The above piece is an interesting opinion on one aspect of the great Hallyu invasion we are experiencing right now. As Kpop gets more and more exposure all over the world it's inevitable that people will start to evaluate it according to their own groups' mores. There will be those who will take issue with how this genre celebrates youth, beauty, and empowerment.
I'm aware that South Korean broadcast media is strict with its guidelines on what can be aired and that the companies behind Hallyu do want to project the best side of their country to foreigners. However these same companies are in a race to survive and thrive - the competition is quite fierce. Sex does sell, but in the case of Kpop it has to be tempered otherwise a big chunk of the older demographic gets lost. But things aren't simple - there's considerations of appeal and image to think about.
I am sorry if I'm not as coherent with this post; I am not entirely clear about how I feel about this kind of thing, you see. I believe it's hard to quantify "classy" versus "raunchy." The image that comes to mind is that of female beach-goers being accosted so the length of the hemlines of their swimsuits could be measured; too short and one can look forward to being arrested. I understand that there is an imbalance when one gender predominates in positions of authority and that judging a person by their physical assets does diminish them. On the other hand, I recognize that judging people this way is something that we do all our lives - we think of people in terms of how they affect us, what they look like/sound like/etc, how they are in relation to us. Nobody really takes the trouble to research someone thoroughly to the point that they know more about the latter than she does herself. People just go for satisficing.
There's a part of me thinking that having beauty and sexiness are assets just like having intelligence or riches. Those who have them are well within their rights to exploit what they have to get ahead. Falling in love with someone who is beautiful, falling in love with someone who is rich - what's the difference, really?
But there are things that disturb me. The extreme dieting, the cosmetic procedures, the excessive expectations everyone has of these artists - it's like trying to maintain the illusion of being young and dependent for as long as possible. And I hesitate to think that I could even begin to empathize with the situation of those who are oppressed by this.
And there's another thing to consider: that maybe the view the author is talking about could be the seed of a moral panic.
I also reflect a lot on Sandara Park. I've researched her prior career in the Philippines, it's interesting how she's an international star now when her career stagnated in that country. I wonder if the author considered her before writing the op-ed.
These ideas hover around me like flies when I come across things that invoke the issue. Perhaps I'll write about this some more someday, when my views have become more stable.
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