K-Pop is a blanket term for an expansive genre and its popularity is indicative of larger politics

‪@DisenchantedWithSociety‬ hope this answers your question

[@sakurakou2009]

I agree that it geopolitical, before kpop it was anime from Japan, and before those two it was martial arts movies from hongkong, it just a wave that will die out once the west no longer interested in them.

[@sakurakou2009]

With all respect I don't think you get full picture of kpop, before bts before kpop became a thing, kpop 2nd generation used to go and try to break into japanese market, reason was because korea didn't have capacity to hold large scale concerts like how japan had bigger market for idols, that why BoA and tvxq went tk to japan early into their career and learned japanese to promote their, and for long time making debut in japan was the go to for idols who not make it in korea. Only reason why bts and now other kpop idols try to break through into westren market cuz japan and china banned kpop and it became risk for those idols to rely on asian market only.

[@timi_haze]

I am somewhat familiar with the crossover market with Japan and remember idol groups from my youth emulating Japanese styles. As far as I know there are still many Japanese/Chinese artists that come to Korea as well as vice versa in order to promote themselves. Interesting comment and not a topic I know a lot about.

[@DisenchantedWithSociety]

Thanks for addressing it. I asked because we seem to have similar live experiences overall and similar views given that whole growing up in America as Asian thing. You addressed a lot more than expected. Though I'm more curious about your thoughts on the perspective of Kpop styling and sexualisation. I found the styling of the bands to be playing into the "all Asians look alike" theme through dressing but still giving in variety. Western groups have their members a lot more individualised. With Kpop groups, they are all dressed the same and then you also have some who play into heavily sexualisation especially some of the try hard groups like Bambino. It gives me gogo or dirty bar vibes where the girls are made to wear the same uniforms but then you still got "variety" to satisfy each type or Asian girl fantasy guys have. The blonde Asian baby girl, they definitely got that covered cos that's a staple. We both know if a White guy sees emasculation in Kpop, fetishism for the girls of Kpop will be following right behind. Do you see this as setting a dangerous precedence or feeding the fire?

[@timi_haze]

There's a music video by a Kpop artist I forget her name but the whole video is her seducing white and black men and like putting them under a spell or something. I had the same exact thought as what you wrote that it seemed blatantly to be propping her as a fetishist trophy. That's only one small aspect of the sexual or erotic elements of Kpop. It's more complicated than that because South Korea really bends the rules of conservatism vs. overt sexuality so you have artists like Jessi or Hwasa being mroe overtly sexual whereas Twice or Red Velvet will be more "girls next door" subtly alluring. There may be some groups or producers that are trying to leverage sexuality for international audiences but at its heart I think it's more basic in that they are following the old adage that sex sells. That's why all the idols are usually very pretty and fit, girl and boy groups alike. It's part of their overall commodification and why they aren't allowed to publicly date. It's all part of the fantasy of sexy singing dancers grabbing your attention. I want to also say that although eroticism is definitely a part of Kpop it is not the entirety of it. The Korean music industry is brutally competitive and artists are pushed to be the best of the best in all aspects of their craft.

[@bevs9995]

Do you think K-Pop is an appropriation of AA culture while separating it from black culture?

[@timi_haze]

No I do not. I see it as being influenced like how groups like Wu Tang Clan are influenced by Chinese culture

[@sakurakou2009]

​@@timi_hazeI don't see the comparison between wu tang clan, and hoe kpop literally rip off black American culture aspects as their concept, wh tang is hiphop group, them using Chinese sounding name as their band name doesnt mean they influenced by Chinese culture. Wu tang never sing in Chinese or wear hanfu or claim Chinese hairstyles as their concept, it would be ridiculous to compare using Chinese name to what kpop do to black American culture, they use black American culture as concept that is offense especially with how racist koreans society to black and dark skin people in general.

[@sakurakou2009]

​​@@timi_hazeI don't see the comparison between wu tang clan, and how kpop literally rip off black American culture aspects as their concept, wh tang is hiphop group, them using Chinese sounding name as their band name doesnt mean they influenced by Chinese culture. Wu tang never sing in Chinese or wear hanfu or claim Chinese hairstyles as their concept, it would be ridiculous to compare using Chinese name to what kpop do to black American culture, they use black American culture as concept that is offense especially with how racist koreans society to black and dark skin people in general.