Abstract
The purpose of this project is to examine the ways in which celebrities, social media users and traditional media work together to reinforce the ideal of beauty. I use content analysis as a method to analyze Kim Kardashian's Instagram posts, comments of the posts, and magazine articles. This project paid specific attention to the scandal surrounding Kim Kardashian who became the focus of media attention when the iconic Marilyn Monroe dress was found damaged following her wearing it to the 2022 Met Gala. Through this analysis, three themes emerged: “Comparison under Commodification and Exclusivity,” “Criticism and Defense,” and “Pursuit and Cost of Beauty.” The results of this research conclude that celebrities, social media users, and traditional media facilitate comparisons between celebrities based on dominant standards of beauty by commodifying and assigning exclusivity to them, as well as critiquing them, coupled with depicting celebrities' pursuit and cost of beauty to emphasize the ideal of beauty.
Advisor
Rousset, Simon
Department
Global Media and Digital Studies
Recommended Citation
Wang, Lijiayi, "“You Are Stunning…. Just Like Marilyn!”: A Content Analysis of Media Emphasizing the Ideal of Beauty Surrounding the 2022 Met Gala Dress Scandal" (2023). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 10554.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/10554
Disciplines
Critical and Cultural Studies | Other Film and Media Studies | Social Media
Keywords
commodification, exclusivity, discourse of beauty, content analysis, social media, celebrity culture, comparison, Kim Kardashian
Publication Date
2023
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis
© Copyright 2023 Lijiayi Wang