The Convergence of American and Asian Culture: K-Pop and its Fans

In Jenkins's take on pop cosmopolitanism, he states the definition of a modern pop cosmopolitan as "someone whose embrace of global popular media represents an escape route out of the parochialism of their local community." In other words, someone looking for a different experience from the culture they live in and absorb every day. Increasingly, one form of foreign media is becoming a cult favorite among those known as otakus, or "weeaboos," which is the more derogatory term for fans of Asian culture: Korean pop music, or "K-pop" as it is commonly referred to. For a basic overview of what K-pop is like stylistically and musically, think back to the boy bands of the 1990s; extremely dance-centric, often donning flashy costumes and putting on elaborate performances both in videos and live, and most songs having a fast electronic dance beat. However, many of K-pop's lyrics are in Korean, which most Americans do not study or understand. So how has this genre become so popular? As Jenkins states, the convergence of global media has given rise to a new form of pop cosmopolitanism; pop cosmopolitans "embrace cultural difference, seeking to escape the gravitational pull of their local communities in order to enter a broader sphere of cultural experience." In layman's terms, it is because of, not in spite of, the distinctly un-American nature of K-pop that fans are drawn to it. It is flashy and entirely based on style over substance, with serious ballads and slow songs very rare. One particular girl group that has become popular in America is Girls' Generation. A publication in New York Magazine stated that Girls' Generation fans admitted to liking the group for its members' looks and personality, not their music. A fan stated to the magazine that when Girls' Generation was onstage, there was sometimes the illusion that they were looking at them personally. This perfectly sums up the appeal of much of Asian media; different styles and a completely different feel than American media, which is built on flaunting a degree of wealth that almost seems designed to make those of a lower class feel even more aware of their inferior standing. It is something different and new, which pop cosmopolitans thrive on