This Rolling Stone magazine cover is one of the most conterversial magazine cover of all time. It depicts Kanye West, a rapper, as Jesus Christ who is a pretty big deal. There are some clear surface details that are being shown in this magazine cover, the first being the clear message that Kanye West and Jesus Christ must show similarities and that is why they are being portrayed as the same people. An easy explanation would just because the Rolling Stone magazine knew they would get attention from such a provacative cover. They knew that the christian religion would be in a uproar and that "any media is good media" in their eyes. If that was their view then they definetly succeeded, this cover will go down as one of the most controvesial covers of all time and never be forgotten.
There could be a lot more that is being taken out of this magazine cover though. For example Kanye West has a lot of scrapes and scars all over his head, this is to show that he has gone through a lot to get to where he is today. I don't believe that Rolling Stone tried to portray him as Jesus Christ, they were just trying to show the kind of similarities between the two. Also this cover could be to show Kanye West's arrogance, there are very few celebrities that would ever think to pose as Jesus Christ for a magazine cover but he was wiling to.
This magazine cover shows the way that the American people tend to look at these celebrities as such a godlike figure. The youth today in inner cities throughout the country are starting to look up to these rappers who got out of the same gang ridden places where these kids live today. These celebrities are started to take the place of religious figures because it gives them someone to strive to be like. It is starting to turn into a religion on its own the way that everything these celebrities do is worshipped and imitated. This can be looked at as a good thing or a bad thing, bad because religion has been used to teach right and wrong. It could be a problem when these kids are looking up to these sometimes bad men. If these celebrities use it the correct way by being good men for the youth to look up to it could be a great way to help aid these underpriveledged youth.
I agree that in many parts of this country, the youth tend to look up to rappers or other celebrities and strive to be just like them some day. I also agree that if more celebrities use their fame correctly, many kids will be helped. However, many rappers like Lil Wayne and Chris Brown have had trouble with the law, which give young kids the wrong impression on right and wrong. I don't think any human being should be showed as a god-like figure. No one should have that kind of power and hold over people. Celebrities may be successful but shouldn't be portrayed by the media as extremely better than everyone else.
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