Ultimate bias: Memorabilia, K-pop and fandom identities

Guerra, Paula; Sousa, Sofia

doi:10.15847/cct.23948

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Be it the whole group, a single member, or a combination of the two, within the K-pop community the term “bias” is used to signify the member(s) a fan has selected as their favorite (Jenol, 2020). Within the fandom, both Korean and English are often combined to create words and phrases that hold new meaning for the in-group, with language acting as an important marker for identity (Guerra & Sousa, 2021; Touhami & Al-Haq, 2017). The term “bias” is a testament to this, and with the word being a pivotal term within the context of the fandom, we have adopted this term in our research to explore the importance of a chosen role model.…”

Section: The Korean Wavementioning

confidence: 99%

Into the purple ocean: The formation and dynamics of a transcultural fandom as a result of cultural diffusion through K-pop.

Newton,

Ferenczi

2024

Psychology of Popular Media

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Within the context of cultural exchange, research into the impact of Korean pop (K-pop) music and its idols largely focuses on their marketability rather than the psychological effects this exchange may have on their fandom. The aim of this research, therefore, is to investigate the formation and dynamics of a transcultural fandom as a result of cultural diffusion through K-pop through the relationship between Bangtan Sonyeondan (a K-pop group) and their fandom, Adorable Representative Master of Ceremonies for Youth (ARMY). Through this research we hope to examine the formation of a new transcultural fandom "in-group" as a function of cultural diffusion, as well as the role of the idol in this process. A quantitative design was employed, consisting of a cross-sectional survey with 116 participants completing measures of identification with all of humanity, universal values, online group identification, knowledge of in-group norms, and remote acculturation levels. Results revealed that stronger identification with the in-group, ARMY, was a significant predictor of ability to detect and use in-group cues to predict target identities successfully, increased remote acculturation, and increased identification with all of humanity. Overall, the research provides insights into the relationships between idol and fan, the levels of remote acculturation experienced by ARMY, and the subsequent identities that are constructed within the new transcultural context of their global community. Public Policy Relevance StatementCultural exchange via K-pop music and its idols results in the subsequent identity change of their fandoms. In the case of South Korean music group Bangtan Sonyeondan and their fandom, Adorable Representative Master of Ceremonies for Youth, this exchange has led to the formation of a transcultural fandom in-group (complete with their own in-group markers), increased levels of acculturation, strong identification with all of humanity, and a unique dynamic between the idols and the fans themselves.

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Section: The Korean Wavementioning

confidence: 99%

Into the purple ocean: The formation and dynamics of a transcultural fandom as a result of cultural diffusion through K-pop.

Newton,

Ferenczi

2024

Psychology of Popular Media

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“…Training involves singing, dancing, rapping, composition, musical instruments, posture, and even taking selfies. It is reported that in order to train excellent trainees to attract fans, SM Entertainment invests more than $5 million per year in its training classes [5]. The most promising age group for trainees is defined as between 15 and 18 years old.…”

Section: Talent Development and Product Makingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As a result, fans will randomly get any member's photo card in the idol group. In Guerra and Sousa's article [5], they analyze that different from the Anglo-American industry from an artistic point of view, K-pop album covers are minimalist so that it becomes easy to tell them apart with a cover. Inside albums, random photocards serve as a way to strengthen, to prove the sense of community and belonging through the process of exchanging, selling and buying photocards among K-pop fans [6].…”

Section: Talent Development and Product Makingmentioning

confidence: 99%

The K-pop Economic Model's Application in China

Yichen

2024

AEMPS

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This paper examines the potential introduction and development of the K-pop economic model in China, specifically focusing on Wajijiwa Entertainment. K-pop has gained global recognition for its systematic talent development, fan engagement, merchandising, and branding. This paper employs a qualitative research method to investigate the potential introduction and development of the K-pop economic model in China, specifically focusing on Wajijiwa Entertainment. Wajijiwa Entertainment, a prominent player in the Chinese idol industry, has adopted elements of the K-pop model. Despite initial success, several challenges, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and product quality issues, need addressing. The research concludes that though the Chinese idol industry has made strides in implementing the K-pop economic model, several issues still need addressing. To further succeed, it must guide fan behavior towards rational consumption, provide more platforms for idol promotion, enhance training systems, and improve operational strategies and product quality. Effective communication with fans is also essential to bolster engagement. While this study primarily focuses on Wajijiwa Entertainment, it highlights the potential for growth and economic impact in the evolving Chinese idol industry.

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“…Consuming these products create the feeling of satisfaction and pleasantness for the fans [5]. By collecting K-Pop stuff (merchandise) could distinguish whether they are fans or not [6] From a variety of K-Pop's merchandise consumed by Indonesian K-Pop fans, such as posters, postcards, photocards, stickers, and accessories, the consumption of photocards is chosen a case study in this article due to its problematic nature. Photocard seems to have different values among the K-Pop fans in Indonesia since in recent years, K-Pop fans have been intense in consuming and collecting photocards.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Consuming K-Pop Photocards: Mediated Intimacy in Indonesian Fan Practices

Kitra Desnika,

Shuri Mariasih Gietty Tambunan

2023

ATHENA

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K-Pop fans’ consumptive behavior is reflected through the act of a variety of K-Pop merchandise and one of these merchandises is photocards. This article highlights photocards as a microscopic case study to explore the problematic fan practice of humanizing these photocards particularly as fans post contents related to their photocards on social media. Fans who actively collect K-Pop photocards treat them as if they are a substitute of their idols and they need to be always protected with care. Research findings show that fans treat photocards as a living human being for example by bringing these photocards while they do their activities and addressing them in their social media posts reflecting an intimate relationship between fans and the imagined presence of their idols through the photocards. By utilizing content analysis and ethnography method, data were collected through TikTok and interview session with several respondents (K-Pop photocard collectors). This research aims to observe how photocard is not only a material object that is meaningless. These photocards are humanized like a friend and become a replacement from the absence of the real form of the idols. Photocards’ meaning making process is dynamic while reflecting fans’ behavior in the context of K-Pop fandom in Indonesia

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Ultimate bias: Memorabilia, K-pop and fandom identities

Cited by 3 publications

References 26 publications

Into the purple ocean: The formation and dynamics of a transcultural fandom as a result of cultural diffusion through K-pop.

Into the purple ocean: The formation and dynamics of a transcultural fandom as a result of cultural diffusion through K-pop.

The K-pop Economic Model's Application in China

Consuming K-Pop Photocards: Mediated Intimacy in Indonesian Fan Practices

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