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What’s The Deal With K-Pop And Cultural Appropriation?

K-Pop has become one of the most popular genres in the US in the past few years, overcoming an early reputation as kitschy, niche entertainment to dominate airplay, streams, and award shows for the past couple of years. However, there seems to be one perception the genre hasn’t been able to shake, and the debate driven by that belief has reared its head yet again – and may continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

A few weeks ago, the discussion about cultural appropriation in K-Pop once again surged in response to an Allure feature about Gwen Stefani in which she, unfortunately, mischaracterized the reasoning behind her Harajuku Girls marketing over a decade ago. The conversation has continued ever since, as K-Pop fans and critics alike wrestle with the thorny subject, which has proven to be even more complex than even the convoluted homegrown version.

As one user put it, “I’m here for the Asian community flaming Gwen Stefani for her years of racism, cultural theft, and Orientalism.” However, they didn’t stop there, urging fans to take another step and calling out another set of offenders. “Now, keep that same energy and call out K-pop and the cultural appropriation by Asian musicians who profit from Black culture while being anti-Black.”

The Allure piece, which was originally meant to be a promotional interview for her GXVE Beauty line, instead appalled readers when writer Jesa Marie Calaor (who is Filipino) asked Stefani about the backlash against her over the well-intentioned but tone-deaf mascots, four Japanese women who followed her around like supervillain henchmen. Her answer, in which she recounts a trip to the real Harajuku that spawned the realization, “My God, I’m Japanese and I didn’t know it,” stunned readers with its lack of self-awareness.

Americans have become quite accustomed to the concept of cultural appropriation over the past few years, with ongoing discussions both casual and academic leading to jokes in movies, Twitter arguments, and the downfall of Justin Timberlake. We all know what it looks like when white stars loot the traditions, iconography, and cultural signifiers of other cultures for their own gain; hell, even Tyga apologized for aping Mexican stereotypes in his “Ay Caramba” video last year.

But K-Pop, filtered through not just the American social lens, but the South Korean one as well, presents a more tangled example of just how complex this issue can be. Still, fans have become increasingly vocal about bringing these issues to light, whether it’s Korean stars wearing traditionally Black American hairstyles and mimicking the mannerisms of rappers and B-boys from hip-hop’s foundations or outright blackface being worn by early K-Pop artists in attempts to co-opt some perceived edginess.

Now, I’ll freely admit, I’m no K-Pop expert, but I have written a few times on this site about why cultural exploitation is detrimental to both sides of the equation. So I asked Uproxx’s actual K-Pop expert, Lai Frances, to provide background on the origins and evolution of K-Pop, as well as why it may not be as simple as admonishing artists and labels who may not even understand the cultural context behind the stereotypes they’ve been imitating all this time.

“​​Artists and idols have found themselves embroiled in appropriation whether they know it or not,” she explains. “Sometimes it’s the stylists’ fault, sometimes it’s the lack of education or exposure to other cultures – rather than just stereotypes – and sometimes plain ignorance.” This owes, in part, to the nature of South Korea’s status as one of the most homogenous nations in the world.

Put simply, unlike the US, which is a melting pot of different cultures and their influences, South Korea is overwhelmingly made up of Koreans. Exposure to outside influences came mainly through Korea’s history of being colonized, especially throughout the mid-20th century, when the US maintained a presence after the Korean War. American troops sparked a cultural curiosity that continued throughout the century, laying the roots of modern K-Pop’s eventual takeover.

As you’d expect from its name, K-Pop was massively inspired by American pop music in the late 1990s (itself increasingly taking on aspects of Europop), when boy and girl bands like Backstreet Boys, N*Sync, and the Pussycat Dolls were gaining popularity. Digging into the backgrounds of these acts, it’s clear that they were inspired as much by Black artists in R&B and hip-hop, fusing these influences to prolific – and profitable – effect.

There are some who would argue that these groups were appropriating Black culture, and at the same time watering it down for wider consumption. It’s no secret that R&B, rock and roll, and hip-hop drove youth culture throughout the last 70 or so years; at the same time, derisive racial attitudes prevented Black artists from seeing most of the advantages of their creativity and labor. “Black sounds, white faces,” the saying goes.

But for Koreans, this darker history is perhaps less accessible. After all, by the time this Black-influenced pop music reached their shores in the pre-internet era, it had already been filtered through these more “acceptable” artists, the backstory whitewashed to downplay the exploitation. As K-Pop began to take root, there was no easy way to illustrate the links and very little context in the Korean imagination for how that exploitation harmed the music’s stylistic originators.

However, as that information became more readily available with globalization, K-Pop artists were able to skip the middleman, so to speak, drawing inspiration directly from Black hip-hop acts. Without the prior background in place to put that inspiration into the proper perspective, though, some of the results were less than ideal.

Frances points to veteran singer-songwriter J.Y. Park, who drew criticism for some controversial missteps. “Known to take influence from soul and R&B with his music, J.Y. Park has had his fair share of appropriating and appreciating,” she notes. “In the ‘90s he was seen dancing with backup dancers donning blackface and afros to his song ‘Still Alive.’ This could be done as South Korea, during that time at least, didn’t know about the harm it caused and the homogenous society it lived in.” The star in question has since apologized, as have many others who inadvertently crossed the line.

Korea is its own country with its own history; it’s understandable that K-Pop artists might be unfamiliar with the derogatory intent behind blackface and minstrel shows. That doesn’t make it acceptable, though, as fans have been quick to point out. “In the past, it may have been dismissed, but considering how big K-pop has gotten within the last decade, and how accessible it is, there should be no excuse for labels and artists to know about the differences between appropriation and appreciation,” says Frances.

Still, there has been friction. “In the time where K-Pop started becoming more prevalent and accessible (second to current gen, so the late-2000s to now), idols that have a hip-hop concept, for example, BIGBANG or 2NE1 could be seen wearing du-rags or repping cornrows/braids in some of their videos,” she continues. This could be seen as harmless imitations by artists who see Black folks in the US, who still epitomize cool globally. But we also signify danger by dint of the demeaning stereotypes that have been promoted by pop culture, which we do not control.

Societies who come to their understanding of American culture by means of flattened caricatures in films and on television may only see and assume that we wear du-rags to look cool. The knowledge that our cultural trappings – even something like a piece of fabric to help protect our hair from damage – have been pathologized into something that symbolizes gangsterism, criminality, stupidity, and lack of sophistication might escape outsiders.

This sort of thing isn’t restricted to just hip-hop and Black American culture, either. In 2020, Blackpink fans called out the band for inadvertently insulting the Hindu religion in their “How You Like That” video. Meanwhile, a slew of K-Pop idols has donned traditional Indigenous American garb in videos and ad campaigns, reducing hundreds of years of cultural meaning and spiritual beliefs to a chintzy costume. These highlight K-Pop’s willingness to imitate the trappings of other cultures without engaging beyond surface aesthetics, which normalizes how pop culture flattens people into unflattering stereotypes based on ethnicity or race.

The internet is changing that, though, and fans are leading the charge. Frances acknowledges, “K-Pop fans support these artists, so it comes as no surprise when fans are the ones doing the heavy lifting. One thing I’ve seen happen was how fans have begun emailing labels and management. And some do take them into consideration for further promotion. I think if fans were to continue the social trends and the social outcry and outreach, there can be changes.”

To try to put this in perspective, I like to think of it in terms of an analogy my own mom used to use on me. If you were in a darkened movie theater, she’d say, and you stepped on someone’s foot while trying to get to your seat, and they said, “Hey, you stepped on my foot!” would you miss half the movie arguing about whether or not you intended to step on their foot, or would you apologize and do your best to avoid doing so again on a potential return trip?

Likewise, if you were the person sitting down and got stepped on, you probably wouldn’t assume the person who did so did it on purpose. You wouldn’t be happy about it, but you’d understand they had no way of knowing that your foot was there, or that you were wearing new shoes, or that you did double shifts all week for a month to afford them. It’s fine to alert someone to an unintentional offense but it’s not worth fighting about and, again, missing the movie.

K-Pop is likely here to stay as a major force in global popular music – at least for a good, long while. And like any musical genre, its adherents will take inspiration from other arts, genres, and communities, changing the qualities and aesthetics of the genre over time. It’s important that these interactions remain respectful, acknowledging that even if something “looks cool,” there might be huge cultural significance or genuine generational trauma behind it.

As Frances puts it, “It’s a matter in the labels’ (and artists’) hands to be accountable depending on which way they want to grow in the market. No matter what, it’s best to instill the differences and acknowledge that whatever and whoever they release out to the masses, will get critiqued more than K-Pop did 10-20 years ago.” More than ever, though, it seems like that critique is coming from a place of love, in the hope that these artists can make this growing genre even more inclusive as it finds new audiences all over the world.

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The ‘Succession’ Black Hats Are Back, And It’s All-Out (Civil) War For The Roy Family In A New Season 4 Teaser

Tensions are very high in the Roy family, which means it’s time for another season of everybody’s favorite dysfunctional family drama, Succession! Season four of the Emmy-winning series will follow the Roy children as they play a slow-moving chess game against their father, who secretly sold Waystar Royco at the end of season three. As Shiv exclaims in the trailer: “This is not about getting back at dad, but if it hurts him, it doesn’t bother me.” And that’s the family motto!

HBO finally released the teaser for season four, which will premiere on March 26th. In between the family bickering, scheming on private planes, and Shiv’s iconic outfits, we also get to see a glimpse of Willa and Connor’s wedding, so that should be interesting. Plus, the black sleuthing hats are back just in time for those spring fashion trends to pick up again. Before you know it, everyone will be walking around New York looking like this:

Brian Cox Succession
HBO

The whole clan is back for the 10-episode season, along with newcomers Annabeth Gish, Adam Godley, Eili Harboe, and Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson. It’s unclear if this will be the final season of the drama, though Cox has been openly against overstaying his welcome on the show, so if there were ever a time for the Roy family to go even more off the deep end, it would be now!

Check out the Succession season four trailer above. You can stream the first three seasons on HBO Max.

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John Mayer Is Heading Out On His First-Ever Solo Tour (Yes, His First In 25 Years) This Spring

John Mayer spent a good chunk of last year on tour in support of his latest album Sob Rock, which he described as “a sh*tpost.” The musician is ready to get back on the road now; he just announced a slew of 2023 tour dates — and it’s his first-ever solo tour, even though he’s nearly 25 years into his career.

“I’ll be playing old songs,” the 45-year-old wrote on social media. “Newer songs. Songs you haven’t heard yet that I’ll be road testing — all on acoustic, electric, and piano. Hope to see you there.” He’ll be bringing along Lizzy McAlpine, Alec Benjamin, and a surprise guest on select dates. The tour kicks off in March in New Jersey and ends in Los Angeles in April.

Check out the full dates below.

03/11 – Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center
03/13 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden
03/15 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
03/18 – Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena
03/20 – Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena
03/22 – Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars Arena
03/24 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
03/25 – Cleveland, OH @ Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
03/27 – Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena
03/29 – St. Louis, MO @ Enterprise Center
03/31 – Chicago, IL @ United Center
04/01 – St. Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center
04/03 – Denver, CO @ Ball Arena
04/05 – Phoenix, AZ @ Footprint Center
04/06 – Palm Desert, CA @ Acrisure Arena
04/08 – Sacramento, CA @ Golden 1 Center
04/10 – Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena
04/11 – Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena
04/14 – Los Angeles, CA @ Kia Forum

Find ticket information here.

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Lil Tjay Got Some Advice About Getting Shot From 50 Cent, Who Was Also Shot Early In His Career

Lil Tjay is on the comeback trail after being shot seven times during a botched robbery attempt last June. The 20-year-old Bronx rapper has released new songs like “Beat The Odds” and “Give You What You Want” and collaborated with hot girl du jour Ice Spice on “Gangsta Boo” this past weekend.

Now, it seems he’s in full rollout mode for what will surely be his most-anticipated album yet, his third overall. A new profile in Rolling Stone finds him in good spirits, rolling with the punches as he recounts his shooting and the initial aftermath, in which he received messages of support from rap luminaries like Diddy and 50 Cent.

Tjay recalls 50, who was shot nine times early in his own career, saying, “Every artist needs pain or something to feed off of. This right here, you shake this shit off. You got the length for greatness. You going to be bigger than ever.” For what it’s worth, it certainly didn’t stop 50, who was dropped by his original label in the immediate aftermath, but later incorporated the story into his larger-than-life gangster image.

Although Tjay doesn’t give any details on his upcoming third album other than to say it’s coming “soon,” he does say he has retitled it to reflect his own resilience and optimistic outlook. Be on the lookout.

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Lizzo Showed Off Another New Hairdo And It’s SZA-Approved

Lizzo isn’t letting the haters keep her down, which shouldn’t be surprising to anyone who has paid any attention at all to her career. Earlier this month, Lizzo debuted what she called a “wispy weave” on TikTok, and she followed that up with another TikTok to respond to one hurtful comment.

“This comment is hilarious, but y’all love to make fun of me,” she said in her follow-up TikTok. “And then, a year later, everybody is doing what I’m doing. This has happened time and time again. So, I’m proud of what I’m doing. I like it. This is a whole mood. I cut some layers into it. I like it! Damn. But keep the jokes coming because y’all real funny. I love internet comedians.”

Yesterday, January 25, Lizzo was back with another fresh hairstyle. This time, it’s a bob. “ITS GIVING BOBBIANA,” she captioned her Instagram carousel.

Lizzo’s longtime friend SZA commented, “Ur so pretty and cool Marsha” with the hearts-as-eyes emoji. Queer Eye‘s resident grooming expert Jonathan Van Ness added, “I want Lizzo latte or cappucino’s art only & forever.”

Who knows what Lizzo will decide to do with her hair for the 2023 Grammys on February 5. She’s nominated for several awards for her Special album and No. 1 single “About Damn Time,” and it was confirmed yesterday that she will be among the ceremony’s performers.

Lizzo will also take her Special Tour overseas beginning on February 17 before returning to North America for a second leg dubbed The Special 2our. See all of her dates here.

Lizzo is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

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The ‘Party Down’ Season 3 Trailer Brings Back Adam Scott And The Gang And Adds James Marsden

It’s been over a decade since we last had some fun around here, which means it’s the perfect time for that new Party Down season we’ve been anxiously waiting for. Sure, Adam Scott gave a monumental performance in Severance last year, but he wasn’t wearing a cute pink bowtie, so this role will be a lot more important.

Season three of Party Down will pick up 10 years after we last saw the crew and their various catering shenanigans, and this time there will be even more dance celebrity guests, including Quinta Brunson, Bobby Moynihan, Nick Offerman, Judy Reyes, and more. Plus, everyone has aged, so it seems like there will be some great mid-life crisis scenes.

The show will bring back Scott, along with Ken Marino, Martin Starr, Ryan Hansen, Jane Lynch, and Megan Mullally. Unfortunately, not everyone from the core group will return, but there should be enough chaos anyway, especially with James Marsden entering the mix. Here is the official synopsis:

Ten years later, most of the Party Down catering team have moved on, including actor/bartender Henry Pollard (Adam Scott, “Severance,” “Parks and Recreation”). After a surprise reunion, the gang find themselves once again stoically enduring the procession of random parties and oddball guests all over Los Angeles.

Party Down returns to Starz on February 26th. Check out the trailer above.

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Bad Bunny Reached A Settlement In The Lawsuit Over His Hit ‘Safaera’

Bad Bunny‘s “Safaera” was recently at the center of a copyright infringement lawsuit, which has now been settled. He and his collaborators have reached a preliminary settlement over claims that the song stole samples from three songs from DJ Playero. The parties reached a “settlement in principle” during a conference on January 17 before the hearing.

“A draft of a settlement agreement has been circulated, but the parties expect this process to take some time since the settlement is complex and will require the review and approval of multiple corporate and individual parties,” Bad Bunny’s lawyers and the record company that owns DJ Playero’s works wrote. A formal dismissal of the case must be filed by February 17 or the parties have to report back on the status of the settlement process.

Bad Bunny had a massive 2022 after unveiling the No. 1 album Un Verano Sin Ti, which was Spotify Wrapped’s most globally streamed album last year. He was also named Apple Music’s 2022 Artist of the Year; Billboard revealed that the star was the top touring artist of the year with a total touring gross of $373.5 million on the aptly-titled World’s Hottest Tour. He got caught in some controversy for tossing a fan’s phone, but many agreed that he was entitled to privacy.

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When Does ‘Succession’ Season Four Come Out?

Update 1/26/22: At long last, we finally have a release date for season 4 of Succession. HBO Max announced today that the new season would premiere on March 24. They shared the news through an official teaser trailer that gave viewers a look into the Roy kids’ plan to get back at their father. You can watch the trailer below.

Original Article 10/25/22: As one major HBO property wraps up its first season, a second familial drama show is slated to return sometime in 2023. Fans will need to fill the Daemon-sized hole in their hearts with someone like Logan Roy or Tom Wambsgans, and that will have to do! HBO seems to have waited long enough for another season to keep fans on the edge of their seats, but not too long that people decide to cancel their HBO Max subscription for a few months. So that was nice of them.

The fourth season of the hit series Succession will return next year on HBO, and fans were given a first look earlier this week in a trailer that promises a “rebel alliance” brewing among the Roy family (but StarWars is a Disney property so they can’t really call it that, right?). The fourth season promises to bring all of the shenanigans and superfluous cursing back for another round. Plus: more Alexander Skarsgård!!! As per the official description:

In season four, the sale of media conglomerate Waystar Royco to tech visionary Lukas Matsson (Alexander Skarsgård) moves ever closer. The prospect of this seismic sale provokes existential angst and familial division among the Roys as they anticipate what their lives will look like once the deal is complete. A power struggle ensues as the family weighs up a future where their cultural and political weight is severely curtailed.

Production for season four took place over the summer and fall throughout New York, California, and Norway. While there is no confirmed release date, it’s likely that the Roys will return in the spring of 2023, just a little over a year since season three concluded in December 2021.

HBO Max has a pretty hefty release schedule for next year ahead of its merger with Discovery+, so maybe it’s best to keep those subscriptions active after all. At least until Barry’s final season.

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Everyone’s Favorite ‘The Last Of Us’ Character (Piano Frog) Was Originally Going To Meet A Grisly End

A star is born on The Last of Us, even though they were supposed to die.

In episode two of the hit HBO series, “Infected,” Joel, Ellie, and Tess enter a hotel that’s seen better days. There’s knee-high water in the lobby (leading to a funny joke about Ellie not being able to swim), which is bad news for our heroes but good news for the animals that have taken residence in the building. The ducks are a nice touch (it is Boston…), but the scene’s MVP — and the MVP of the series so far — is piano frog.

Say hello to TV’s best frog since the Over the Garden Wall frog.

last of us
hbo

Piano frog makes the most of his four seconds on screen. He provides an ominous soundtrack to Joel, Ellie, and Tess’ entrance to the hotel, then hops off screen, never to be seen again. It’s a scene-stealing performance that has stolen America’s heart.

The thing is, piano frog originally wasn’t supposed to survive the episode. “Piano frog wouldn’t be a thing… if piano bird did its job! I guess everything happens for a reason,” The Last of Us game and TV show creator Neil Druckmann tweeted. “(And before anyone jumps to the wrong conclusion… that’s a fake frog for the bird to eat — which it never did!!!)” Piano bird is so unprofessional, unlike piano frog.

People will die (and already have died) on The Last of Us, but as long as piano frog survives, this story will have a happy ending.

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Michael Shannon Sees The Lesson From Alec Baldwin’s ‘Rust’ Shooting: ‘This Is What Happens When You Lowball And Cut Corners’

As a veteran screen actor who has worked with firearms on everything from big-budget films to indie productions, Michael Shannon was recently asked to share his insights on the fatal shooting on the set of Rust that has resulted in Alec Baldwin being charged with involuntary manslaughter for the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.

While talking to The Chicago Tribune, Shannon makes it a point to say that he’s not “condemning Alec,” but he does have harsh words for the producers. (Baldwin is an executive producer on the film.)

“This is what happens when you lowball and cut corners and hire people that may not be qualified,” Shannon said. “And pay them next to nothing, and make the movie on the cheap.”

After calling out the concerning trend of safety protocols being tossed to the wayside to cut production costs, Shannon detailed what he believes caused the “cataclysmic event” on the set of Rust:

When you’re rehearsing a scene with a gun in it, and you’re on set, the gun you’re given almost always is not a gun. It’s a rubber replica. Maybe a plastic one. It is not a firearm. (Video of Baldwin rehearsing a cross-draw before filming a scene from “Rust” reveals the actor with his finger on or near the trigger of the weapon that ultimately killed Hutchins.) That’s what you have during any sort of rehearsal or walk-through, right up until you’re figuring out the shot, and what your firing line will be, all of that. You shouldn’t have the actual weapon in your hand until immediately before doing the take.

Now, sometimes that doesn’t happen. Sometimes they’ll give you the actual gun to rehearse with a little closer to filming. But there’s a procedure for that. They open the barrel. They show you there’s nothing in there. They show you the chambers, they show the assistant director, and it’s a visual confirmation. The AD’s supposed to check it, the actor checks it and the armorer has checked it. All three of those people have to see there’s nothing in there. And then they hand it to you.

With “Rust,” before that gun went into his hand, (Baldwin) should have seen with his own eyes there was nothing in it.

While continuing to point the finger at cost-cutting measures, Shannon ultimately puts the blame on the producers for hiring an inexperienced armorer.

“Being an armorer is a hard job, a demanding job, and I have nothing but respect for them,” Shannon said. “But in this instance, it was going into the ER and finding out your doctor isn’t a real doctor.”

(Via The Chicago Tribune)