rgr-pop:

I want to include Kanye in my discussions of #feminist narcissism. Partially because I’m interested in queering Kanye conversations (which, I should note, is more than speculating about his gayness). It’s more, though, about how his narcissism is the most #radical narcissism in America. It’s about how inasmuch as women’s narcissism is pathologized, black men’s narcissism is even more vilified. And man, if Kanye hasn’t been vilified for a whole lot of self-obsession, a whole lot of vanity, a whole lot of oversharing that is so much an integral part of contemporary feminist politics. He is part of a narrative that is important to me.

Duh.

okay. yes. totally. and i want to talk about something that i think is (really really) related and if it’s not you can #feminist narcissism it. so: i would like to think about the way in which some white men indulge in an imaginary identification with (perhaps we just call it “appreciation of,” but) kanye or other narcissistic black rap stars as a way of maintaining a whole host of privileges—ie. unradical white male narcissism which includes spectacularizing themselves; emoting, emoting, emoting; and rampant capitalism—all while construing themselves as progressive, and even feminist. in case i am speaking in code: i mean that there are lots of privileged white men who identify with kanye, and embrace his narcissism, because it gives them license to indulge in ideologies and behaviors that progressive, feminist men are supposed to have given up in 1969. in fact, appreciating kanye can make them appear even more radical than if they liked indie rock. 

(Source: thekidsnotmyson)