Source 2

The main arguments of this source thoroughly discuss the Kardashian business empire that boomed from the "low-level stuff that titillated and fascinated the American public". In other words, Kim's infamous 2007 sex tape that leaked might always be thrown as a jab at Kim, but the family - with the help of their "momager" Kris Jenner - was able to transform that scandalous publicity into a reality TV show that would soon skyrocket Kim Kardashian's name as a brand. The book covers various topics from discussing the celebrity status of the family to materialism and the luxuries and sexuality they display on their show. The author, Amanda Scheiner McClain, then proceeds to explain that the popularity of the show is a direct result of the audience they are targeting. The show is said to have most views from women aged 18-49 because it represents female-oriented production and scheduling and because of this, the views increase in vast numbers. Viewers relate to the matriarchal family (seeing as they are responsible for 85% of household purchases) and see themselves in the shoes of the Kardashians' lavish lifestyle. Additionally, McClain explains that the reality TV show is more like family sitcom if you remove the "booze, bleeped language and bawdy sex talk" and is scripted based on a formula of narratives and commercial breaks that will draw viewers back every time. After reading this book, I would say that it's a useful source because it evaluates why people watch reality TV shows by examining what the targeted viewers are interested in, how the Kardashians have used the show as a means to commercialize their products, and breaks down the show to explain what components make the show so entertaining. While this may not be as academically based as my other sources, I think the information is very reliable and not at all biased because the author promotes how great of business women the Kardashians are. With this source, I would be able to explain who the Kardashians are, how they represent American culture through ideologies of capitalism and individualism, and why their reality TV show is so widely popular. As far as my opinions about my topic, my interest continually increases as I read sources that thoroughly examine how reality TV shows and American culture and societal norms correlate.