Sunday, January 31, 2016

Week 5 -- Stephen Nienu

Korea’s Booming Music Industry

K-Pop is bigger than ever. When every citizen in Korea is connected to high-speed internet and when the government intervenes in helping save the music industry, K-Pop emerged as one of the fastest growing genres that has spread nationwide. Korea’s cultural boom is a response to an identity crisis. By continuing to surpass technological feats and have a music genre that is called Korean Pop, they are doing everything they can do brand and develop their national identity. According to the article “Transationilzation of Korean Popular Culture and the Rise of “Pop Nationalism” in Korea by Jeongsuk Joo, Joo states that the majority of the music is targeted at the youth. Describing why so many teens are engaged and enthused by this brand of music. Similarly to Denmark, Korea has laid out a plan to develop a national aesthetic. They have specified their target audience, have economic backing, and have the audience that can access their product at any time due to high speed internet.

Interestingly enough, the first time I heard K-Pop was at UC Davis. I frequently practice at the ARC Dance Studio and I always see a large collective of students practicing to K-Pop music. I see many people of different ethnic backgrounds enjoying K-Pop so it’s really cool seeing how far music and the culture reaches.




References
1. Joo, Jeongsuk. "Transnationalization of Korean Popular Culture and the Rise of ‘‘Pop Nationalism’’ in Korea." The Journal of Popular Culture 44.3 (2011): 489-504. 2 June 2011.
2. Eung Hong. “The Birth of Korean Cool: How One Nation Is Conquering the World Through Pop Culture.”



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