Sarafian criticizes Kim Kardashian capitalization on sex-tape affiliated fame and how she has become Vogue-“worthy”.
If you thought that Vogue was the epitome of grace, your viewpoint has most likely been challenged lately. The fashion magazine’s most recent cover belongs to none other than Kim Kardashian and her Taylor Swift-interrupting fiancé, Kanye West. Nothing screams glamour like a talentless reality show star such as Kim Kardashian—a dictionary definition of being famous for being famous. The backlash isn’t derived specifically from Kanye’s appearance—he has a legitimate career. Rather, it’s Kim’s mug that has readers up in arms.
Although Miss Kardashian is famous, she doesn’t have an iota of talent. She doesn’t sing (oh, she tried to. Look up her song “Jam” if you dare), act (see Disaster Movie for proof), or write (let’s not even try to imagine what a Kim Kardashian novel would be like).
So, why is Kim famous? She had a sex tape. She has a big ass. She’s pretty.
That’s basically what it comes down to. Kim Kardashian has cemented herself in Hollywood merely for being alive. Her reality show doesn’t have a central theme to it like Survivor, The Real World, or even Dog the Bounty Hunter. Rather, it mostly follows Kim and her sisters’ daily gallivanting. Watch the show and you’ll be subjected to about forty-five minutes of Kim and her sisters going out to lunch, sitting in bed, yelling at each other, and yelling at each other while eating lunch in bed. It’s enthralling and thought provoking, really.
Now, if Kim Kardashian was a role model of sorts or boasts something on her resume that merits earning that spot on the cover of Vogue, then perhaps the cover wouldn’t have stirred up controversy. Sadly, this is not the case. Some stars have taken to Twitter to address the cover. The Crazy Ones and Buffy the Vampire Slayer star, Sarah Michelle Gellar tweeted, “Well, I guess I’m canceling my Vogue subscription. Who is with me?” Kim’s BFF, Jonathan Cheban (better known as Kim’s leech with the bad 90s haircut) responded to the former vampire slayer, “Do you matter?” Well, this is ironic. Someone is coming to the defense of Kim Kardashian and using the idea of “irrelevance” to do so. Gellar may not be Hollywood tabloid royalty like anyone from the Kardashian clan. But, a “do you matter?” Well, let’s check Gellar’s credentials. She’s starred in films such as The Grudge and just won a People’s Choice Award for her new show, The Crazy Ones. And let us not forget Buffy. You know, one of the biggest television shows of all time; one that has its own college courses? Gellar even did her own stunts on that show. Well, technically Kim’s done her own stunts as well, but you have to be eighteen or older to view them.
Kim Kardashian is notorious for “not mattering.” So, is it fair that someone so unnecessary can grace the cover of Vogue? People strive for years to land acting gigs or record deals. Yet here’s someone like Kardashian, casually waltzing past talent. What kind of message does this send to aspiring performers, especially young women? During the 2011 MTV Movie Awards, Reese Witherspoon addressed the trend of sex-tape famous reality stars. “It is possible to make it in Hollywood without doing a reality show,” said the Oscar winner, “When I came up in this business, if you made a sex tape, you were embarrassed and you hid it under your bed.” In other words, you don’t have to be promiscuous to become a “somebody.” Talent still works, people are still looking for it.
What does placing someone like Kim Kardashian on the cover of Vogue say about the magazine itself? “I think it’s more of a comment on the downfall of a magazine then on Kim. Vogue used to have very high standards as a top fashion magazine, but it has disregarded its original purpose in order to attract a wider crowd,” says Gabby Hochberg ’15. Editor-in-chief of Vogue, Anna Wintour, must have really seen a drop in her product’s relevance in order to summon the likes of Kim Kardashian. This isn’t much different than a five-star restaurant changing their menu after having realized that corndogs sell better than steak tartare. “It’s all about the consumerism now, and it’s sad to see Vogue next to the tabloids, lowering its standards so much as to have reality television stars brace the cover,” says Jenny McEneaney ’15.
Thus, Vogue has scrounged the bottom of the ocean for its catch of the day. By incorporating a star such as Kim Kardashian, the magazine has lowered its standards and glamorized the trend of talentless stardom.
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