Kanye West: Analyzing a Pop Culture Icon March 2017 | Page 2

Editorial
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Laura Ruiz
EDITORIAL DESIGN
Sonia Lang
CONTENT DIRECTION
Naomi Spence
ART DIRECTION
Sonia Lang
COLLABORATORS
Daniel Núñez
Felipe Romero
Gabriela Guzmán
Laura Ruíz
Naomi Spence
Rosy Núñez
Sonia Lang
VIDEO EDITING
Laura Ruiz
Naomi Spence
W
hether you love him, hate him, or want to be him, it’s
almost guaranteed that you’ve heard of him. Kanye
West: designer, producer, rapper and public figure, he
is larger than life and a personification of the Napoleon complex.
His art has managed to bridge the gap between the rap world and
the art world’s most pretentious inner circles. His determination to
accomplish all that he is capable of, without taking into (at least
perceived) consideration the thoughts feelings of others has gained
him more than his fair share of enemies.
Through his many public incidents including (but not limited to)
the Taylor Swift incident, calling President Bush a racist on nation-
al television, and his self proclaimed genius, West has always been a
hard pill to swallow. But the birth of his daughter North West and
his marriage to Kim Kardashian have marked a different epoch for
the artist and invited the rather reluctant public to accept him as a
family man.
The Chicago natives public image and persona that he sells, that
of a martyr willing to risk his life and career in order to speak his
truth, has worked largely in part of the fact that he has always
managed to do just that. But an extreme change of message that
alienates his classic rap audience and a recent turn of events has
caused his image to suffer greatly. Due to the cancellation of 21
concerts of his Saint Pablo tour, rants against the media, and most
shockingly his public support for President Donald Trump, Kanye
West’s reputation has taken a turn for the worst.
As a pop culture icon and artistic symbol the objective of this issue
is to create a critical communications analysis of the elements that
create Kanye West’s public persona. Only time (or a PR miracle)
will tell the fate of the late great Kanye West.
COVER ILLUSTRATION BY ALAIN MOREL