Guilty pleasure: Rich Kids of Instagram

Literal class warfare

You are looking at a gold-plated AK-47, sold by Versace for $9,000. There are at least four layers of signifier going on in that photo: the ancient—perhaps even oldest—significance of gold, the postwar guerrilla icon that is the Kalashnikov, and the increasingly decadent brand of Versace. What’s that you say? Only four? Oh, right—the fourth layer of signification comes from knowing that this gold-plated assault rifle, along with the collection of sunglasses and watches surrounding it, belongs to a child. The picture is from Rick Kids of Instagram, a Tumblr you should visit immediately if you enjoy self-righteous resentment.

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