COMM303 Research Portfolio: Kanye West by COMM303 Portfolio

Kanye West interrupts Taylor Swift acceptance for best video (VMAs 2009)

201268997 — 2020-03-22 13:47:58 UTC

during the 2009 VMAs, Kanye West came onto the stage during Taylor Swift's acceptance for her award for best female video for her song, 'you belong to me'. This started a long feud between the two musicians and caused both of their fans to turn on each other in a rivalry that is still ongoing to this day.

Kanye West Compares Himself to Hitler at British Festival

201268997 — 2020-03-22 14:03:51 UTC

Kanye West is known for making outlandish statements throughout the years, from comparing himself to got to saying that slavery was a choice. However, one early instance had him stating that he is more hated than Adolf Hitler, the Austrian Dictator who lead the National Socialist (Nazi) Party in Germany during and before World War Two, and was responsible for the deaths of 6 Million Jewish citizens. At the Big Chill Film Festival, he said "I walk through the hotel and I walk down the street and people look at me like I’m fucking insane, like I’m Hitler"

Kanye West 'Famous' lyric controversy (2016)

201268997 — 2020-03-22 14:10:51 UTC

Kanye West 'Bad Boy' Star Type

201268997 — 2020-03-22 14:11:51 UTC

Kanye West as a Republican

201268997 — 2020-03-22 17:35:41 UTC

Calling out Kanye: reflections on post-racialcelebrity and the (neo)liberal media

201268997 — 2020-03-22 17:37:45 UTC

Carlton Brick
This article discusses how the medias construction of Kanye West and his support for Trump and the Republican party 'Negates the rapper as both political subject and black spectacle' (Brick, 2019, p. 2), suggesting that this type of hatred towards him, and expecting him to align with a certain political party just because of the colour of his skin is in itself prejudice towards him. This topic is something that Kanye West has spoken about in recent history, comparing the hatred he receives due to it is 'mental slavery'
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19392397.2019.1691754?instName=University+of+Liverpool

Kanye West backs Donald Trump, says ‘Republican Party freed the slaves’ at Sunday Service

201268997 — 2020-03-22 17:40:00 UTC

Since Kanye's conversion to Christianity, he has been performing at his 'Sunday service' tour, a nationwide church service, mixing black gospel with popular songs. During one of his services, Kanye West declared his support once again for Donald Trump, comparing him to Abraham Lincoln, ' “Abraham Lincoln was the Whig Party,” said West. “That’s the Republican Party that freed the slaves.” ' this was to the dismay of his large African American fanbase, due to the treatment that they recieve under Trump's America, as well as the President's opinions on black issues such as the BlackLivesMatter movement, as well as the Central Park 5 case, which happened many years before his presidency, in which Trump suggested the death sentence for the 5 young black teenagers accused and charged of rape, all of which had no physical evidence linking them to the crime

Kanye West as a Christian

201268997 — 2020-03-24 14:57:03 UTC

‘Jesus Is King’ and Kanye West is a tax collector

201268997 — 2020-03-24 15:03:50 UTC

Many people believe that Kanye's recent declaration to Christianity is just a ploy in order to recover from his endorsement of Donald Trump. This article suggests that it is known that the Church will forgive almost anyone, which is why Kanye West has decided to devote his life and career to the cause after 'alienating his fanbase'

Kanye West 'Star Image'

201268997 — 2020-03-26 09:29:03 UTC

Construction from Primary Media

201268997 — 2020-03-26 10:45:12 UTC

Pre 2019: Hip Hop artist/rapper with lavish lifestyle. Money, drugs, Jewellery and women. Controversial lyrics that outline his ego to the listener
Post 2019: Man of god, born again christian. Fashion designer (although he has been doing fashion for many years now), family man.

Construction from secondary Media

201268997 — 2020-03-26 10:46:22 UTC

Interviews: Outlandish comments on controversial topics. Prides himself on the things he says. Classes himself as a 'genius' due to the opinions and thoughts he has

What the star themselves say or do

201268997 — 2020-03-26 10:48:10 UTC

Currently very limited social media activity. Often deletes social media pages. Instagram page still deleted. Twitter page consists of promotion of new music/fashion, as well as a couple of glimpses into his life, more conservative since his devotion to god and Christianity, used to be more controversial and opinionated.

Construction from audience perception and interpretation:

201268997 — 2020-03-26 10:48:51 UTC

Construction from audience perception and interpretation:
Mixed response from different audiences. Hardcore fans, 'Stans' appreciate everything Kanye West does. Facebook page dedicated to him with over 89000 members and growing. (https://www.facebook.com/groups/kanyeposting/)
Kanye West is often ridiculed online for his opinions, fashion choices, including the clothes he makes, and especially for his political views
He is also hated by the Taylor Swift fanbase, like it was mentioned in the VMAs section of this portfolio. In march 2020, the hashtag '#KanyeIsOverParty trended on twitter after a full conversation between Kanye and Taylor Swift leaked online. The conversation was originally uploaded by Kim Kardashian in 2016 and was previously used to paint Swift in a bad light over the 'famous' lyric controversy. However, it was revealed that the line, 'I made that b***h famous', the line that Taylor Swift fans were most upset about was never brought up in discussion

Kanye: A character in his own drama

201268997 — 2020-03-28 07:50:02 UTC

Barry King (Cited in Shingler, 2012, p. 127) states that the drama that stars and celebrities find themselves in gets circulated throughout the media, effectively making them 'characters in the drama of their own biographies', something that Kanye West and his family know all too well. With the Kardashians/Jenners being some of the most talked about celebrities in the news, and Kanye's regular outbursts of controversy, it is usually often that you see something about Kanye in the news, whether that be new music, people reacting to his fashion line, Yeezy or even just something controversial.

Who is Kanye West?

201268997 — 2020-03-28 08:56:19 UTC

Kanye West, born 8th of June 1977 is an American rapper and fashion designer. He is currently married to Kim Kardashian West, and has 4 children named North, Saint, Chicago and Psalm. Kanye has earned a total of 21 Grammys for his music and has a very large following for his fashion brand, Yeezy, and often releases sell-out shoes and clothing. Kanye West is often surrounded by controversy, due to his outlandish comments and opinions on certain subjects, such as politics, race, the music industry and many more.
https://www.biography.com/musician/kanye-west

Bibliography

201268997 — 2020-03-28 11:48:47 UTC

Artisan News Service, 2009. TAYLOR SWIFT VMA AWARD MOMENT RUINED BY KANYE WEST. [video] Available at: .

Biography.com Authors, 2019. Kanye West Biography. [online] Biography.com. Available at: .

Brick, C., 2019. Calling out Kanye: reflections on post-racial celebrity and the (neo)liberal media. Celebrity Studies,.

Karimi, F., 2016. Kanye West Peeves Taylor Swift's Fans -- Again - CNN. [online] CNN. Available at: .

McCaulley, E., 2019. ‘Jesus Is King’ And Kanye West Is A Tax Collector. [online] The Washington Post. Available at: .

Perpetua, M., 2011. Kanye West Compares Himself To Hitler At British Festival. [online] Rolling Stone. Available at: .

Shingler, M., 2012. Star Studies: A Critical Guide. London: BFI Publishing, p.127.

Wallis, A., 2019. Kanye West Backs Donald Trump, Says ‘Republican Party Freed The Slaves’ At Sunday Service. [online] Global News. Available at: .