Page 2 Summary

This page continues the character description of Cleo and introduces her best friend, Kara. Cleo is described as refusing to accept that light-skinned Black people like Kara also suffer from racial oppression. Initially unwilling to admit her own mistakes, such as her homophobic reaction to Kara's coming out, Cleo eventually apologizes.

Kara, a 22-year-old light-skinned Black woman, serves as a counterpoint to Cleo. She identifies as queer and has experienced rejection both within and outside the Black community due to her sexuality. Kara is less uncompromising and more down-to-earth than Cleo, often finding her friend's tweets too extreme and criticizing her self-righteousness. Despite this, Kara is caring and protective, worrying about Cleo's safety when she posts provocative tweets.

The page also introduces key terms relevant to the play's themes. Blackfishing is defined as the act of a non-Black person pretending to be Black through the use of makeup, tanning, or technology like filters and Photoshop. Cultural appropriation is explained as the unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of customs, practices, or ideas from one culture by members of another, typically more dominant, culture.

Definition: Blackfishing - The act of someone who is not Black pretending to be Black with the use of methods such as makeup, tanning, or technology like filters and Photoshop.

Highlight: The contrast between Cleo and Kara's characters highlights the complexity of racial issues and the diversity of perspectives within the Black community.

Page 3 Summary

This page provides a brief but important definition of the term "Blackface." Blackface is described as the practice of wearing dark makeup by a white person in order to look like a Black person. This definition is crucial for understanding some of the historical context and themes of racial representation and appropriation that are explored in "Seven methods of killing kylie jenner".

The inclusion of this term underscores the play's engagement with issues of racial identity, representation, and the ways in which Black features and culture have been appropriated, mocked, or misrepresented throughout history. It provides a historical backdrop against which the modern issues of cultural appropriation and "Blackfishing" discussed in the play can be understood.

Definition: Blackface - The practice of wearing dark makeup as a white person in order to look like a Black person.

Highlight: The definition of Blackface provides historical context for the play's exploration of modern forms of racial appropriation and misrepresentation.

Page 4 Summary

This page outlines the titular "seven methods of killing Kylie Jenner" referenced in the play, each method serving as a metaphor for different aspects of racial oppression and cultural appropriation. The methods are presented alongside their real-world parallels, highlighting the contrast between Kylie Jenner's privileged position and the experiences of Black people.

For example, "Death by poison" references Kylie's admiration for her full lips (achieved through lip fillers) in contrast to the historical derision of Black people's naturally full lips. "Death by shooting" juxtaposes Kylie's photo shoots with the tragic reality of police shootings of Black people. "Death by drowning" contrasts Kylie's wealth with the plight of refugees drowning at sea. "Death by skinning" relates to Cleo's desire to wear Kylie's white skin as a costume, referencing the racist tradition of "Blackfacing".

"Death by immolation" compares Kylie being "lit" in selfies to the horrific history of Black people being burned alive during lynchings. "Death by disgrace" contrasts Kylie's admiration for her looks with the historical exploitation of Black people as exotic "freaks" and the negative impact on Black children's self-esteem. Finally, "Death by displacement" compares Kylie's global fame and wealth to the story of Saartjie Baartman, who was taken from her home, exhibited in Europe, and died penniless and largely forgotten.

Example: The "Death by drowning" method contrasts "Kylie swimming in wealth" with "refugees drowning in the sea," highlighting the stark inequalities in global experiences.

Highlight: Each "method" in the play serves as a powerful metaphor, drawing parallels between celebrity culture and the historical and ongoing oppression of Black people.

Page 5 Summary

This page introduces two important figures referenced in the play: Kylie Jenner and Sarah "Saartjie" Baartman. Kylie Kristen Jenner, born in 1997, is described as a white American celebrity, model, and businesswoman. She gained fame through reality television and is the founder of Kylie Cosmetics. Jenner is noted as one of the most-followed women on social media, representing modern celebrity culture and its influence.

In stark contrast, Sarah "Saartjie" Baartman $c.1789-1815$ is presented as a Black South African woman who was exploited and dehumanized in 19th-century Europe. Baartman was exhibited as a curiosity under the derogatory name "Hottentot Venus." The page notes that even after her death, Baartman's body was put on display in a natural history museum, highlighting the long history of objectification and exploitation of Black bodies.

The juxtaposition of these two figures in "Seven methods of killing kylie jenner" serves to illustrate the play's themes of racial exploitation, cultural appropriation, and the contrasting experiences of white and Black women in the public eye across different historical periods.

Highlight: The stark contrast between Kylie Jenner's celebrated status and Sarah Baartman's exploitation underscores the play's critique of ongoing racial inequalities and the commodification of Black bodies.

Quote: "Sarah 'Saartjie' Baartman $c.1789-1815$ was a (Black) South African woman who was exhibited as a curiosity in 19th-century Europe under the pejorative name 'Hottentot Venus'."

Page 6 Summary

This page outlines the main topics and themes explored in "Seven methods of killing kylie jenner". The play delves into the dehumanization and exploitation of the Black female body, highlighting how Black women have been and continue to be bullied and discriminated against. It references the historical example of Saartjie Baartman, who was exhibited as a "freak" and sexually exploited, drawing parallels to modern forms of objectification.

Cultural appropriation is another key theme, focusing on how Blackness and Black aesthetics are appropriated by white models and social media influencers, particularly the Kardashians, for commercial gain. The play points out the hypocrisy in how features like full lips are considered fashionable on white women like Kylie Jenner but are often deemed "ugly" on Black women.

The concept of colorism is explored through the relationship between Cleo and Kara. Cleo believes that light-skinned Black people like Kara are considered more beautiful and less affected by racism than darker-skinned individuals, accusing Kara of having "lightie-itis".

Lastly, the play examines the intersectionality of identity categories, acknowledging that multiple factors such as race, gender, and sexual identity interact to create unique forms of oppression and/or privilege. This nuanced approach allows the play to explore the complexities of identity and discrimination in modern society.

Vocabulary: Colorism - Prejudice or discrimination against individuals with a darker skin tone, typically among people of the same ethnic or racial group.

Highlight: The play's exploration of intersectionality demonstrates how various aspects of identity combine to create unique experiences of oppression and privilege, providing a more nuanced understanding of racial and social issues.

Page 7 Summary

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Page 1 Summary

The play "Seven methods of killing kylie jenner" was written by Jasmine Lee-Jones, a young British writer and actress of Jamaican descent. Published in 2019, this comedy alternates between real-life settings (primarily Cleo's bedroom) and the digital world of Twitter. The story revolves around Cleo, a young Black woman who posts ironic tweets suggesting ways to assassinate Kylie Jenner, causing an online uproar. As Cleo discusses her Twitter activities with her best friend Kara, their conversation unearths old wounds that threaten their relationship. The play's language incorporates modern digital communication elements like GIFs, memes, emojis, and acronyms.

The main character, Cleo Fuller, is a 21-year-old dark-skinned Black woman. She is knowledgeable, eloquent, and gifted, with a deep understanding of racism and the history of oppression. Cleo uses academic language when discussing racism, and her tweets often resemble rap and poetry. She is outspoken and activist in nature, using social media to highlight discrimination against people of color. However, Cleo is also frustrated due to a recent breakup and tends to be uncompromising in her views.

Highlight: The play's unique structure, blending real-world and digital interactions, reflects the modern experience of navigating both physical and online spaces while addressing complex social issues.

Vocabulary: Cultural appropriation - The unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices, ideas, etc. of one people or society by members of another and typically more dominant people or society.