K-pop, a sub-genre of Korean music, encompasses many styles ranging from hip-hop to pop. Though it’s mostly known throughout the Internet community and shared through blogging sites, K-pop culture has spread rapidly across the globe — even to Baton Rouge.
Lauren Pullum, history freshman, has become entranced with K-pop over the last few years. Last summer, Pullum began watching Korean dramas online and was enthralled with the culture. She started listening to Korean music and eventually discovered K-pop.
“A lot of it is weird as hell,” Pullum said.
According to Pullum, music videos somewhat carry the genre of K-pop. YouTube hits like the popular “Gangnam Style” have reached a significant number of views, but that’s just the beginning. Videos by other K-pop groups have reached similar numbers, if not higher. Pullum said this could be due to K-pop costuming.
“K-pop costuming is just nuts,” Pullum said.
Having a flair for the exaggerated, many K-pop group members dye their hair pink or wear clothing that could be considered couture. The draw to these videos isn’t necessarily just the music — it’s also the performance, Pullum said.
“This doesn’t really count as reality — it’s entertainment,” Pullum said.
For many K-pop fans, these music videos create a means of escape from everyday life. By defying social norms and presenting a new reality, K-pop artists offer an alternative to other pop acts.
Emerson Spano, history freshman, began listening to K-pop as an alternative to Japanese pop music, similarly referred to as J-pop. Unlike K-pop, J-pop is hard to find on the Internet, especially on YouTube. While searching for a J-pop music video, Spano discovered Girls’ Generation, a K-pop group that has become her favorite.
Like many K-pop fans, most of Spano’s K-pop friends are on the Internet, but that doesn’t stop her from trying to convert others to the genre. In high school, Spano was color guard captain and choreographed routines to K-pop songs. According to Spano, the response was overwhelming.
Gaining attention from a live audience versus an Internet audience helps K-pop gain more fans, Spano said
“It’s a good thing for the K-pop community,” Spano said.
“It doesn’t really count as reality—it’s entertainment.”
