K-POP FANS, IT’S TIME WE TALK ABOUT THE WHITEWASHING DONE BY YOUR FAVE’S FANSITES.
seriously, it’s about time we make a big deal out of it. as a person of color who is personally offended by fansites, their racist standards and colorism, i am tired of seeing people just letting that issue slide as long as they get their k-pop fave’s pics, or simply because they don’t see it as a problem, nor an issue that is important enough to be addressed.
so before i get to what we need to do about it, let me explain what that is to those among you who haven’t seen that term before.
whitewash - basically, whitewashing nowadays is referring to the entertainment industry’s attempt at making people of color seem more appealing to the western white people and culture by erasing their ethnic characteristics.
most fansites do it by photoshopping their favorite’s skin color, who is most likely naturally tan, to a very pale, weird and unrealistic shade of white. they make them look whiter than actual white people. why? well, south korean (and of course many other societies around the world) think that the more western and whiter you look, the better. be it your big eyes, double eyelids, pale skin - it’s all a bonus to your status as a korean idol.
still don’t see the problem? well, let me enlighten you - besides the fact that they refuse to accept their favorite artist as they are, whitewashing is extremely racist and giving legitimacy to white privilege. they’re changing your fave’s skin based on their own narrow-minded standards, basically implying that dark skin is inferior. they’re idols, they need to look like goddamn angels sent from heaven, and of course we all know angels are white by default.
now, let me give you some examples from different fandoms:
one, two, three, four, five, six, seven
here you can see the fansite owner forgot to edit the mirror reflection.
occasionally, it is done on videos too, see this to this, both from the same event. it got to the point that fansites make already quite pale idols such as red velvet even paler for the sake of their aesthetics.
NOW HOLD YOUR HORSES, fansites are not the only guilty ones - even you, the editors around tumblr, are doing it. whether you admit it or not, notice it or not - you’re a part of it because being whiter became an aesthetic here, more pleasing to the eye. so it’s time you do some reflecting and if it didn’t bother you till now, it’s about damn time it does.
now, at the same time, go take a look at your fave’s fansites pictures.
i personally tried to contact several fansites, asking them politely to stop their colorist habits - but got completely ignored.
what we can do, though, as a huge community (seriously, we’re huge. k-pop is huge):
1. DO NOT REBLOG OR POST WHITEWASHED FANTAKEN PICS/EDITS.
2. contact fansites about it as much as possible. show them it’s an issue, show them people are being offended by their racist and colorist standards, and explain them it is disrespectful towards their favorite artist as well.
3. talk about it more on your social media. twitter, tumblr, whatever you guys use - spread the word and make noise about it. make whitewashing an issue.
4. show this post and this issue in general to your k-pop friends who won’t use tumblr. it’s time to do some preaching.
5. don’t support/compliment fansites when whitewashed pictures are being published.
let’s make it a thing. let’s gather up and make it important because it is. whether you’re white or a person of color - this should matter to you. this should provoke you, annoy you and this is an issue that belongs to each and every of you, no matter where you’re from.
turnnoffyourmind
kianamaiart
izzy806
blakekathryn
vaporwave
