+1 XemaSab Sep 2014 #28

Wasn't she born into it? treestar Sep 2014 #63

I could not agree more. Suich Sep 2014 #3

She got her start on the Paris Hilton show as this. Ichingcarpenter Sep 2014 #4

Because her aspect ratio is all fucked up? Warren DeMontague Sep 2014 #7

Kim is addicted to consumption marions ghost Sep 2014 #10

And she gets paid very well for it JustAnotherGen Sep 2014 #16

It's always been true marions ghost Sep 2014 #21

I know, it's terrible. Something is horribly wrong with humanity, as opposed to the past Warren DeMontague Sep 2014 #39

I have no idea what you're talking about marions ghost Sep 2014 #43

"No time in my past were things ever good." Warren DeMontague Sep 2014 #49

"Should that be glamorized and emulated by teenagers and young women, the target audience?" Warren DeMontague Sep 2014 #37

Of course it's "should" marions ghost Sep 2014 #42

Exactly. Warren DeMontague Sep 2014 #48

Not completely equivalent as they have taken on some responsibility treestar Sep 2014 #64

A thin sham to cover up the fact that the institution is horribly antiquated; well past sell-by date Warren DeMontague Sep 2014 #68

"Wonder Woman" impersonation--so lame marions ghost Sep 2014 #20

Here pant ankles are going to get real dirty Warren DeMontague Sep 2014 #38

Now that's funny marions ghost Sep 2014 #44

It's not me, is it? Warren DeMontague Sep 2014 #50

not you marions ghost Sep 2014 #72

It is rather surprising that no one has started a palanquin service in LA. Warren DeMontague Sep 2014 #74

They need to look very fancy.... marions ghost Sep 2014 #75

Hmm. I'm thinking Sun Tzu style, now. If it could somehow be promoted as a high-end exercise regime Warren DeMontague Sep 2014 #76

More like this one...? marions ghost Sep 2014 #78

People would pay through the NOSE to carry their favorite celebrities around. Warren DeMontague Sep 2014 #83

She actually doesn't bother me JonLP24 Sep 2014 #22

I wouldn't know her if I bumped into her on the street. She means squat to me. cherokeeprogressive Sep 2014 #26

Be thankful marions ghost Sep 2014 #27

I wouldn't either treestar Sep 2014 #65

True--what about Khloe and Kourtney? Louisiana1976 Sep 2014 #80

The Glorification Of Nothing - The Air Head Culture Personified - When Being Vacuous Is Celebrated cantbeserious Sep 2014 #29

Is she the symptom or the disease? alarimer Sep 2014 #30

Excellent points. There's a line that goes pure drivel drives out ordinary drivel or something like Louisiana1976 Sep 2014 #81

There's a market for her mindwalker_i Sep 2014 #31

Amen, n/t tooeyeten Sep 2014 #33

+1000 Tom Ripley Sep 2014 #36

+1 treestar Sep 2014 #66

Hardly, tooeyeten Sep 2014 #32

there's a game out! MisterP Sep 2014 #34

I save my scorn for the consumers and chattering/scribbling classes... Tom Ripley Sep 2014 #35

Wow! Nearly 40 responses on someone who doesn't deserve it. Nedsdag Sep 2014 #40

i think our derision of her is partly misogyny. she is hardly the problem. La Lioness Priyanka Sep 2014 #41

Charlie Sheen and Tom Cruise have been subject of ridicule. Nedsdag Sep 2014 #45

charlie sheen was a mean asshole to many people and tom cruise was fucking crazy on the ellen show La Lioness Priyanka Sep 2014 #46

Is jumping on a couch so beyond the pale.... ProudToBeBlueInRhody Sep 2014 #54

again, were any of them accused of being a symbol of what is wrong with america? La Lioness Priyanka Sep 2014 #57

I think they were pretty well vilified ProudToBeBlueInRhody Sep 2014 #60

If I may go out on a wildly speculative limb, here Warren DeMontague Sep 2014 #51

Do you feel the same about Sarah Palin? n/m ProudToBeBlueInRhody Sep 2014 #53

Nailed it. Misogyny. Has to be. Bachmann, Coulter, Ingraham, Kelly - If men weren't so f'd up... cherokeeprogressive Sep 2014 #55

no. sarah palin used to have some real power La Lioness Priyanka Sep 2014 #56

Nope. PoutrageFatigue Sep 2014 #58

Right on! Louisiana1976 Sep 2014 #82

Who? tavernier Sep 2014 #61

Thank God there are so few male narcissists! WinkyDink Sep 2014 #62

I'm sick of her , Kanye West and MFM008 Sep 2014 #71