Kanye West has produced works that many interpret as exhibiting the struggle of black identity in the postmodern era. In Twisted Fantasy could be interpreted as an exploration of what is known to the Self as opposed to what is unknown, if the ideas it presented were to transcend the disjointed chaos of society. Kanye West is world famous for his somewhat dark lyrics and prolific visuals in his music videos. He's always been about shock value, in music and in the real world. While West presents striking images, he reflects society with a notable lack of original thought and at the same time does not address the root causes of the desolation he portrays. West is the man on the street who saw the graffiti on the wall, recognized a lot of what people were talking about, and summed it up as a reflection that offers no solutions or understanding of the problems inherent in the black or female experience. It gives the world youth music to get lost in. Many conservatives believe he is a bad role model, but they don't understand his lyrics because he isn't addressing them, he's addressing young people. It's this type of lyrical songwriting that has made Kanye West a household name. In the article Celebrity, Victoria Price explains: “The origin of the unique phenomenon of twentieth-century celebrity can be found in the words of one of America's founding fathers, John Adams, who wrote: “The rewards. . . in this life there is esteem and admiration for others, the punishments are negligence and contempt. The desire for the esteem of others is a lack of nature as real as hunger, and abandonment and contempt for the world are as serious as pain. (Price, 463). The author suggests that fame is not a…paper medium…industry at all and is conveying a strong message to the public and the youth. It's interesting because West is a controversial figure. The West has already crossed the international border. His music is known worldwide and he often travels to other countries in Europe and Asia to perform. He earned his international reputation by exploiting society's insecurity. He uses themes that captivate his audience. These themes usually include race, love, hate, dysfunction, and drugs. Everything he uses to communicate to the young people of the world. Works CitedPrice, Victoria. St. James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture “Celebrities”. April 16, 2014Schmid, Randolph E. "What Makes a Hit? It's All in the Fans." The Globe and Mail February 11, 2006:0. ProQuest. April 16, 2014 .West, Kanye. “Dark fantasy”. My beautiful dark and twisted fantasy. Roc-A-Fella, 2010