Meme Text Analysis

Gregory Kosey Griffith 

The piece communicating a message is a meme of Kim Kardashian on a couch sipping wine. There is a caption above her that say “send me a pic that’s not on your instagram”. There is another quote under it that responds to the last statement saying “send me money that’s not in my bank account”. Her picture is below to allude the viewers to think she’s responding with this witty remark.  She is in front of a background spelling out Hollywood and sipping wine out of a straw. She holds a wine glass with manicured nails, sleek long hair, a revealing low falling top, and a face full of muted yet noticeable makeup. She is looking off to the right as if she is talking to someone on a type of talk show. These signify wealth and power. This created atmospheres of pretentiousness through Kim Kardashian’s image emphasizes not only her social class through a posh lens but also the relevancy of her possibly strong desire for more money to keep up her status and image being shown in the picture.

Why Kim Kardashian? Why is she a tool in this piece that symbolizes greed? Kim Kardashian is a global figure with a net worth close to 85 million (Where did all that Kardashian cash come from, anyway?). Since she is in this meme its automatically assumed there is a comment being made about wealth. However, because of the rather innocent flirty comment in the meme asking for more pictures of Kim Kardashian and the quick response of asking for money its evident there is a comment relating to greed having to do with Kim Kardashian. In the article “Where did all that Kardashian cash come from, anyway” it makes a comment on Kim Kardashian having an embarrassing way of rising to fame. Her getting fame and money can be considered an act of desperation. Her act of desperation for fame is her sex tape that was released with Ray J that led to her rise in social media and the rise in her bank account (Where did all that Kardashian cash come from, anyway?). Kim Kardashian worked for Paris Hilton before she was in the spotlight and she also gained a considerable following after releasing a sex tape and Kim’s employer may have led Kim to see the benefit of doing such an act for greater money and fame (Where did all that Kardashian cash come from, anyway?). The meme uses this information about Kim Kardashian to add to the believability of the meme through her background. It tries to create a comedic tone through how parallel the quote is to how people who are aware of Kim Kardashian think about her and her relationship with fame and wealth.

The slightly blocked Hollywood sign is important in communicating the message of the meme because it is commonly known as the place of wealth and the American dream (Mondello, Bob). People with dreams coming from any type of poor or successful background can come there with opportunities of wealth and riches (Mondello, Bob). Hollywood, California is known as a “dream factory” (Mondello, Bob). Money obviously through details flows very heavily through California wealth and success is what people seek in California when dreams are “lit by the perpetual sunshine of Southern California” (Mondello, Bob). Hollywood, California shot off on film but not only film they also catapulted into the idea of the importance of image (Mondello, Bob). Kim Kardashian took on the importance of image as she “can command six figures just for making an appearance” (Where did all that Kardashian cash come from, anyway?). Comments on image and the importance of wealth compile within this small image of Kim Kardashian. Kim Kardashian owns a mansion in California. Hollywood, California is important in the background to greater emphasize the wealth and money that Kim Kardashian is accustomed to it is painting a strong picture of a very lavish lifestyle. A lifestyle where she is more forward in her wants reflected with the quote. She does not ask for the money she commands it for her to consider sending a picture of herself that is not catered to her large following.

The wine has a strong relevance in power and in Kim Kardashian’s stature. “Wine was considered to be a drink of the elite” (The Symbolism of Wine Through the Ages). The wine with the straw is a strong factor in the message of wealth. “The birth of a consumer society meant that wine came to represent wealth as opposed to nobility” (The Symbolism of Wine Through the Ages). This is important because her wealth is not at question in this image however her nobility is because of the lack of honor that is hinted at by the quote that is exposing Kim Kardashians desperate and greedy nature. It is an image that is expressed to be important and maintained through the meme presented. We can see that a lavish lifestyle is what she accustomed to and wants however there's a desperate nature underlying her that keeps her in that social class. Because image is controlled positively in many ways by Kim Kardashian through surgery, photoshop, tight clothing, and makeup and the creator of this meme knows that and uses it to paint a realistic picture with dark wit.

Work Cited:

“Where Did All That Kardashian Cash Come from, Anyway?” NBC2 News, www.nbc-2.com/story/29597758/where-did-all-that-kardashian-cash-come-from-anyway.

Mondello, Bob. “Hollywood Dreams Of Wealth, Youth And Beauty.” NPR, NPR, 19 June 2012, www.npr.org/2012/06/19/154861194/hollywood-dreams-of-wealth-youth-and-beauty.

“The Symbolism of Wine Through the Ages.” White Wine, www.whitewine.co.uk/news/the-symbolism-of-wine-through-the-ages/.