Watch the Throne
The Field School senior art thesis 2017
“Exposure to extreme excesses of wealth in America has led to a level of discontent very similar to that of pre-revolutionary France. Lifestyles, politics, and even the aesthetics of 18th century France have begun to repeat themselves in modern times. Due to the fact that history is doomed to repeat itself, this paper aims to act as a warning of sorts of the potential impending decline within American society by analyzing the societal, economic, and political factors of pre-revolutionary France, and comparing them with the warning signs that can be found in society today.”
— Watch The Throne: An In-Depth Look into the French Revolution Through the Lens of Kanye West, 2017
Kanye
Kanye West as King Louis XVI
Oil on Canvas
24 x 36”
2017
“It's difficult to gauge just how deeply the idea of Kanye West has permeated American culture, due to the fact that mass opinion cannot always be easily quantified, but it is safe to say that it is a significant amount. With over 27 million twitter followers, 21 Grammys, 4 collections shown at New York Fashion Week, and numerous live unscripted awards show speeches, almost everyone has an opinion on Kanye. A sizeable amount of the population takes after him as well. When Kanye debuted his “Yeezy” collaboration with adidas, they almost instantly became one of the most coveted shoes on the market with resale prices upwards of $2,000. He also hold the record for most consecutive Billboard top 100 number 1 debuts, is the seventh highest selling artist of all time, and has been named one of Time Magazine's top 100 most influential people twice in the past decade. Make no mistake, Kanye West is king of American Culture. The real question is, what sort of environment will that influence lead to? The level of wealth and the disconnect with the commoners of France lead to the beheading of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, and while people may not be rushing to cut off the head of Kanye, the lifestyle he is representative off, coupled with current tensions in America will most likely lead to an pre-revolutionary environment reminiscent of France's own in 1789.”
“Kanye West could be considered the king of incoherent rhetoric by some people and by placing him in a position where he could take full advantage of the power he's been given could be detrimental to the country, especially coming on the heels of a two or even one term Trump presidency. After all it was King Louis XV who put France in national debt with his lifestyle, but it was King Louis XVI who ended the monarchy.”
— Watch The Throne: An In-Depth Look into the French Revolution Through the Lens of Kanye West, 2017
Kim Kardashian
Kim Kardashian as Marie Antoinette
Oil on Canvas
24 x 36”
2017
“While the American public may not have kings and queens to rule over them, they do have people of similar wealth and influence. Beginning in the 1950’s America adapted an ever growing fascination with celebrities. The invention, and later omnipresence, of the television in the average American household eventually gave rise to what is commonly referred to as “celebrity culture.” Celebrity culture refers to the common public's obsession with movie stars, musicians, etc. and their ability to influence and market certain products or lifestyles to the public. Celebrity culture reached a whole new level with the rise of reality television in the early 2000’s and has fully permeated the American lifestyle in the following years. The influence of celebrities and celebrity culture has reached a peak in the past few years with the rise of the very popular E! Network show, Keeping Up With The Kardashians, which has run for 13 consecutive seasons. Their presence and influence over the past decade has surpassed that of any celebrity previously, earning them the title of “American Royalty.” With the infamous marriage of Kim Kardashian to the Grammy award winning rap artist Kanye West in 2011, the title of Hollywood “it couple” was solidified.”
“Society was crucial to the aristocratic French Lifestyle. Parties, masquerade balls, court rituals, and even the morning dressing of the Queen, were all on display for the public to witness. Much like the reality TV stars of modern day pop culture, nearly every aspect of day to day life was subject to the scrutiny of the surrounding members of the court.”
— Watch The Throne: An In-Depth Look into the French Revolution Through the Lens of Kanye West, 2017
Let Them Drink Pepsi
Lino carving printed on wood
8.5 x 11”
2017
“On April 4th, 2017, Pepsi released a commercial featuring Kendall Jenner as the lead. The commercial goes something like this: Kendall Jenner, in her platinum blonde wig and tight silver dress, is modeling for a photo shoot in the streets of New York City. This is interspersed with shots of people, from various ethnic backgrounds, doing creative things such as photography or playing the cello. As the commercial progresses, they all take their creative endeavors and join a large protest/drum circle/All Lives Matter march that is taking place in the streets. The march goes past Kendall's photo shoot, distracting her from her job and as a result she, in a dramatic sweeping gesture, removes her blonde wig and silver dress and joins the protesters. However the Piece de resistance comes when Kendall reaches the frontlines of the march and is met with a line of cops dressed in riot gear. In her post transformation outfit composed entirely of all-American Denim, she swoops down, grabs a can of Pepsi from a bucket, and in a daring act of selfless bravery, hands the Pepsi to the cop. The crowd erupts in cheers of celebration. The war against police brutality is over. People of all races and ethnicities embrace. The cops exchange a glance and shrug as if to say, “hey maybe this racism thing isn't all it's cracked up to be. Maybe their side has a point.” All is good in the world thanks to the valiant Kendall Jenner.”
“It's almost as if she looked at the impoverished communities of Flint Michigan and said, ‘If they don't have water then let them drink Pepsi.’ The commercial was a blatant manipulation of the struggles of minorities and the impoverished for profit on the part of Pepsi, and a huge misstep in social etiquette on Kendall Jenner's part. Marie Antoinette would have been proud.”
— Watch The Throne: An In-Depth Look into the French Revolution Through the Lens of Kanye West, 2017
