Kardashians: A Critical Anthology

This interdisciplinary volume introduces the field of Kardashian Studies through collections of essays based in sociology, media studies, cultural studies, critical race theory and fashion theory.

The Kardashian empire and dynasty is intertwined with some of the most important movements of the early twenty-first century. Celebrity, cultural appropriation, new forms of feminism, social media, ideal bodies, evolving notions of physical beauty and the global fashion system have all been affected by the quintessential influencers in this family of matriarchs. The anthology is structured around core thematic parts. From Storytelling and Race, through Fashion and Celebrity, to Time and Embodiment, each part contains an accessible introduction followed by chapters that together take a unique approach to exploring the Kardashians from multiple viewpoints. The inclusion of discussion points suitable for classroom use enhances the utility of the anthology for both study and teaching purposes.

The first of its kind, Kardashians: A Critical Anthology positions Kardashian Studies at the forefront of critical inquiry around notions of authenticity, contemporary feminisms, visuality and social media. It will be of interest to both scholars and students interested in popular culture, television, notions of authenticity, contemporary feminisms, visuality, race and social media.

Meredith Jones is Professor of Gender and Cultural Studies at Brunel University London where she directs the Institute of Communities and Society. Apart from her work on the Kardashians she is best known for her research into cosmetic surgery and is currently contracted to Bloomsbury to produce a second edition of her book Skintight: A Cultural Anatomy of Cosmetic Surgery. She also enjoys writing about genitals and fashion.

Kath Burton is development lead for humanities journals at Routledge, Taylor & Francis. She is co-convener of Publishing and Publicly Engaged Humanities group who support the creation of dynamic publishing practices for the public humanities.

Donna Lee Brien is Emeritus Professor of Creative Industries at Central Queensland University, Australia, and teaches into graduate programs at the Australian Catholic University. Currently writing a history of Sydney’s Bondi Beach, Donna’s most recent books are Paradox, Image and Identity: The Shadow Side of Nursing (co-authored with Margaret McAllister, 2020) and Speculative Biography: Opportunities, Experiments and Provocations(edited with Kiera Lindsey, 2022), both for Routledge.