Khloe and Lamar
For my outreach assignment, I watched the Season 6 premiere of The Kardashians, which aired earlier this year, and found striking connections between Khloe Kardashian’s story and Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God. The premiere of The Kardashians is called “Literally Falling Apart.” Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom meet to discuss life years after their divorce. Khloe and Lamar married when Khloe was 24 and were married 30 days after meeting each other. The marriage had lots of turmoil due to Odom’s drug addiction. In October 2015, Lamar was found unconscious in Nevada after a drug overdose and was hospitalized. They were also about to get divorced in 2015, but after the situation, Khloe withdrew her divorce filing and took care of him. He was in a coma for 3 days, but when he woke up, he could not talk or walk for months. Khloe took care of him for a long time and carried him to recovery. Despite Odom’s recovery, his drug addiction and infidelity continued, leading Khloe to refile for divorce in 2016. The last time they saw each other was in 2016 until now.
He walked in extremely nervous, sweating, and needing water. It was extremely awkward at times due to the years that had passed and the unraveling of their relationship. Khloe then gave him some old stuff she had, such as a diamond with three angel necklace wings. The three angles represent his Mom, grandma, and his late son. He was genuinely grateful when Khloe gave it to him, and he became emotional. Khloe remarks at this meeting that “trying to unlove someone is like death.” Khloe then shows Lamar her kids, and he smiles ear to ear. He begins to admit that she was the one who got away, and he says, “I will be blessed if I meet anyone close to you.” However, Khloe still has a guard up and isn't sure about everything he is saying, such as wife instead of ex-wife
In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Janie and Khloe have a true connection. Janie also experiences multiple tumultuous relationships that shape her understanding of love and herself. Janie and Khloe have learned over the years that love is not always enough to sustain a healthy relationship, especially when it challenges betrayal, drugs, or tragedy. For example, when Janie marries Joe Starks, she fantasizes about an exciting, perfect life but soon realizes that his controlling nature stifles her voice and independence. Similarly, Khloe and Lamar’s marriage started fast and was full of promises just 30 days after getting married. However, once Lamar's drug addiction went into full effect and his infidelity shattered the ideal love story Khloe may have imagined, much like Janie’s expectations with Joe
Also, both Janie and Khloe are placed in the role of caregivers for their husbands during crises. After he gets rabies, Janie cares for her other husband, Tea Cake. Similarly, Khloe stands by Lamar’s side during his coma and lengthy recovery, putting her own life on hold to help him heal. These acts from Janie and Khloe are highly emotional and taxing, showing how both women stayed loyal even when the relationship was falling apart. As you can see, the similarities between Khloe's and Janie’s husbands' actions and lives tested how much they would care for them. Neither woman ends up with the man they once loved most, but Khloe and Janie are stronger and more self-aware than they were when they started the relationship, and they learn that and are no longer willing to settle for a love that breaks them down.
Kim and Kanye
Throughout the sixth season of The Kardashians, Kim Kardashian tries to navigate co-parenting with Kanye West, as they have been divorced for about three years. Kim Kardashian divorced Kanye West due to differences in lifestyle and Kanye’s mental health struggles, which strained their relationship. To go in-depth with their lifestyles, Kim wanted to focus on her business ventures and work in criminal justice reform. In contrast, Kanye focused on his fashion ventures and politics, which caused them to live separate lives. Kanye’s mental health struggles showed, especially when he first started to share controversial social media posts. Specifically, West has made multiple anti-semitic posts on Twitter and Instagram, saying, “going defcon three on Jewish people” and sharing another message claiming that "Jewish people" were responsible for a wide range of negative actions, including controlling the media and manipulating the public. These posts were harmful antisemitic conspiracy theories as they fueled hatred and misinformation. In addition, Kanye’s support for controversial political figures, such as his support for Donald Trump and his presidential run in 2020, also created tension in their marriage. Kim and Kanye had different political views, and his political aspirations and actions, including his highly publicized campaign, fractured their relationship.
In Season 6 of The Kardashians, Kanye West appears in Episode 3, titled "I Just Can't Wait to Be King." This episode centers on Kim and Kanye supporting their daughter, North West, as she performs in the 30th anniversary concert of The Lion King at the Hollywood Bowl. Kanye's participation marks his first appearance on the reality series since his divorce from Kim. The episode showcases their co-parenting efforts, with both parents actively involved in North's preparation and performance.In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Janie faces societal expectations, relationship challenges, and personal growth, like Kim navigates co-parenting with Kanye in The Kardashians. One aspect that both Janie and Kim have in common is facing control and societal judgment in their everyday life. Janie is frequently scrutinized and pressured to have a traditional role in her relationships, especially with men like Jody Starks. Similarly, Kim deals with public perceptions of her parenting and the standards she and Kanye encounter as co-parents. Kim mentions throughout this season and every season that she purposely keeps the peace between her and Kanye out of respect for her four children. Just as Janie has to negotiate her personal desires with societal norms in her relationships, Kim faces the challenge of balancing her aspirations with the public’s scrutiny of her divorce and co-parenting style. In addition, Janie is frequently judged for her choices, particularly in her marriages, just like how people analyze Kim for her decisions about her family, public persona, and how she co-parents with Kanye.
Furthermore, Kim often feels judged by others, as people question how she could love someone who is erratic and unstable. Both Janie and Kim exhibit resilience despite the challenges they face. Janie’s resilience is seen as she leaves her unsatisfying marriage and embarks on a journey of self-discovery, as she refuses to allow society to define her. Kim similarly shows resilience in the face of public backlash, particularly around her divorce from Kanye and his uncontrollable behavior. In this book and reality TV show, we see women navigating societal pressures while striving to navigate their lives. Janie's journey is one of empowerment, reclaiming control over her life and narrative, while Kim faces the challenge of balancing her public image and motherhood. Both narratives highlight the universal struggle for self-discovery and personal fulfillment in the face of judgment and societal expectations.
Footnote
We looked at The Kardashians and Their Eyes Were Watching God to explore how both show the emotional challenges that Khloe, Kim, and Janie go through. Even though their situations are completely different, all three women deal with love, heartbreak, and being judged by others. Their situations show that no matter the time period or setting, figuring out who you are while facing public pressure is not easy. In the end, each woman grows stronger through the pain, learning to let go of what holds them back and choosing what’s best for themselves.
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