OH!
I'm going to make the strangest metaphor possible right now. it's kind of inaccurate also. but just bear with me for a sec - I'm going to compare SNSD to Pride & Prejudice. yep
wtf, you say? how the hell are an English literary classic and a bubblegum pop girl group even remotely related? well, in the most blasphemous and farthest stretch of the mind possible, I find them similar because...I love them for mindless entertainment; if I don't have to think about the social and cultural implications towards women, I can just chill and enjoy them [ok obviously SNSD is worse! but the greatest literary criticisms toward P&P are, largely, about them perpetrating the Cinderella/weak-woman business]
the problem with SNSD is, of course, their concept. nine fresh, clean, "innocent" girls selling their faces and bodies like there's no tomorrow. I don't know what's worse, Wonder Girls' oversexing/lots of makeup, or the contradiction of SNSD's pure, virginal image with how sexualized their concept truly is. it's really insulting to name them "Girl's Generation," because in no way do they represent female empowerment. nine Barbie dolls, that's what they are. the mannequin thing in Gee is so symbolic, no?
I became a bigger fan of SNSD in 2009. They had finally graduated from the cutesyness of Kissing You, I thought... I liked them in Gee, I loved them in Tell Me Your Wish. I loved them even more in their dance covers. I felt that Gee was an upgrade from 2008 because of their more grown-up wardrobe. Genie, I envisioned to be a true turning point - a more adult sound and image; I thought that, with those hot military outfits, they were finally embracing their sexuality instead of skirting it pedophilically...the only catch was that the mv was still creepy. I hoped hoped hoped that OH! would complete their evolution, and have a mature concept, song, AND mv
alas...one step forward, two steps back. the song is just as sugary sweet and saccharine as Gee and their previous releases, but skimpier clothes. more winking, giggling, grinning, blushing. goodbye sexy marine girls, hello cheerleading fembots. GREAT. fan-freaking-tastic
I would be so happy if I could just sit back and watch some pretty girls being pretty, and enjoy their music in all its bad Kpop glory. I wish I didn't have to be plagued by everything about their image and concept screaming SEXISM at me, because I'm really very touchy about gender equality.
the worst part about all this is that it totally undermines the girls' talent. they get SO many freaking antis because of their Lolita image, bashing them for their plasticness, etc. it's so sad, because the girls work so hard and are really quite talented - as least, DEFINITELY no less talented than Kara, WG, etc etc.
but getting off my soapbox, I do really like the song and the MV is very cute and bright. like I said, if I didn't feel guilty about supporting them, I would just be an all-out SNSD fangirl. seriously, they're just sweet, pretty girls, who could truly hate em?
and there IS a silver lining to all of this...BITCH SNSD that appears at the end of the mv. oh man. I don't wanna get my hopes up, but...is their followup single going to rock my socks off???
[anyone else used to watch charmed? reminds me of this ep]
wtf, you say? how the hell are an English literary classic and a bubblegum pop girl group even remotely related? well, in the most blasphemous and farthest stretch of the mind possible, I find them similar because...I love them for mindless entertainment; if I don't have to think about the social and cultural implications towards women, I can just chill and enjoy them [ok obviously SNSD is worse! but the greatest literary criticisms toward P&P are, largely, about them perpetrating the Cinderella/weak-woman business]
the problem with SNSD is, of course, their concept. nine fresh, clean, "innocent" girls selling their faces and bodies like there's no tomorrow. I don't know what's worse, Wonder Girls' oversexing/lots of makeup, or the contradiction of SNSD's pure, virginal image with how sexualized their concept truly is. it's really insulting to name them "Girl's Generation," because in no way do they represent female empowerment. nine Barbie dolls, that's what they are. the mannequin thing in Gee is so symbolic, no?
I became a bigger fan of SNSD in 2009. They had finally graduated from the cutesyness of Kissing You, I thought... I liked them in Gee, I loved them in Tell Me Your Wish. I loved them even more in their dance covers. I felt that Gee was an upgrade from 2008 because of their more grown-up wardrobe. Genie, I envisioned to be a true turning point - a more adult sound and image; I thought that, with those hot military outfits, they were finally embracing their sexuality instead of skirting it pedophilically...the only catch was that the mv was still creepy. I hoped hoped hoped that OH! would complete their evolution, and have a mature concept, song, AND mv
alas...one step forward, two steps back. the song is just as sugary sweet and saccharine as Gee and their previous releases, but skimpier clothes. more winking, giggling, grinning, blushing. goodbye sexy marine girls, hello cheerleading fembots. GREAT. fan-freaking-tastic
I would be so happy if I could just sit back and watch some pretty girls being pretty, and enjoy their music in all its bad Kpop glory. I wish I didn't have to be plagued by everything about their image and concept screaming SEXISM at me, because I'm really very touchy about gender equality.
the worst part about all this is that it totally undermines the girls' talent. they get SO many freaking antis because of their Lolita image, bashing them for their plasticness, etc. it's so sad, because the girls work so hard and are really quite talented - as least, DEFINITELY no less talented than Kara, WG, etc etc.
Click to viewbut getting off my soapbox, I do really like the song and the MV is very cute and bright. like I said, if I didn't feel guilty about supporting them, I would just be an all-out SNSD fangirl. seriously, they're just sweet, pretty girls, who could truly hate em?
and there IS a silver lining to all of this...BITCH SNSD that appears at the end of the mv. oh man. I don't wanna get my hopes up, but...is their followup single going to rock my socks off???
[anyone else used to watch charmed? reminds me of this ep]