Zendaya: Language and Representations

 Introduction and background reading:

1) What was the 2015 Oscar controversy involving Zendaya? 

Zendaya showed out to the red carpet in a white silk gown and dreadlocks. Giuliana Rancic said on E's Fashion Police, "That hair is devouring her. She smells to me like patchouli oil. "Or weed," said a voice from off-screen. Giuliana Rancic's comments prompted several commenters to claim that the Fashion Police segment was racist.

2) How did Zendaya control the narrative of that controversy?

By writing a post with the statement "There is already harsh criticism of African American hair in society without the help of ignorant people who choose to judge others based on the curl of their hair," she took the initiative to take charge. In want to promote locs positively and to let people of colour know that their hair is beautiful, I wore locs on the Oscar red carpet. For me, locs are a representation of strength and beauty that resembles a lion's mane.

3) What examples are provided of Zendaya using her celebrity to raise issues of race and social justice?

She discusses her difficulties getting into auditions for roles that are often played by white actresses. "I usually request that my theatrical manager send me out whenever it mentions that they are searching for white girls. Allow me to enter the space. Perhaps they'll have second thoughts.

4) Zendaya insisted on a black family in Disney’s KC Undercover show. How can we link this to the ideas of Paul Gilroy?

Immigrants, according to Gilroy, clash with cultural norms and pose a threat to national principles. By criticising stereotypical sitcoms featuring a traditional white family, Zendaya endorses this viewpoint. 

5) Who is Zendaya’s stylist and how did Zendaya use fashion and appearance to develop her celebrity persona?

Since she was 14, Zendaya has worn clothing designed by Law Roach, a stylist who is known for his fun, performative style and commitment to truth storytelling. She utilises her clothing to tell a story to the audience, and she demonstrated by her response to Rancic that she is willing to support the people who are alternatives. 

6) How has Zendaya influenced the representation of characters she has played?

Her choice to play the typically white character MJ in "Spider-Man: Homecoming" was viewed as a move towards greater racial diversity in superhero movies. 

7) How did LL Cool J describe Zendaya?

She is cool. It's possible to create celebrity. It's possible to create publicity. Songs can be created. Cool cannot be manufactured. 

8) Do you agree with his assessment? Is Zendaya authentically cool or just another manufactured celebrity?

Although Zendaya stands out more visibly in terms of what she tries to advocate for and fight for, like most celebrities, she incorporates certain structured components into what she does and publishes.

Zendaya textual analysis:

Social media analysis:

1) Visit Zendaya's Twitter feed. Analyse her use of tweets - are they promoting her film/TV work, linked to fashion or sponsorship work or more socially or politically oriented?

Some of her posts are merely an effort to interact with her audience in an effort to demonstrate some kind of realism, while other posts are more career-focused, such as her attendance at events that primarily serve to promote the shows she is producing or appearing in.

2) Look at Zendaya's Instagram account. She has said this is the one account that is always 100% created by her - can you find any evidence of that in the way posts or images are constructed?

"I'm extremely, extremely picky about my Instagram, so only I have access to it...To some extent, I believe it's vital to be sincere about that stuff. implies that her other accounts might be partially maintained by social media administrators, heightening the feeling of distance between her and her admirers. 

3) Watch Zendaya's 73 questions Vogue interview. How is this constructed to create a particular representation of Zendaya?

Her response combines previous relationships and roles she has held with examples of how she has changed through time. What she hoped her career would look like in the future was one of the questions, and the answer led to her taking a more aggressive approach since, as a true woman of colour, she wanted to fight for comparable representations. 

4) Research Zendaya across any other social media accounts - e.g. Facebook. Do you notice any differences in how she represents herself on different platforms? Comment on text, images or tone/content.

Zendaya talks about her social life, her actions, and how she lives, but most of the other things she posts are typically about the businesses she supports.

Representations:

1) What the concerns around social media discussed at the start of the article?

"Concerns that social media can have a negative impact on one's mental health and cause anxiety are more widespread and being taken more seriously," individuals seem to be taking these complaints more seriously.

2) What example is provided of Zendaya’s authenticity – or possible lack of authenticity?

The concerns that social media can have a harmful impact on one's mental health and induce anxiety are increasingly widespread and are being taken more seriously, therefore it appears that people are taking these complaints more seriously. 

3) What is the one social media app that Zendaya manages entirely herself?

"I'm extremely, extremely picky about my Instagram, so only I have access to it...To some extent, I believe it's vital to be sincere about that stuff.

4) What are the issues highlighted by Billie Eilish regarding self-representation and feminism?

"Eilish is highlighting the lack of nuance in understanding feminism and self-representation that permeates the mainstream online," she said. These are oversimplified concepts that prevent people from honestly and correctly portraying themselves online and add to the mental health problem that is partially brought on by social media platforms. 

5) How authentic do YOU feel Zendaya’s media representation is? Is it the real Zendaya or a media construction designed to look authentic?

The images we see online are generally accurate, yet because of this accuracy, they can also seem fanciful. We as users may understand Zendaya's desire to inspire her fans, but we cannot ignore the possibility that her messages could be harmful, particularly to impressionable users who are unnecessarily comparing their own accomplishments and appearance to the celebrity's lifestyle as users may mistake her authenticity for being simple to achieve.