accept all and nothing
Today for whatever reason I thought of "We Got Married." More specifically, I thought of SeoHyun on WGM and then, quite suddenly, TaeYeon's remark about her own stint on WGM, which amounted to a simple, deadpan joke of a sentiment: Let's not talk about it.
She laughed and we laughed and, really, we all understood. Unlike SeoHyun, who was paired up for the public's viewing pleasure with a young, affable fellow idol and peer, TaeYeon was "married" to HyungDon, a comedian with a number of years and, well, let's admit it, pounds on his young "bride." It all seemed very silly and we all thought something was suspect from the get-go. But it seemed very plausible in WGM's narrative, which, if you remember the introduction of the pair, positioned TaeYeon as an admirer of HyungDon's (as a young girl, so weird, let's not get too into this). Not just TaeYeon, but every member played her part in this plot, teasing, giggling, opposing, and coaxing where they could and should be.
So let's remember that in the aftermath TaeYeon brushed it aside and we brushed aside all of those events along with her. We understood on the level that as an idol TaeYeon was asked to do her job. She was directed to appear on a reality show on which she would have to act as if she were in a relationship with a partner that she may or may not have chosen, but was probably chosen for her in order to protect her reputation in some form.
But why not the same for SeoHyun? I suppose we could say she's just so innocent and naive and obedient, such an upright, well-mannered girl (read: before WGM started, not just virginal, but purity itself, devoid of sexual desire and curiosity, much less possessed of any sexuality of her own) that it was perfectly safe to arrange a fake relationship between her and YongHwa. (Which makes one wonder what that says about TaeYeon: did they expect that setting her up with a hot guy would create friction that would make our screens burst into sinful flames of desire and send mothers rushing to cover their children's eyes?)
Now if in, say, ten, fifteen years SeoHyun decides to hold some tell-all interview or publishes her memoir (after the tract about establishing world peace and the other one about abolishing world hunger and poverty) and confesses that she didn't like her stint on WGM at all and it was all an act--everything, from the endearing shyness and adorkableness to even the strained awkwardness--what would our reactions be? "NO!" some of you are already ready to yell at me. "YongSeo is REAL!" (And maybe one day SeoHyun will tell us a story that says that some day.) Some would maybe feel a mild shock. Maybe some of you would simply shrug, "whatevs" style. And probably everyone would come to accept it. Why?
Because it's her job.
When I think about idol issues, I am surprised how often it seems to boil down to being of two minds. That is, we desire these idols to be "real" people. We want authenticity, sincerity, genuineness, truth of emotions and actions. Yet at the same time, we accept that they are and will be "idols," which is a word that begins to boil down to things like: they do the job they're told to do; they will always be smiling; they are always happy; they love doing what they do; they love their fans absolutely, wholeheartedly. It can also mean other things like: they are oppressed; they don't really want to do some of the things they do; it's not their choice. In the word "idol" is an element of artifice--and, from the fans' view, a license of denial.
There is a common mantra among Hyo fans that goes something like this: "It makes me sad when people say that HyoYeon should leave SNSD. HyoYeon is happy where she is. She loves SNSD. I will support HyoYeon no matter what."
There are many things implied here and while I am tempted to get into all of it, I want to focus on that last bit. Perhaps it's the contrarian in me that immediately says, "No. Why?" The more I see this declaration, the more it bothers me. Today as I was turning it over in my mind, I had the sudden thought: I am HyoYeon's fan, not her friend.
That is to say, your friends are liable to do stupid things. You will want to tell them not to do these stupid things, but sometimes you can't convince them otherwise. In that case, you grin and bear it and go, "I don't know what's going on in his/her mind, but I'm his/her friend, so whatever. I'll sit back and see what happens and if it blows up in his/her face, I'll be here." Or whatever the appropriate sentiment for a given situation is.
However, it is very likely that though you are lending emotional support (and sometimes physical help if something like a mover is called for or someone who can cook), you're not providing financial support. Nor are you a continuing support to advancing your friend's career. Nor does your typical friendship demand this type of support from you.
But fandom does. That is to say, true fans buy CDs, watch the television shows to boost ratings, vote for their members to win pointless polls, go to concerts (sometimes traveling long distances--heck, some friends will do a destination wedding just to discourage too many of their friends from showing up!). All of this is not just voluntary behavior, but actions that fans are eager and happy to take to benefit their fandom. Our idols are, well, our idols. Because they are our idols, we are part of the building blocks that form the foundations of their careers. And because they do demand such a tax on our resources, we probably do need some form of being able to excuse the actions they take or things they participate in that we don't like.
Note that: We excuse actions. Not demand different action be taken. And even when we demand, we actually just fall back on acceptance and excuses. SM won't package a CD that you like? Well . . . whatever, they're lazy, hand over that CD, here's my credit card.
As idols, our idols--particularly SM idols since other agencies have different ideas--are hampered in their creativity. It's not that they aren't creative, you see, but that SM is a big meanie that never gives them any chances, waaaah! But we still support them, no matter what. Support. No matter what.
Did your idol commit a verbal faux pas? S/he was just tired that day! (Not that s/he might have made a genuinely ignorant remark, being young and a public figure.) Does your idol receive too many confessions of love? S/he doesn't choose to be so popular! (Which doesn't discount that s/he might love all the attention.) Does your idol never seem to actually get to do anything? It's because her management doesn't give her anything to do! (And it's not like we can expect her to climb out of obscurity through efforts behind-the-scene.)
Our idols are idols when it's convenient for us that they're idols. In all other instances, they are real and awesome and loveable people (or, in some cases, artists). (While in all other other cases of strong feeling on the interwebs, they are whores, sluts, bitches, hacks, and talentless.)
It's a bit much for one person to be, isn't it?
But I wonder why our status as fans doesn't open the door for criticism of our objects of affection. Because surely we want to see what we love become better, not worse. Why so much hesitation, fandom? Is complacency the attitude one adopts at the top? Or is it really fear masquerading as confidence and, in some cases, superiority, the fear that what we love can disappear in a moment once our love and fervor for it abates even for a moment? If I say, "Kim HyoYeon, why aren't you in a dance studio every other minute of free time you have getting an edge in your moves so that you can show off something new and amazing so that I don't have to listen to people doubting you all the time," why do I have to listen to, "Just support her whatever she does!" in reply instead of a thoughtful, "Hey, that sounds like a good idea! Why isn't she?"? Or if I have to wonder, sadly, if all the dissenters are right, why can't I say so openly without wondering if I'm going to get dogpiled by a bunch of Hyo-fans? (And these questions can be applied to any member, given whatever criticism.)
Yet I've always known that I couldn't be a fan no matter what. I'm here to be entertained by my idol(s) and when the entertainment value disappears, I'm simply just not as much of a fan. Now I'm not even enough of a fan, it seems, to put up much complaint about the things that do bother me or to be as bothered by things as I once was. Or maybe this just means that I'm growing up as a fan?
. . . Nah. I'm sure my next obsession will have me up in arms soon enough. XD
She laughed and we laughed and, really, we all understood. Unlike SeoHyun, who was paired up for the public's viewing pleasure with a young, affable fellow idol and peer, TaeYeon was "married" to HyungDon, a comedian with a number of years and, well, let's admit it, pounds on his young "bride." It all seemed very silly and we all thought something was suspect from the get-go. But it seemed very plausible in WGM's narrative, which, if you remember the introduction of the pair, positioned TaeYeon as an admirer of HyungDon's (as a young girl, so weird, let's not get too into this). Not just TaeYeon, but every member played her part in this plot, teasing, giggling, opposing, and coaxing where they could and should be.
So let's remember that in the aftermath TaeYeon brushed it aside and we brushed aside all of those events along with her. We understood on the level that as an idol TaeYeon was asked to do her job. She was directed to appear on a reality show on which she would have to act as if she were in a relationship with a partner that she may or may not have chosen, but was probably chosen for her in order to protect her reputation in some form.
But why not the same for SeoHyun? I suppose we could say she's just so innocent and naive and obedient, such an upright, well-mannered girl (read: before WGM started, not just virginal, but purity itself, devoid of sexual desire and curiosity, much less possessed of any sexuality of her own) that it was perfectly safe to arrange a fake relationship between her and YongHwa. (Which makes one wonder what that says about TaeYeon: did they expect that setting her up with a hot guy would create friction that would make our screens burst into sinful flames of desire and send mothers rushing to cover their children's eyes?)
Now if in, say, ten, fifteen years SeoHyun decides to hold some tell-all interview or publishes her memoir (after the tract about establishing world peace and the other one about abolishing world hunger and poverty) and confesses that she didn't like her stint on WGM at all and it was all an act--everything, from the endearing shyness and adorkableness to even the strained awkwardness--what would our reactions be? "NO!" some of you are already ready to yell at me. "YongSeo is REAL!" (And maybe one day SeoHyun will tell us a story that says that some day.) Some would maybe feel a mild shock. Maybe some of you would simply shrug, "whatevs" style. And probably everyone would come to accept it. Why?
Because it's her job.
When I think about idol issues, I am surprised how often it seems to boil down to being of two minds. That is, we desire these idols to be "real" people. We want authenticity, sincerity, genuineness, truth of emotions and actions. Yet at the same time, we accept that they are and will be "idols," which is a word that begins to boil down to things like: they do the job they're told to do; they will always be smiling; they are always happy; they love doing what they do; they love their fans absolutely, wholeheartedly. It can also mean other things like: they are oppressed; they don't really want to do some of the things they do; it's not their choice. In the word "idol" is an element of artifice--and, from the fans' view, a license of denial.
There is a common mantra among Hyo fans that goes something like this: "It makes me sad when people say that HyoYeon should leave SNSD. HyoYeon is happy where she is. She loves SNSD. I will support HyoYeon no matter what."
There are many things implied here and while I am tempted to get into all of it, I want to focus on that last bit. Perhaps it's the contrarian in me that immediately says, "No. Why?" The more I see this declaration, the more it bothers me. Today as I was turning it over in my mind, I had the sudden thought: I am HyoYeon's fan, not her friend.
That is to say, your friends are liable to do stupid things. You will want to tell them not to do these stupid things, but sometimes you can't convince them otherwise. In that case, you grin and bear it and go, "I don't know what's going on in his/her mind, but I'm his/her friend, so whatever. I'll sit back and see what happens and if it blows up in his/her face, I'll be here." Or whatever the appropriate sentiment for a given situation is.
However, it is very likely that though you are lending emotional support (and sometimes physical help if something like a mover is called for or someone who can cook), you're not providing financial support. Nor are you a continuing support to advancing your friend's career. Nor does your typical friendship demand this type of support from you.
But fandom does. That is to say, true fans buy CDs, watch the television shows to boost ratings, vote for their members to win pointless polls, go to concerts (sometimes traveling long distances--heck, some friends will do a destination wedding just to discourage too many of their friends from showing up!). All of this is not just voluntary behavior, but actions that fans are eager and happy to take to benefit their fandom. Our idols are, well, our idols. Because they are our idols, we are part of the building blocks that form the foundations of their careers. And because they do demand such a tax on our resources, we probably do need some form of being able to excuse the actions they take or things they participate in that we don't like.
Note that: We excuse actions. Not demand different action be taken. And even when we demand, we actually just fall back on acceptance and excuses. SM won't package a CD that you like? Well . . . whatever, they're lazy, hand over that CD, here's my credit card.
As idols, our idols--particularly SM idols since other agencies have different ideas--are hampered in their creativity. It's not that they aren't creative, you see, but that SM is a big meanie that never gives them any chances, waaaah! But we still support them, no matter what. Support. No matter what.
Did your idol commit a verbal faux pas? S/he was just tired that day! (Not that s/he might have made a genuinely ignorant remark, being young and a public figure.) Does your idol receive too many confessions of love? S/he doesn't choose to be so popular! (Which doesn't discount that s/he might love all the attention.) Does your idol never seem to actually get to do anything? It's because her management doesn't give her anything to do! (And it's not like we can expect her to climb out of obscurity through efforts behind-the-scene.)
Our idols are idols when it's convenient for us that they're idols. In all other instances, they are real and awesome and loveable people (or, in some cases, artists). (While in all other other cases of strong feeling on the interwebs, they are whores, sluts, bitches, hacks, and talentless.)
It's a bit much for one person to be, isn't it?
But I wonder why our status as fans doesn't open the door for criticism of our objects of affection. Because surely we want to see what we love become better, not worse. Why so much hesitation, fandom? Is complacency the attitude one adopts at the top? Or is it really fear masquerading as confidence and, in some cases, superiority, the fear that what we love can disappear in a moment once our love and fervor for it abates even for a moment? If I say, "Kim HyoYeon, why aren't you in a dance studio every other minute of free time you have getting an edge in your moves so that you can show off something new and amazing so that I don't have to listen to people doubting you all the time," why do I have to listen to, "Just support her whatever she does!" in reply instead of a thoughtful, "Hey, that sounds like a good idea! Why isn't she?"? Or if I have to wonder, sadly, if all the dissenters are right, why can't I say so openly without wondering if I'm going to get dogpiled by a bunch of Hyo-fans? (And these questions can be applied to any member, given whatever criticism.)
Yet I've always known that I couldn't be a fan no matter what. I'm here to be entertained by my idol(s) and when the entertainment value disappears, I'm simply just not as much of a fan. Now I'm not even enough of a fan, it seems, to put up much complaint about the things that do bother me or to be as bothered by things as I once was. Or maybe this just means that I'm growing up as a fan?
. . . Nah. I'm sure my next obsession will have me up in arms soon enough. XD