Selfish (book)

Last updated
Selfish
Kardashian Selfish book.png
The cover of Selfish, inspired by Kardashian's then-husband Kanye West and his creative agency Donda [1]
Author Kim Kardashian
LanguageEnglish
Publisher Universe Publishing
Publication date
May 5, 2015
Media typePrint (hardback)
Pages448
ISBN 978-0789329202

Selfish is a coffee table book written by television personality Kim Kardashian. It was released on May 5, 2015, by the Universe imprint of the art bookseller Rizzoli. The book features Kardashian's personal selfies, collecting various images previously posted on Kardashian's social media accounts. The photobook received positive reviews from critics.

Contents

Background

Kim Kardashian has grown an influential online and social media presence, and has always been known for taking selfies, and was called "queen of selfies" by The New York Times . [2] In an interview with Adweek , Kardashian mentioned that she has been taking pictures of herself for decades, and said: [3]

[I took] my first selfie in 1984 and that opens up the book. [...] For a decade, I've carried a big digital camera, and I think it's just fascinating to see the process of what types of photos evolve. Mine started off on digital cameras, then they went to a BlackBerry and then a smartphone. There's just such an evolution of the selfie. And I captured that, I think, really well.

The photobook was announced in August 2014; [4] the idea to assemble a book from selfies first came to Kardashian when she was thinking of what to give to her husband Kanye West as a Valentine's Day gift. "I couldn't think of what to get Kanye [for Valentine's Day] and so I was like, 'All guys love it when a girl sends them sexy pics.' So I had Stephanie [Kim's assistant] get a Polaroid, and we were taking photos around the entire house…making this cool book," Kardashian commented on an idea during an episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians . "It ended up turning out so cool we came up with this idea to do a selfie book. So I'm going to make some super racy," she continued. [5]

Concept

The book features various selfies of Kardashian, including travel pictures, family photos, and swimsuit shots. The book also features various nude photographs, including pictures that were leaked during the celebrity photo hack in September 2014. Kardashian explained the reasoning of including the pictures: "I wasn't intending to put these in the book but saw them online during the iCloud hack. I'm not mad at them. [...] They are taken with a Blackberry and I don't have iCloud... It's all a mystery!". [6] The book contains pictures with her then-husband Kanye West and daughter North West. The book also includes selfies with her celebrity friends, such as Ciara, La La Anthony, Jennifer Lopez, Jonathan Cheban, among others, as well as her family members: Kourtney Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, Kylie Jenner and Rob Kardashian. [6]

Release

The photobook was released on May 5, 2015. [3] [7] Prior to the official date, Kardashian released a limited-edition version of the book on April 16, 2015. It featured an alternative cover with a selfie of Kardashian wearing a red bikini. [8] The version became available on Gilt.com with a limited availability of 500 copies of numbered and signed version of the book, which reportedly were sold out in a minute. [9] The new and updated volume of Selfish was scheduled to be released on October 11, 2016. The revised and expanded edition would contain 64 additional pages featuring Kardashian's selfies, including many never-seen-before images. [10]

Reception

"As a physical object, the book is surprisingly elegant: a compact white bible, a thing beckoning to be held. The suggested interpretation of its cover photo — exquisite little head perched atop exquisite massive breasts — is implied by the resonant word that sits beneath it: Rizzoli. This is the post-Calabasas Kim, the Kanye West Kim, the Kim who must be deferred to by the world’s greatest photographers and designers. But it’s still our Kim, taking picture after picture of herself in full makeup or full monte, sticking out her tongue or her naked bottom, the mysteries of her arresting beauty undercut."

— Caitlin Flanagan from The New York Times [11]

The photobook received positive reviews from critics. [12] Kat Brown of The Telegraph described the book as "unexpectedly revealing" and "oddly moving", also adding that "by the time you get to her photobombing another friend mid-selfie [...] or making faces with her family [...], you think that she'd actually be quite a laugh to go out with". [13] Madeline Roth of MTV News noted the book's significance by saying that it is "the first of its kind on the book market today: a literal book of selfies by one of the most famous human beings in the world." [14] Megan Garber of The Atlantic said the book "takes [Kardashian's] (in)famous love of her own image to a logical, and also absurdist, extreme," comparing the book to "Kramer's coffee table book about coffee tables". [15] Gregory Babcock, a writer for the Complex magazine, wrote a very positive review of the book, and said: "Selfish reveals that what may seem insipid and overblown initially is actually a far smarter, more calculated window into the life and times of one of our culture’s most relevant public figures through the simple, albeit absurd, art of documenting herself." [16]

Jillian Mapes of Flavorwire commented that the book "occupies a place somewhere between a Marina Abramović stunt and your Facebook friend who splices together brief video clips every day for year". Mapes further said: "But because she looks less than perfect in many of these photos, [...] it’s hard for me to flip through Selfish and feel like it’s as wildly vain as it appears at first glance. Madonna’s Sex , Selfish is not, at least with regard to art direction and styling". [17] Sarah Begley, writing for Time , appreciated Kardashian giving credit to her make-up artists and stylists in the captions under the pictures. Begley quips, "The architecture of the Sistine Chapel may be exemplary, but it’s Michelangelo’s paint job that packs in the crowds". [18]

Laura Bennett wrote a positive review of the book for Slate and described the book as "insane project, a document of mind-blowing vanity and deranged perseverance". Bennett further accentuated the book's format, and said: "You could call Selfish a sneakily feminist document, an act of reclamation by one of the world's most photographed women". [19] Leah Bourne of StyleCaster said that "Kardashian has ushered in a new kind of fame—one in which you can be famous for seemingly being nothing more than yourself—with this book she might also be ushering in a new form of autobiography". Bourne also noted that the book "takes a lot of cues" from other photobooks such as Sex featuring shots of Madonna by Fabien Baron or Kate Moss' portrait collection composed by Mario Testino. [20] Haley Mlotek from the National Post called the book "a welcome reprieve" and noted that "the images collected in Selfish will be a crucial part of how we know and understand Kardashian West as a person, a public figure, and a global phenomenon". [21]

Writing for The Guardian , Jonathan Jones wrote that the photobook is "the ultimate slap in the face for anyone who ever pointed a camera with high hopes of being the new Henri Cartier-Bresson or Don McCullin" and suggested that "Kardashian’s selfie-taking is, in reality, a sustained act of self-exploitation in which she sells herself as commodified, leered-at flesh." [22]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kanye West</span> American rapper and producer (born 1977)

Ye is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer. One of the most prominent figures in hip hop, he is known for his varying musical style and polarizing cultural and political commentary. After dropping out of college to pursue a career in music, West began producing for regional artists in the Chicago area. As an in-house producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, he co-produced albums including Jay-Z's The Blueprint (2001) before signing with the label as a recording artist. West's debut studio album, The College Dropout (2004), was met with critical acclaim and yielded the Billboard Hot 100-number one single "Slow Jamz". He peaked the chart on four other occasions with the singles "Gold Digger" (2005), "Stronger" (2007), "E.T.", and "Carnival" (2024).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Photo booth</span> Photo vending machine

A photo booth is a vending machine or modern kiosk that contains an automated, usually coin-operated, camera and film processor. Today, the vast majority of photo booths are digital.

Keeping Up with the Kardashians is an American reality television series which focused on the personal and professional lives of the Kardashian–Jenner blended family. It aired on the E! network between 2007 and 2021. The series focused mainly on sisters Kim, Kourtney, and Khloé Kardashian and their half-sisters, Kendall and Kylie Jenner. It also featured their parents, Kris and Caitlyn Jenner, and brother, Rob. Partners of the Kardashian sisters also appeared on the show. Its premise originated with Ryan Seacrest, who also served as an executive producer. The series premiered on the E! cable network on October 14, 2007, and ran for 20 seasons over the span of almost fourteen years, becoming one of the longest-running reality television series in the US. The final season premiered on March 18, 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kourtney Kardashian</span> American media personality (born 1979)

Kourtney Kardashian Barker is an American media personality and socialite. In 2007, she and her family began starring in the reality television series Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Its success led to the creation of spin-offs including Kourtney and Kim Take Miami and Kourtney and Kim Take New York. After she and her family made the decision to end their show after 20 seasons in 2021, they began appearing in an all new reality television series titled The Kardashians on Hulu in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khloé Kardashian</span> American media personality (born 1984)

Khloé Alexandra Kardashian is an American media personality, socialite and model. She rose to fame starring with her family in the reality television series Keeping Up with the Kardashians from 2007 to 2021. Its success led to the creation of spin-offs, including Kourtney and Khloé Take Miami (2009–2013) and Kourtney and Khloé Take The Hamptons (2014–2015). Following the ending of their previous show, she and her family began starring on Hulu's The Kardashians in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kris Jenner</span> American media personality, socialite, and businesswoman (born 1955)

Kristen Mary Jenner is an American media personality, socialite, and businesswoman. She rose to fame starring in the reality television series Keeping Up with the Kardashians (2007–2021) with her family. The success of their show led her and her family to star in multiple spin-off series, including Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami (2009), Kourtney and Kim Take New York (2011), Khloe & Lamar (2011), Rob & Chyna (2016) and Life of Kylie (2017). She acted as executive producer for most of her family's reality programs. In 2013, she hosted a six week long pop culture-driven daytime talk show, called Kris. Following her family's decision to sign off from E! in 2021, they then went on to star in The Kardashians on Hulu from 2022.

Selfishness refers to taking interest in oneself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kim Kardashian</span> American media personality (born 1980)

Kimberly Noel Kardashian is an American media personality, socialite, businesswoman, and actress. She first gained media attention as a friend and stylist of Paris Hilton, but received wider notice after the sex tape Kim Kardashian, Superstar, which she filmed in 2003 with her then-boyfriend Ray J, was released in 2007. Later that year, she and her family began to appear on the E! reality television series Keeping Up with the Kardashians, which aired until 2021. Its success led to the formation of three spin-off shows; Kourtney and Kim Take New York (2011–2012), Kourtney and Kim Take Miami (2009–2013) and Hulu's The Kardashians (2022–present).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jam (Turn It Up)</span> 2011 single by Kim Kardashian

"Jam (Turn It Up)" is the debut single by American television personality Kim Kardashian. The song features background vocals by singer-songwriter and record producer The-Dream. The song was released on iTunes Store on March 2, 2011, and half of the proceeds from the sales of the song were donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Shortly after the song's release, Kardashian confirmed that she had no plans to put out a full-length album any time soon. Years later, she also admitted that she regretted recording the song.

"Highlights" is a song by American hip-hop artist Kanye West, from his seventh studio album, The Life of Pablo (2016). The song features vocals from Young Thug and The-Dream. One day before the album was released, West performed the song on Saturday Night Live with Young Thug, El DeBarge, Kelly Price and The-Dream. Within the track, West takes a shot at Ray J. The song was met with mixed reviews from music critics. It was revealed in July 2016 that West had a shot a music video, but it was never released.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Selfie</span> Photographic self-portrait

A selfie is a self-portrait photograph or a short video, typically taken with an electronic camera or smartphone. The camera would be usually held at arm's length or supported by a selfie stick instead of being controlled with a self-timer or remote. The concept of shooting oneself while viewing their own image in the camera's LCD monitor is also known as self-recording.

"The Hobbit" is the tenth and final episode in the seventeenth season of the American animated television series South Park. The 247th episode of the series overall, it premiered on Comedy Central in the United States on December 11, 2013. The story centers upon Wendy Testaburger's attempts to raise awareness of media impact on body image, which leads to a crusade by rapper Kanye West to convince the world that his then-fiancée, Kim Kardashian, is not a hobbit. The episode received largely positive reviews from critics, who praised Wendy's story arc and the return of West.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Facetune</span> Mobile photo editing application

Facetune is a photo and video editing application used to edit, enhance, and retouch photos on a user's iOS or Android device created by Lightricks. The app is often used for portrait and selfie editing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monkey selfie copyright dispute</span> Copyright dispute involving Celebes crested macaques

Between 2011 and 2018, a series of disputes took place about the copyright status of selfies taken by Celebes crested macaques using equipment belonging to the British wildlife photographer David J. Slater. The disputes involved Wikimedia Commons and the blog Techdirt, which have hosted the images following their publication in newspapers in July 2011 over Slater's objections that he holds the copyright, and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), who have argued that the copyright should be assigned to the macaque.

"FML" is a song by American rapper Kanye West from his seventh studio album The Life of Pablo (2016), which features vocals from Canadian singer The Weeknd. It contains a sample of "Hit" by Section 25, which two of the band members praised West for sampling. In the song, West references his issues with mental health. The song charted in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Famous (Kanye West song)</span> 2016 single by Kanye West

"Famous" is a song by American rapper Kanye West, produced and co-written by fellow American hip hop artist/producer Havoc. It serves as the lead single from his seventh studio album The Life of Pablo (2016). The song features vocals from Barbadian singer Rihanna and ad-libs from American hip hop artist Swizz Beatz, and enlists samples of Jamaican singer Sister Nancy's song "Bam Bam" and "Do What You Gotta Do" by American singer Nina Simone. The single was serviced to US urban and rhythmic contemporary radio stations on March 28, 2016, and was confirmed for release three days before. It was sent to Italian contemporary hit radio stations on April 15 by Universal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ballot selfie</span> Photographers completed election ballot

A ballot selfie is a type of selfie that is intended to depict the photographer's completed ballot in an election, as a way of showing how the photographer cast their vote. Ballot selfies have risen in prominence alongside the increasing availability of smartphone digital cameras and the use of social media in the 21st century. They have also generated controversy as potential violations of laws enacted in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to curtail vote buying, particularly in the United States, although some U.S. courts have rejected restrictions on ballot selfies as inconsistent with the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">XTCY</span> 2018 single by Kanye West

"XTCY" is a song by Kanye West. It was originally released by DJ Clark Kent on August 11, 2018 for free download before released as a single on August 30. The song heavily samples "My Bleeding Wound" by The New Year.

North West is an American singer and actress. A member of the Kardashian family, she appeared in the music video for her father Kanye West's 2014 single "Only One", and made several appearances on Keeping Up with the Kardashians along with her mother, Kim Kardashian. In 2023, she voiced Mini in PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie, and the following year, she made her recording debut on ¥$'s "Talking / Once Again", which peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. She performed "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" at the Hollywood Bowl's The Lion King 30th Anniversary – A Live-to-Film Concert Event.

References

  1. ↑ Fox, T.S. (January 20, 2015). "Kim Kardashian Unveils the Cover of Her Selfie Book 'Selfish'". Hypebeast. Retrieved November 17, 2022.
  2. ↑ Rogers, Katie (March 14, 2016). "Kim Kardashian, Her Selfie and What It Means for Young Fans". The New York Times . Retrieved July 21, 2016.
  3. 1 2 Pelletiere, Nicole (March 2, 2015). "Kim Kardashian Talks 'Selfies' and Upcoming Book Release". ABC News . Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  4. ↑ Marcus, Stephanie (August 8, 2014). "Kim Kardashian's Selfie Book Is Coming To A Book Store Near You". The Huffington Post . Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  5. ↑ Friedlander, Ruthie (August 8, 2014). "Kim Kardashian Set to Release a Coffee Table Book of Selfies". Elle . Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  6. 1 2 Malec, Brett (April 17, 2015). "Kim Kardashian's Book Selfish Features Leaked Nude Selfies and More Naked Pics: "I'm Not Mad" at the Hackers". E! Online . Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  7. ↑ Caires, Kristen (May 5, 2015). "Kim Kardashian's Selfish Has Hit The Shelves!". People . Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  8. ↑ Lasane, Andrew (April 16, 2015). "Gilt Has an Exclusive Limited-Edition Version of Kim Kardashian's Selfie Book Dropping Today". Complex . Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  9. ↑ Herman, Barbara (April 17, 2015). "Kim Kardashian Selfie Book 'Selfish' Sells Out In One Minute; Signed Limited Editions On Gilt.com". International Business Times . Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Kim Kardashian West: Selfish Written by Kim Kardashian West". Rizzoli New York . Retrieved May 27, 2016.
  11. ↑ Flanagan, Caitlin (September 22, 2015). "'Selfish,' by Kim Kardashian West, and More". The New York Times. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  12. ↑ Biedenharn, Isabella (May 20, 2015). "Review Roundup: Critics love Kim Kardashian's Selfish". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  13. ↑ Brown, Kat (June 22, 2015). "Kim Kardashian's selfie book Selfish: unexpectedly revealing". The Telegraph . Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  14. ↑ Roth, Madeline (August 4, 2015). "Kim Kardashian's Selfie Book Was A Flop — But Here's Why That's OK". MTV News. Archived from the original on August 8, 2015. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  15. ↑ Garber, Megan (May 13, 2015). "You Win, Kim Kardashian". The Atlantic . Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  16. ↑ Babcock, Gregory (May 5, 2015). "Kim Kardashian's "Selfie" Book Is More Self-Aware Than You Think". Complex . Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  17. ↑ Mapes, Jillian (May 15, 2015). "Nothing Is Embarrassing: On Kim Kardashian's Strangely Liberating Book of Selfies". Flavorwire . Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  18. ↑ Begley, Sarah (May 7, 2015). "Kim Kardashian's Selfish Is Anything But". Time . Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  19. ↑ Bennett, Laura (May 6, 2015). "Self-Publishing". Slate . Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  20. ↑ Bourne, Leah (Apr 16, 2015). "Kim Kardashian's Book of Selfies Has Arrived: Our Complete Review". StyleCaster . Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  21. ↑ Mlotek, Haley (May 8, 2015). "Kim Kardashian West's Selfish, Reviewed: Every single thing Kim K." National Post . Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  22. ↑ Jones, Jonathan (May 5, 2015). "Kim Kardashian's Selfish: a nail in the coffin for artistic photography?". The Guardian . Retrieved May 25, 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.