1st Edition
Kardashians A Critical Anthology
This interdisciplinary volume introduces the field of Kardashian Studies through collections of essays based in sociology, media studies, cultural studies, critical race theory and fashion theory.
The Kardashian empire and dynasty is intertwined with some of the most important movements of the early twenty-first century. Celebrity, cultural appropriation, new forms of feminism, social media, ideal bodies, evolving notions of physical beauty and the global fashion system have all been affected by the quintessential influencers in this family of matriarchs. The anthology is structured around core thematic sections. From Storytelling and Race, through Fashion and Celebrity, to Time and Embodiment, each section contains an accessible introduction followed by chapters that together take a unique approach to exploring the Kardashians from multiple viewpoints. The inclusion of discussion points suitable for classroom use enhances the utility of the anthology for both study and teaching purposes.
The first of its kind, Kardashians: A Critical Anthology positions Kardashian Studies at the forefront of critical inquiry around notions of authenticity, contemporary feminisms, visuality and social media. It will of interest to both scholars and students interested in popular culture, television, notions of authenticity, contemporary feminisms, visuality, race and social media.
List of Contributors
Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgements
Introduction: Kuriously kritical: Kardashians as cyborg goddesses - momagers and matriarchies
Meredith Jones
Part I: Storytelling
Chapter 1: Family brands: The Kardashian-Jenners and the Nelsons
Cynthia B. Meyers
Chapter 2: The performance of authorship in published books by the Kardashians and Jenners
Donna Lee Brien
Chapter 3: Selfish: A happy archive?
Laura Henderson Child
Discussion points for Part I
Part II: Race
Chapter 4: There is no sexual relation: The Kardashians and Black masculinities
Manuel Harpin
Chapter 5: Kim Kardashian’s “Kimono”: The complexities of cultural appropriation
Jenny Hall
Chapter 6: White multiracial sentiment
Ren Ellis Neyra
Discussion points for Part II
Part III: Fashion
Chapter 7: SKIMSTM: Body positive or Kimspiraton?
Katherine Appleford
Chapter 8: Glitter and the death drive: Kim Kardashian’s Met Gala costumes
Meredith Jones
Discussion points for Part III
Part IV: Embodiment
Chapter 9: The corporeality of reproduction and surrogate pregnancy in Keeping Up with the Kardashians
Siri Lindholm
Chapter 10: “It’s super disgusting”: An analysis of famous cis-men responses to the Kardashian’s deviant femininity
Oline Eaton
Chapter 11: Where has all the affect gone on Kardashian reality TV? Negotiating emotional labour and boundaries
Meera Govindasamy
Discussion points for Part IV
Part V: Celebrity
Chapter 12: Debunking celebrity activism: Kim Kardashian and prison advocacy
Lida Papakonstantinou
Chapter 13: The role of transgender celebrities: the power of representation
Cavyn Mitchell
Chapter 14: In the lab with the Kardashians: How Kardashian-linked research finds its audience
Michael Taylor and Carlos Areia
Discussion points for Part V
Part VI: Time
Chapter 15: The Kardashians will never die: On repetition and infinity
Phoebe Kaufman
Chapter 16: Use of Artificial Intelligence and holography: Robert Kardashian resurrected?
Lida Papakonstantinou
Chapter 17: Keeping up with the past, present and future: How the Kardashians sustain relevance by manipulating reality
Ruby Smith
Discussion points for Part VI
Index
Biography
Meredith Jones is Professor of Gender and Cultural Studies at Brunel University London, where she directs the Institute of Communities and Society. Apart from her work on the Kardashians, she is best known for her research into cosmetic surgery and is currently contracted to Bloomsbury to produce a second edition of her book Skintight: A Cultural Anatomy of Cosmetic Surgery. She also enjoys writing about genitals and fashion.
Kath Burton is development lead for humanities journals at Routledge, Taylor & Francis. She is co-convener of Publishing and Publicly Engaged Humanities, a group that supports the creation of dynamic publishing practices for the public humanities.
Donna Lee Brien is Emeritus Professor of Creative Industries at Central Queensland University, Australia, and teaches into graduate programs at the Australian Catholic University. Currently writing a history of Sydney's Bondi Beach, Donna’s most recent books are Paradox, Image and Identity: The Shadow Side of Nursing (co-authored with Margaret McAllister, 2020) and Speculative Biography: Opportunities, Experiments and Provocations(edited with Kiera Lindsey, 2022), both for Routledge.
Whatever you think about the Kardashians, you ignore them at your peril!
This book brings together a host of excellent scholars from different countries and disciplines to explore the successes (and failures) of the Kardashian family as the global media icons of our time. Chapters are wide-ranging, innovative and adventurous and consider many prescient issues for our society through the lens of a popular culture deeply familiar to students. In times when the UK government disparages “Mickey Mouse” degree subjects this book throws down a magnificent gauntlet to demonstrate that scholarship – and scholars – of popular culture should never be underestimated!
Ruth Holliday, Professor of Gender and Culture, School of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Leeds
