The Kardashians. Undeniably one of the most sensational families of all time, but also one of the most annoying.
And of course, the ONE time I’ve been waiting for them to rise to media infamy again, I hear absolutely nothing about them for an extended period. I’ve been wanting to write this post for a while, but I was waiting for an opportune moment that… seemingly never came. I suppose the announcement of a new tv show will have to do…
On the surface level, the Kardashians have nothing to do with literature. They also have nothing to do with it on several levels under that, but if you squint down to the very core, you can surmise that the themes they envoke are very, very similar to a certain novel. A novel that (not coincidentally) is almost as infamous and annoying to the general public as they are: The Great Gatsby.
(I would say that hopefully I didn’t just lose you there, but if you’re reading this, it’s very likely because you have to for a grade or you are grading it. :P)
The most salient theme in Gatsby is likely the “American Dream”–or more specifically, the subversion and emptiness of it. Gatsby achieves enough wealth (through not-so-legal means) to be able to spend it frivolously, so it could certainly be said that he has achieved the American Dream. However, this wealth ends up meaningless as he never achieves his version of happiness and dies at the novel’s conclusion. Daisy and Tom, meanwhile, have always had wealth (due to no talent of their own), but are still unhappy in their marriage and with each other.
I’ve never quite understood the widespread hate this book receives, but I do understand, however, that reading a book about heartless rich people from the roaring 20’s can seem useless and unenjoyable. However, I’ve always felt that the themes it contained still have enough meaning today to merit it a useful read… and the Kardashians are the perfect example of why.
The Kardashians rose into widespread fame in the late 2000’s scoring tv shows and brand deals left and right. Most of them have gone on to great heights, and they’ve likely amassed a fortune in doing so. Once again, it seems like they’ve achieved the American Dream.
However– how did they even rise to fame? It wasn’t due to hard work or talent (something that many people claim they still don’t have), it was due to their father representing OJ Simpson in court and a scandal Kim was involved in. And like Gatsby, the wealth they now have doesn’t seem to make them any happier–their reality TV show is plagued by arguments and drama.
Thus, even though The Great Gatsby took place in a time in which many people could rapidly and randomly acquire empty wealth, this phenomenon still can occur today. However, there is still no need in pursing it, as it is exemplified that wealth is unnecessary to have both talent and happiness in your lives.
Hey Samatha, I loved this post! Particularly being I am someone who has not been updated or “in the loop” with any of the celebrities in the Kardashian family mentioned above. Yet, I have done a significant amount of research and seen many describe the parallels between Great Gasby and our world today — especially within the topics of ambition, power, and our human nature. I loved this connection that you made, particularly in the lack of “hard work” toward the Kardashians’ initial rise to fame. This poses the question of how much of our pursuit and attainment of sustainable happiness is based in the journey rather than end goals.