Claire Shipp
English 101
“How We Watch”: Analysis Essay
October 19, 2017
English 101
“How We Watch”: Analysis Essay
October 19, 2017
Selfish
Breaking news: The duck face is dead. The tragedy took place on September 4, 2015, at 6:18 AM when Kim Kardashian made her statement on the selfie pose: “In recent years I’m, like, too cool for duck face. So that doesn’t happen” (qtd. in Woodward par. 12). Despite the death of the beloved pose, the selfie lives on in infamy. While talking about selfies, Kardashian calls them the “purpose of life” (Woodward). Still, Kardashian is “humble”; she claims, “I hate to talk about myself” (qtd. in Woodward). John Paul Titlow, author of “#Me: Instagram Narcissism and the Scourge of the Selfie,” has a different view of Instagrammers like Kardashian (122-124). He writes, “Turns out that as a group, Instagrammers are a pretty self-absorbed bunch” (Titlow 123). Titlow explains the impact social media has had on today’s culture. He analyzes stories about the hashtag “Me” and young social media stars to demonstrate that Instagram is creating a new, arguably more devastating, kind of narcissism (Titlow 122-124). Despite Kardashian’s claim of humbleness, the reality is that the rise of social media has drawn users into a vortex of a never-ending desire for approval that is seemingly impossible to escape. To understand the effects of social media on users, critics must look at an Instagram account run by a woman who has made millions and created an empire by playing the number game: Kardashian. Kardashian’s aesthetic, photo content, overall message, and viewer engagement have launched her to the top of stardom at the expense of viewers’ mental health.
Instagram is a platform based solely on visual stimuli, and Kardashian has created an appealing aesthetic through years of posting; this aesthetic has poisoned young minds. Kardashian has 3,971 posts and counting; by scrolling through her Instagram feed, viewers can see that Kardashian has mastered different themes (Kardashian). A theme is a color scheme that an Instagram user follows; users do this so their instagram feeds appears cohesive to viewers. While a theme can be beneficial, it prevents quality photos from being posted because they do not fit the color scheme; however, this does not seem to bother Kardashian . As an Instagram influencer, she has used black and white, white and color, saturation and contrast, and most recently bronze and mauve. While searching for the filter Kardashian uses on Instagram, thousands of articles filled my Google feed; there were over one million. Teenagers believe if they use the filter Kardashian does, they will become her. Today’s culture craves followers, likes, comments, and beauty; all items Kardashian seems to enjoy. Viewers strive to copy Kardashian’s every move, even her Instagram filters; however, the reality is a filter cannot alter a person's appearance, and the belief that a filter can change appearances is a problem that has corrupted young people’s concept of identity.
While looking at Kardashian’s Instagram profile as a whole, viewers can become obsessed with the aesthetics of Kardashian’s photos; however, when looking at each post, the aura of stardom begins to fade due to the lackluster content in each photo she, or a team, choose to post. There are few artistic photos mixed into Kardashian’s Instagram account with an endless feed of pouty selfies, brand deals, and nude photos each are adorned with meaningless captions. However, Kardashian remains unique in her love for her family; Kardashian posts many pictures showing off the people she loves the most: her children and husband. Despite her love for her young children, Kardashian continues to post photos not safe for any child’s eyes. Her nude, provocative photos align with her scandalous roots. Critics deem these photos daring and brave, but they are unrealistic and harmful. Each post Kardashian makes is highly photoshopped. These photos create an idealistic image that is unattainable without professional photoshop assistance. Instagram accounts like Kardashian’s are poisoning young girls’ body images.
Through her overall look created by each post, maybe without realization, Kardashian is sending a false message of women empowerment to viewers. Kardashian claims to support women empowerment. She posts nude photos to show others the beauty of women and to empower other women to do the same, but her claim of feminism is a facade; in reality, Kardashian’s bottom line is to make money. Kardashian has created a twisted message that makes her look superior for empowering women, while also making money off insecure women that pay exorbitant amounts of money to look like the unattainable image Kardashian portrays; therefore, the money keeps flowing. Kardashian has profited from this marketing tactic for years by producing products like her contour kit and selfie phone case. While clever, the false message of women empowerment is killing young girls’ self-confidences and corrupting young boys’ views of true beauty.
By mastering theme, content, and message, Kardashian has become adept at increasing likes and comments, and she has profited by doing so; Kardashian made $51 million in 2016 alone (“Kim Kardashian West”). Kim Kardashian West has 103,819,694 followers on her Instagram account; her past 20 posts have gotten 28,521,583 likes and 355,118 comments (“Kim Kardashian West”). Kardashian knows her brand--wealth and beauty--and she does not stray from it. Her scandalous pictures and high-maintenance lifestyle draw brand deals and collaborations with other celebrities. Popular culture places Kardashian on a pedestal. Americans deem her as the model for success, and, therefore, individuals who receive fewer likes than her become the model for failure. The value of a person has shifted from his/her personality to a measurable number: Instagram likes. This creates a divide between people. Users with 0-50 likes are “uncool” compared to the sorority girl who receives 550 or more likes on each bikini-clad post. This issue is causing a divide between young men and women and it is diminishing young-adults’ confidence levels.
Selfie culture should come to rest along with the duck face. A good picture can be a great addition to an Instagram feed, but once an individuals appreciation of likes transforms into a need, there is a problem. As Titlow explains, “Just about all of them--male and female alike-- are seeking approval from their peers and the larger community, which thanks to the internet, is now effectively infinite” (123). Kardashian has played into the scheme Instagram has formulated, and she was successful. If money and fame measure success, then the models of success would remain the same. However, if success is measured by being kind, hardworking, and selfless, today's models of success would shift dramatically. Viewers of social media accounts like Kim Kardashian’s need to understand the impact social media has on young minds, and Americans must stop striving to copy the look, lifestyle, message, and influence of stars like Kim Kardashian.
Instagram is a platform based solely on visual stimuli, and Kardashian has created an appealing aesthetic through years of posting; this aesthetic has poisoned young minds. Kardashian has 3,971 posts and counting; by scrolling through her Instagram feed, viewers can see that Kardashian has mastered different themes (Kardashian). A theme is a color scheme that an Instagram user follows; users do this so their instagram feeds appears cohesive to viewers. While a theme can be beneficial, it prevents quality photos from being posted because they do not fit the color scheme; however, this does not seem to bother Kardashian . As an Instagram influencer, she has used black and white, white and color, saturation and contrast, and most recently bronze and mauve. While searching for the filter Kardashian uses on Instagram, thousands of articles filled my Google feed; there were over one million. Teenagers believe if they use the filter Kardashian does, they will become her. Today’s culture craves followers, likes, comments, and beauty; all items Kardashian seems to enjoy. Viewers strive to copy Kardashian’s every move, even her Instagram filters; however, the reality is a filter cannot alter a person's appearance, and the belief that a filter can change appearances is a problem that has corrupted young people’s concept of identity.
While looking at Kardashian’s Instagram profile as a whole, viewers can become obsessed with the aesthetics of Kardashian’s photos; however, when looking at each post, the aura of stardom begins to fade due to the lackluster content in each photo she, or a team, choose to post. There are few artistic photos mixed into Kardashian’s Instagram account with an endless feed of pouty selfies, brand deals, and nude photos each are adorned with meaningless captions. However, Kardashian remains unique in her love for her family; Kardashian posts many pictures showing off the people she loves the most: her children and husband. Despite her love for her young children, Kardashian continues to post photos not safe for any child’s eyes. Her nude, provocative photos align with her scandalous roots. Critics deem these photos daring and brave, but they are unrealistic and harmful. Each post Kardashian makes is highly photoshopped. These photos create an idealistic image that is unattainable without professional photoshop assistance. Instagram accounts like Kardashian’s are poisoning young girls’ body images.
Through her overall look created by each post, maybe without realization, Kardashian is sending a false message of women empowerment to viewers. Kardashian claims to support women empowerment. She posts nude photos to show others the beauty of women and to empower other women to do the same, but her claim of feminism is a facade; in reality, Kardashian’s bottom line is to make money. Kardashian has created a twisted message that makes her look superior for empowering women, while also making money off insecure women that pay exorbitant amounts of money to look like the unattainable image Kardashian portrays; therefore, the money keeps flowing. Kardashian has profited from this marketing tactic for years by producing products like her contour kit and selfie phone case. While clever, the false message of women empowerment is killing young girls’ self-confidences and corrupting young boys’ views of true beauty.
By mastering theme, content, and message, Kardashian has become adept at increasing likes and comments, and she has profited by doing so; Kardashian made $51 million in 2016 alone (“Kim Kardashian West”). Kim Kardashian West has 103,819,694 followers on her Instagram account; her past 20 posts have gotten 28,521,583 likes and 355,118 comments (“Kim Kardashian West”). Kardashian knows her brand--wealth and beauty--and she does not stray from it. Her scandalous pictures and high-maintenance lifestyle draw brand deals and collaborations with other celebrities. Popular culture places Kardashian on a pedestal. Americans deem her as the model for success, and, therefore, individuals who receive fewer likes than her become the model for failure. The value of a person has shifted from his/her personality to a measurable number: Instagram likes. This creates a divide between people. Users with 0-50 likes are “uncool” compared to the sorority girl who receives 550 or more likes on each bikini-clad post. This issue is causing a divide between young men and women and it is diminishing young-adults’ confidence levels.
Selfie culture should come to rest along with the duck face. A good picture can be a great addition to an Instagram feed, but once an individuals appreciation of likes transforms into a need, there is a problem. As Titlow explains, “Just about all of them--male and female alike-- are seeking approval from their peers and the larger community, which thanks to the internet, is now effectively infinite” (123). Kardashian has played into the scheme Instagram has formulated, and she was successful. If money and fame measure success, then the models of success would remain the same. However, if success is measured by being kind, hardworking, and selfless, today's models of success would shift dramatically. Viewers of social media accounts like Kim Kardashian’s need to understand the impact social media has on young minds, and Americans must stop striving to copy the look, lifestyle, message, and influence of stars like Kim Kardashian.
Works Cited
Kardashian, Kim. “@Kimkardashian.” Instagram, Kim Kardashian West, www.instagram.com/kimkardashian/?hl=en.
“Kim Kardashian West.” WEBSTA, Wakayama, Singapore, Cebu, websta.me/n/kimkardashian.
Titlow, John P. “#Me: Instagram Narcissism and the Scourge of the Selfie.” Acting out Culture: Reading and Writing, Bedford/St. Martins, 2011, pp. 122–124.
Woodward, Ellie. “33 Things Kim Kardashian Has 100% Actually Said.” BuzzFeed, Buzz Feed, 4 Sept. 2015, 6:18 a.m.,
www.buzzfeed.com/elliewoodward/things-kim-kardashian-has-100-actually-said?utm_term=.hfEQAYvPV#.fyVJ3jl7R.
“Kim Kardashian West.” WEBSTA, Wakayama, Singapore, Cebu, websta.me/n/kimkardashian.
Titlow, John P. “#Me: Instagram Narcissism and the Scourge of the Selfie.” Acting out Culture: Reading and Writing, Bedford/St. Martins, 2011, pp. 122–124.
Woodward, Ellie. “33 Things Kim Kardashian Has 100% Actually Said.” BuzzFeed, Buzz Feed, 4 Sept. 2015, 6:18 a.m.,
www.buzzfeed.com/elliewoodward/things-kim-kardashian-has-100-actually-said?utm_term=.hfEQAYvPV#.fyVJ3jl7R.