Kanye West: Analyzing a Pop Culture Icon March 2017 | Página 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