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I have been voicing out about the cultural appropriation issues prevailing in K-pop, but this time... I have to be honest: It kinda feels like confronting people condemning lyrics "네가" in Korean song for being racist. https://twitter.com/NCT127Union/status/1319669658077679616
I agree that the pose in mcd could be seen problematic and should be pointed out, but not the "colorist" one.. People should reflect on how western-centric it is to believe they have proper knowledge to judge every single word and context of the language they don't actually know.
I would have not felt this powerless if people have paid attention to the discriminations they have experienced as asian to this extent...
Yes, Korea sucks in terms of the awarness of cultural diversity. But when talking about raising it, it not only applies to K-pop stars and producers but also to K-pop fans... I actually wonder how many global fans understand the complicatedness of Korean culture/context.
I again clarify that I do not mean to invalidate the proper criticism.
But I can't stop thinking there exists the ultimate premise that k-pop stars and korean fans are the ones to be "educated" or "civilized" and it arouses the narrative of Western imperialism and colonialism.
But I can't stop thinking there exists the ultimate premise that k-pop stars and korean fans are the ones to be "educated" or "civilized" and it arouses the narrative of Western imperialism and colonialism.
Do people really pay attention to Korean context as they want K-pop stars to pay attention to their (especially Western) culture? I cannot say.
Yes, yes, Asians are "the babarians" that does not have to be taken seriously but merely have to be "civilized", aren't we? As we always have been.
So, I think the criticism of the ending pose is valid, but this "colorism" controversy just shows the tendency to merely stigmatizing while not having any doubt of misunderstanding, and that is juxtaposed with the imperialism/colonialism. https://twitter.com/dis1co/status/1319884500197765121?s=19
And please don't think this is the first time you are misunderstanding.....
Now this thought just comes to my mind: why do I have to explain this from 1 to 10 in english... bc I have to "educate" them? Oh well.....
At least people who are praising idols bringing the concepts from "korean traditions" for being "authentic" or "genuine" cannot participate in this discourse you know... cuz in most cases it's largely orientalism that serves the western fantasy.
Periodt.
You have to read the whole thread, but i'm not gonna translate it cuz you know why
https://twitter.com/tr0pical_isl4nd/status/1319899796576976906
You have to read the whole thread, but i'm not gonna translate it cuz you know why
https://twitter.com/tr0pical_isl4nd/status/1319899796576976906
This.
(For who might ask for translation? Kor plz) https://twitter.com/samssick/status/1319912354826469376?s=19
(For who might ask for translation? Kor plz
) https://twitter.com/samssick/status/1319912354826469376?s=19
To add on this; the discriminations toward asian... More than people "not paying attention" to it, they are not even aware of it...
Sometimes people treat K-pop as sth like "diversity" music, but easily overlook that korean & asian people in the industry are minority as well. https://twitter.com/dis1co/status/1319877245557637120
Sometimes people treat K-pop as sth like "diversity" music, but easily overlook that korean & asian people in the industry are minority as well. https://twitter.com/dis1co/status/1319877245557637120
OR, they are ignoring the fact that they can also be a part of majority in some sense.
If you are taking pride in yourself being a "conscious" consumer comparing to blinded, toxic "knetz", stop it bc it's terribly immersed in racism, colonialism, and imperialism.
Why "the context" matters? Because Korean language is all about the context and the nuance... People tryna say the phrase was wrong "regardless of the context" but Korean language is EXTREMELY reliant on the context and the nuance. How many of you guys understand this?
Don't ever assume that you have some knowledge of Korean language while all you know is aegyo, maknae, hyung, saranghae kind of things. It is not like english-spanish difference.
I add some convo that i had https://twitter.com/dis1co/status/1320048318668402688?s=19
I understand that this is not one-time thing but accumulated frustration, but if that "colorism" controversy was the trigger, you have to seriously look back on yourself and examine if each of the blocks that constructed your frustration was valid.
I hope this will be the last time explaining it;
Assuming koreans and asians would be *ignorant* thus concluding int'l fans (that is largely wetern-centric) should be the ones who *educate* them ITSELF connote the discriminating perspective.
Assuming koreans and asians would be *ignorant* thus concluding int'l fans (that is largely wetern-centric) should be the ones who *educate* them ITSELF connote the discriminating perspective.
Fiiinally there are some people believing that I'm saying like this bc i don't get the meaning of the word *educate* wrong wtf
WE KNOW 씨발 안다고요 how many times should I explain that the ultimate premise that we koreans do not know is full of prejudices. https://twitter.com/dis1co/status/1320165349614993408
WE KNOW 씨발 안다고요 how many times should I explain that the ultimate premise that we koreans do not know is full of prejudices. https://twitter.com/dis1co/status/1320165349614993408
So i got some dm and this was my reply
Plus, we need to rethink whether it is valid to conclude that make a wish is ca of south asian culture while this thread exists https://twitter.com/aybeenair/status/1319337470643765248?s=19
at least i'm tryna *educate* them IN ENGLISH guys... https://twitter.com/dis1co/status/1319899933969797120?s=19
The true intent of this is not criticizing kpop acts doing orientalism thing bc WE CAN DO WHATEVER FUCK WE WANT (+ we are actually confused of what the authentic "tradition" is bc it was fully (re-)constructed by fucking colonialists from the start) but https://twitter.com/dis1co/status/1319907203805974529?s=19
criticizing how the western-centric trend of int'l fans mindlessly accepts it as real cool sht or sth like that. I mean, who's insensitive? When talking about cultural diversity?
Learn the fact that asia has been "the others" of the history.
People should learn how "right" statements can be wrong as well as questioning oneself if it is really "right".
We srsly need some study or journal dealing with the dullness of Kpop production AND the western-centric global discourse "appropriating" Kpop (both from the media and the fandom) AT THE SAME TIME.
If ppl are to talk about "the dark side of Kpop", it should be addressed as well. https://twitter.com/dis1co/status/1320032312873025536
If ppl are to talk about "the dark side of Kpop", it should be addressed as well. https://twitter.com/dis1co/status/1320032312873025536
As a person who studies education in the uni, their so-called "education" is ridiculous. Bc you have to KNOW who you intend to educate before you do so -compulsorily taking developmental psychology and special education etc.- But they were not even listening to us
