The Kardashian Appeal

Open your Snapchat, Instagram, Youtube or any major news outlet. 9 out of 10 times you will probably see the familiar face of a Kardashian. From cosmetics, perfumes, energy drinks, video-games and even personalized emojis, the Kardashian brand has been slapped on seemingly everything. The Kardashians, a family who entered the public eye in the early 2000’s, and somehow, over 10 years later, have managed to become a fixture in both pop culture and global news.

It seems impossible at first, I know. With the humble beginnings of the 'Kardashian' brand with their clothing line 'Dash', culminating with the premiere of their self-titled reality TV show, Keeping up with the Kardashians, in 2007 (now currently on its fifteenth season). The stars of this show being the 6 Jenner/Kardashian women - Kris, Kendall, Kylie, Kim, Khloe and Kourtney - with none of them being particularly bright, special, or by any means talented, and who have somehow become the ‘royal family’ of television, and some might argue, America.

So what’s the big secret? From a psychological standpoint, some will say it comes down to our self-obsessive ‘Kulture’; our constant need for validation. In an age where wealth, fame and beauty appear to be prized over everything, it's no surprise the family is seen as the epitome of the 21st century. Whether it be through the glamorous and fabulous scenes depicted in the show, from exotic locations to lavish parties, or candid moments in their own internet profiles, the Kardashians offer a glimpse of what we want to be. And, somehow, through the madness of it all, they almost make it attainable, recording every second of their rise to fame.

Promo for an upcoming season, pictured the Kardashian Klan

From a more technical perspective, however, there is a lot to respect and recognize in the tech-savvy way they are able to remain relevant. Be it television, social media, or through partnerships, the Kardashians serve a perfectly parcelled slice of their lives to us, adapting as the cultural landscape shifts around them. Trends have started and ended because of them, reality TV has peaked and dropped, social media has begun and evolved, and they have managed to milk every second of it.

At the end of the day, really, it just comes down to simple entertainment value. Think about it; Kim’s wedding lasting 72 days, Bruce’s transition into Caitlyn, and Kim iconically crying over her “lost diamond earring”, along with all the other absurd and outlandish things they do. Just in the last year, headlines have ranged from Khloe’s cheating scandal, to Kylie’s pregnancy and to her soon becoming the world’s youngest ‘self-made’ billionaire.

You might hate to love them, or love to hate them, but in the end, we all know you’re still keeping up with them.