If all goes well, Corderro McMurry will graduate with a master of arts in communications this May from Northern Arizona University. To get to the finish line, the 25-year-old has turned to the Kardashians for some academic assistance — inspiration, if you will. This week, Corderro submitted a term paper called “How a Kardashian Changed My Life” for his critical methods class.
In the paper, he focuses on Khloé’s show Revenge Body and how it uses literary theorist Kenneth Burke’s model of guilt, purification, and redemption (a narrative that also pops up in Khloé's book Strong Looks Better Naked) to transform each participant to his or her desired new body. He analyzes episode six’s Ranella, an aspiring singer who gained 50 pounds and always felt like a disappointment to her mother. Revenge Body viewers will recall that Ranella worked with hot celebrity trainer Corey and turned to celeb bodies like Khloé's and Jennifer Lopez's for inspiration.
As Corderro explains both in the paper and in a recent phone call from the pristine mountains of Flagstaff, he too is working on his revenge body and thanks to the show, he's leading a healthier lifestyle: "I was just at the gym trying to get that Cabo body for spring break."
At what point in your studies did you decide you had to write this paper?
I’m working on my thesis on entertainment news. I was watching Keeping Up With the Kardashians and they advertised Revenge Body by Khloé. I thought it was just really interesting and unique how she’s using her resources to help other people make a positive change for their life ... She says it herself, she used to be called the "fat, funny sister" and she wanted to make a change for herself and stop the body shamers.
What’s the feedback been like from your professor or classmates?
I guess I was not confident about going into the presentation because I was doing my project on a Kardashian. That I (a male) was actually sitting down and watching Revenge Body or Keeping Up With the Kardashians ... I don't think one show is meant for males or females, it's entertainment television, and if you are entertained by something, then that is all that should matter. So I did the project anyway because I love pop culture and entertainment.
I presented it and the class loved it. It’s five people, since it’s a grad class. [The professor] loved it. I used eight different clips of the show and I did it old-school, I had a PowerPoint. I like to be visual.
Have any of the Kardashians responded to you? I saw that you tagged Kim, Khloé, and Kourtney in your tweet.
No, but one person who did was Jamie — a contestant on the show. When I first tweeted about the paper, saying I hope I get an A, Ranella [whose episode is the paper's focus] liked it and retweeted it.
Tell me about your first Kardashian memory; when did you fall in love with the Kardashians?
I would probably say [it started] with Kim. I didn’t really follow her or understand her until she was dating Kanye West. I only knew Kim as a personal assistant or something. But I’m a huge Kanye fan. When I heard he was dating her, that’s when I followed her and started watching the show and understanding what she does.
In your paper, you mention that Scott is your absolute favorite.
Scott’s amazing. From watching the show, he’s just a fun guy. He likes to go out, have fun, party. One of my favorite episodes is when he couldn’t go with them to Cuba and so the other sisters brought [Cuba] to him. They had this car, cigars, to bring his spirit up. He’s always in the public eye so things do matter to him. He’s human, just like me.
Have you used the Kardashians in other papers before?
No, but I’ve analyzed Disney films and aggression within Disney films. [Another paper] was on Kanye West, about his album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. I analyzed the cover and thought it was interesting that an album cover could be banned in the United States. I also did a paper on Teen Mom OG on how conflict is portrayed in the show.
What are you doing after you graduate?
I’m hoping to get a reporter job somewhere. My ultimate dream job, clearly, is working at E! News being a host. If I could just get a foot in the door, somewhere, doing entertainment news, my life is totally complete.
Do you think E! will notice you after this paper and interview?
I hope and pray E! News sees this!
Here's an excerpt from Corderro's paper:
Burke’s guilt, purification, redemption cycle is a solid method behind E! Network’s show, Revenge Body. The process is the drama of the self in a quest to rebuild and find the true self. The show focuses on getting revenge on the persons “guilt” which could institute a bad break up or a traumatic experience that has caused mortification or victimage. Khloé Kardashian is a celebrity that has been through Burke’s guilt, purification and redemption cycle. Through her means and resources, she has taken it a step further to share it with those that are willing to move toward perfection and have a purpose in life. Towards the end of the show, the character’s invite, family, friends and significant others to show them their transformation and to finally release their “guilt” that the person has caused them. We noticed that Ranella was motivated by the celebrity resources that were offered to her in order to lose weight…
The show, Revenge Body utilizes Khloé Kardashian and celebrity resources as a way to motivate and change the participant’s life through a mind body and soul experience. On her reveal day, [Ranella] was not a mirror image of a Kardashian but mentally she felt like a superstar after her transformation. She lost 40 pounds, got new teeth and hair and make-up that were done by celebrity stylists and that right there gave her the confidence and reassurance that she was a celebrity superstar.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
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