Research Article

The Awakening of Female Consciousness: Study on K-Pop Girl Groups’ Music Videos

Ruojia ZhangForeign Language School, Renmin University of China, No.59 Zhongguancun Street, 100872, Beijing, China

Abstract

Since the 21st century, the Korean Pop music industry (K-Pop) has begun to grow by leaps and bounds, forming a music industry that is representative of Korean culture. Over the course of more than twenty years, K-Pop groups have begun to make new attempts and challenges with their works, especially the girl groups that have received more attention in recent years. More and more people are paying attention to the deeper meaning they want to express behind their works. This study focuses on three music videos by the K-Pop girl groups, (G)I-DLE, ITZY, and Red Velvet. Based on John Fiske's semiotic theory, it conducts a visual analysis of their music videos to investigate how the music videos of K-Pop girl groups reflect the awakening of female consciousness. It was found that all three girl groups expressed their feminist ideas through their music videos, reflecting the further profound development of K-Pop works and the strengthening of female consciousness in Korean patriarchal society.

Keywords: K-Pop; female consciousness; visual analysis; semiotic analysis
Published: May 17, 2023
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/4/20220489
Volume: CHR Vol.4
pp. 269-274
Download PDF

References

  1. Lin, X., & Rudolf, R. (2017). Does K-pop reinforce gender inequalities? Empirical evidence from a new data set. Asian Women, 33(4), 27-54.
  2. Putri, A. (2021). The Representation of Non-Heterosexuality in YouTube: Study on K-Pop Girl Group Music Video. MUHARRIK: Jurnal Dakwah Dan Sosial, 4(02), 201-218. DOI: 10.37680/muharrik.v4i02.844
  3. Aubrey, J. S., & Frisby, C. M. (2011). Sexual objectification in music videos: A content analysis comparing gender and genre. Mass Communication and Society, 14(4), 475-501. DOI: 10.1080/15205436.2010.513468
  4. Kistler, M. E., & Lee, M. J. (2009). Does exposure to sexual hip-hop music videos influence the sexual attitudes of college students? Mass Communication and Society, 13(1), 67-86. DOI: 10.1080/15205430902865336
  5. Lauzen, M. M., Dozier, D. M., & Horan, N. (2008). Constructing gender stereotypes through social roles in prime-time television. Journal of broadcasting & electronic media, 52(2), 200-214. DOI: 10.1080/08838150801991971
  6. Fashion Chingu (2021) “What’s a Kpop girl crush concept”. Retrieved on September 24, 2022. Retrieved from: https://www.fashionchingu.com/blog/kpop-girl-crush-concept/
  7. Park, K. A. (1993). Women and development: The case of South Korea. Comparative politics, 127-145. DOI: 10.2307/422348
  8. Muhammad, A. A., & Nia Nafisah, S. S. (2020). Women Stereotype in K-pop Girl Group Songs. S1. Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia.
  9. Brand Reputation Board (2022) “Girl group brand August 2022 big data analysis results”. Retrieved on September 24, 2022. Retrieved from: https://brikorea.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=rep_1&wr_id=1657
  10. Lestari, W.Y., & Yusanto, F. (2019). Simbol Illuminati dalam Video Klip. ProTVF.
  11. John Fiske (1985) The semiotics of television, Critical Studies in Mass Communication, 2, 176-183. DOI: 10.1080/15295038509360076
  12. YouTube. (2022). (G)I-DLE - TOMBOY. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh4QFaPmdss
  13. YouTube. (2020). ITZY - WANNABE. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fE2h3lGlOsk
  14. YouTube. (2019). Red Velvet - Psycho. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uR8Mrt1IpXg
  15. Soompi (2022) “(G)I-DLE Describes Meaning Behind Album ‘I NEVER DIE,’ Their Experience All Rapping On B-Side ‘MY BAG,’ And More”. Retrieved on September 24, 2022. Retrieved from: https://www.soompi.com/article/1517361wpp/gi-dle-describes-meaning-behind-album-i-never-die-their-experience-all-rapping-on-b-side-my-bag-and-more
  16. Kate Taylor (May 20, 2015). “Mattress Protest at Columbia University Continues into Graduation Event”, The New York Times.