In my first text post, I touched upon one of the reasons why we get into K-Pop. Well, now I’m gonna touch upon one of the reasons why it doesn’t make sense to get into K-Pop. Idols.
Sounds crazy right? Believe me though, you may get into K-Pop because of idols, but you’re not being logical if what you’re looking for in this music genre (or, should I say, industry) is an idol, an almost perfect human being to look up to and strive to be like.
Let’s start by saying that a perfect human being would be something impossible. Humans are imperfect, they make mistakes all the time – which is why I said “almost perfect.” Even if we agree that true perfection isn’t what we’re looking for, it doesn’t make sense to aspire to be like an idol, because if you do, you’re not aspiring to be a person, but an image. It is well known that, usually, celebrities not only hide discomfort or sadness under a smile, but also create a persona with which they present themselves to the public. In the hyper-manufactured world of K-Pop, what percentage of idols’ so called “personalities” should be believed to be genuine? I don’t know. I have absolutely no idea.
Why am I even talking about this anyway? Well, I also could answer with “I don’t know,” but the truth is, I’m getting tired of K-Pop fans putting idols under labels the second something “bad” involving them happens, completely refusing to forgive and to forget, bringing it up every time they can. Something happens and then BOOM: You’re a fox, a bitch, a traitor, a bully, a liar; you’re racist, colorist, ableist, homophobic, selfish, vulgar, disrespectful; you hate women, you hate men, you have attitude problems… the list goes on and on.
So yeah, I’m tired of this name-calling. But what the hell does it have to do with it being illogical to have idols as role models? Oh, it has A LOT in common. Actually, my problem with these two things is due to the same reason: idols are human. They’re human too, just like you and me. I repeat, humans aren’t perfect, humans make mistakes, YES humans say hurtful shit, YES humans do things they wouldn’t do if they knew better. Humans fuck up. And all these fans putting labels on idols should know this, because they too are human and they too have fucked up. No, you aren’t a fucking saint. YOU’RE FLAWED. You may not remember the hurtful things you did or said because, lol, of course, who wants to remember what they did wrong? Who even wants to admit that they did wrong? But wait, I have two other questions that are more important: who wants to be reminded of the shit they did in the past that they feel sorry about? And who wants to be defined by the shit they did in the past that they feel sorry about? I don’t even need to answer those.
Cool. So exactly on what grounds do fans think they can just go and make lists defining idols as shitty people? On what grounds do fans think they are any better than the idols they are putting under so much scrutiny? And my favorite: ON WHAT FUCKING GROUNDS do fans think they are any better than the fans of those – here comes the magic word – “problematic” idols? If you were paying attention to what I said before, you can easily conclude that there’s not a single person in this world that isn’t problematic (Right! Because we’re human!). Great. So let’s continue.
To those who think they’re superior for not stanning “problematic” idols: firstly, why are you so preoccupied with finding “clean” people to be a fan of? Unless you’re looking for a role model, I don’t think there’s a reason for you to prefer “good” idols over “problematic” ones. Because if you like the music, you’ll still like it; if you like the visuals, you’ll still like them. So what’s with this obsession? Secondly, how close are you to your idols to be able to assert they’re not “problematic” (not even mentioning that a customized definition of “problematic” according to each fan’s preferences would have to be used to judge, because again, no one is perfect)? So why are you stanning them anyway, if you don’t know for sure who they really are?
Someone might argue that even if they don’t know if their idol is problematic, at least they aren’t stanning the ones that have already been labeled as such. Ok, let’s talk about that. But I’ll stop saying “problematic” because it gets annoying and, given that the problematic-ness of some idols is basically invented by K-Pop fans, it makes us deviate from the main topic: idols not being, well, fit for being idolized. Now let’s get into these “superior” fans’ heads and take an idol who hasn’t ever had a scandal of some sort (good luck finding one; I bet as time passes the ones who come to mind now will have become unfit) as an example of someone who’s a good role model.
I’m sorry to break it to you, but even this person fails as a role model. Actually, you’d have to be crazy to think of ANY idol as a role model – sure, you may like some things about them, but it’s illogical as hell to consider them to be ideal as a whole. Just think about it: do you really wanna idolize someone that almost completely gave up their freedom to get so much as a chance of enjoying the most ephemeral thing in life, fame? Do you see a person who allowed others to starve them, to put them in dangerous and uncomfortable situations, to exploit them, all for fame, as a role model? Would you want your kids (or anyone that you care about) to look up to a person who agreed not to have a cellphone, or date, or go out with friends, or see their loved ones, because they simply wanted fame? There’s a reason the term “slave contract” exists. And I’m going by these fans’ logic: how problematic is THAT?
So yeah… I don’t even know why idols are called “idols”. I mean, I get why they are presented as idols, but it’s a misconception to actually consider them as such. Anyway, “superior” fans, have them as role models if you want, just know that makes, by your own standards, zero sense. Because your faves are just as flawed as other people’s. Because they’re all human. Just like you.
And even if you took a God as a role model, remember: not everyone believes in your God ;)
[Unless the idol doesn’t give a flying fuck about why what they did was wrong. Then judge.]
TL;DR: Idols are human just like you, get off that high horse and stop thinking you’re superior to them and to their fans.
janainaart
jacobvanloon
origamiaround
jbbartram-illu