The Most Powerful Fandom Culture

Vicky

Among properties in Pop Culture, I am interested in celebrity the most, especially singer. I like the feeling of getting goosebumps when I discover some good music. That is the reason why I put most of my attention in the music industry. Since I am into listening to Korean music, boybands like BTS, BIGBANG or SEVENTEEN are always in my playlist. After finding these artists’ song being so good, you would naturally start being curious about them. It is so easy to become their fans or join their fandom.

Fandom in Korea is unique to other places. Fans are always protecting and praising their idols, neglecting any negative comments or criticisms. The celebrities are always packaged as a perfect person without any stigma by their management company and their fans. Fandom thinks they should help boost views of music video and sales of physical album of their idols. They would also try their best to break records so that the name of their idols can be on the headline of the news.

I think it is the attraction that makes fans keep loving their idols. As the idols are packaged as perfect, fans are happy that the person they loved is very good and in turn makes themselves thinks they are good too. Besides, fans finishing the “goals” when their idols released songs can be very satisfied and think themselves being closer to their idols. All these bring joy and satisfaction to them. Being in the fandom of someone can also act as a belief that they can find comfort or escaping pressure from real life. As idols are far away from most of the fans, fans trying their best to reduce their distance can help them find enthusiasm that may not be found in the daily, boring and repeated life.

In my opinion, it is supposed to be nice to show more support and love to the celebrities and their music as there are already enough hate and negative comments towards different celebrities. However, blindly supporting their favourite artist is like putting the cart before the horse. Fans blindly boost views of music video and sales of physical album whenever the bands released new songs. It somehow equals to parents spoiling their children just because they love them.

Actually, I do not reject fandom but toxic fandom. Buying physical albums, purchasing merchandise, listening to their songs or attending their concerts should be something you would choose to do when you like this singer or band. Being able to support who you like is really happy. However, the toxic fandom culture makes them compulsory. “If you did not finish them, that’s mean you don’t love our idols enough. You are not good fan.” It equals to some unspoken rules that brings great pressure to the fans. Joining a fandom should be happy that you could share your thoughts or make new friends. Therefore, fandom should not be rejected but being encouraged in a good way.