BTS Racism, Cultural Appropriation, Colorism & Cultural Insensitivity | Kpop History & Black Culture

Adeola Ash

12 Sept 202017:36

Summary

TLDRIn this video, Adiola addresses the ongoing issues of racism, cultural appropriation, colorism, and cultural insensitivity within the K-pop group BTS. The discussion includes the group's initial hip-hop image, their transition to a more mainstream sound heavily influenced by black music, and several instances where members have made culturally insensitive comments or gestures. Adiola also highlights the role of K-pop's 'Big Three' entertainment companies in perpetuating these issues and the group's attempts to rectify past mistakes.

Takeaways

🎤 BTS initially embraced a hip-hop group aesthetic, heavily influenced by black culture.
🔄 Over time, BTS's music evolved from hip-hop to a more pop-oriented sound, still drawing from black musical influences.
🗣️ The founder of BTS's company acknowledged using black music styles to facilitate their entry into Western markets.
👥 Other major K-pop companies also built their music on foundations of black music, indicating a broader industry trend.
👥 Members of BTS have been involved in controversies related to cultural appropriation and insensitivity, including模仿黑人英语口音和使用种族歧视语言.
👥 There have been instances of BTS members making colorist and culturally insensitive comments about skin tone.
🎵 The use of the n-word by BTS members in performances and interviews has been a point of contention.
🧑‍🎤 Namjoon, a BTS member, expressed regret over using certain terms in their music that were insensitive to West Coast hip-hop.
🔮 Some members of BTS have shown a degree of self-reflection and expressed a desire to mature and be more considerate in their actions and music.
🔄 Despite past controversies, BTS continues to face similar issues, raising questions about the group's cultural sensitivity and the industry's approach to these matters.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?
-The video discusses issues of racism, cultural appropriation, colorism, and cultural insensitivity in relation to the K-pop group BTS.
What is the purpose of the video?
-The purpose of the video is to address whether the issues that have been criticized in K-pop groups, including BTS, are actually changing or not.
What was the original concept for BTS?
-BTS was initially meant to be a rap group, with the original lineup consisting of rappers. However, this changed pre-debut, and only one rapper, Namjoon, remained in the group.
How has BTS's music evolved over time?
-BTS started as a hip-hop group but later shifted towards a more consumable pop sound, incorporating elements of trap, R&B, soul, rap, and other black musical influences.
What role did black music play in BTS's success in the Western market?
-Black music, including hip-hop, served as a base for BTS's sound, making it easier for them to break into the Western market where audiences were already familiar with these genres.
What are the 'Big Three' of Korean music entertainment companies?
-The 'Big Three' of Korean music entertainment companies are SM, YG, and JYP, which have all acknowledged the influence of black music in the creation of K-pop.
What are some instances of cultural insensitivity mentioned in the video?
-Instances include Namjoon wearing cornrows and dreadlocks, using the n-word, making colorist comments, and wearing a Native American headpiece.
How has BTS responded to these issues?
-BTS has shown some acknowledgment and response to these issues, such as Namjoon expressing regret for using certain terms and changing lyrics to avoid sounding like the n-word.
What is the significance of the founder of BTS, Bang Si Hyuk, acknowledging the influence of black music?
-Bang Si Hyuk's acknowledgment indicates that the use of black music styles was a deliberate strategy to appeal to Western audiences and facilitate BTS's entry into the Western market.
What is the video's stance on the use of black culture in K-pop?
-The video suggests that while K-pop has been built on black culture, there are ongoing issues with cultural appropriation and insensitivity that need to be addressed.
What is the video's approach to presenting this information?
-The video presents the information in a chronological order to show the progression, or lack thereof, over time, and encourages viewers to use their own judgment on the matter.

Outlines

00:00

🎤 Cultural Influences and BTS's Early Years

The script discusses BTS's origins as a rap group and their evolution into a hip-hop influenced K-pop group. It highlights how the group's music and aesthetic drew heavily from black culture and how this was acknowledged by the founder of their label, Bang PD. The discussion also touches on the broader context of K-pop's roots in black music, citing the influence of major entertainment companies like SM, YG, and JYP.

05:00

🔮 Controversial Incidents and Cultural Sensitivity

This section of the script outlines a series of incidents involving BTS members that have been criticized for cultural insensitivity. It includes instances of the use of racial slurs,模仿黑人英语口音, and inappropriate comments about skin color. The script also mentions how these actions have been addressed by the members and the group's management.

10:04

🌞 Ongoing Issues with Colorism and Representation

The script continues to detail incidents where colorism and racial insensitivity were evident, such as comments made about members' skin tones and the use of culturally insensitive imagery. It also discusses how BTS and their management have responded to these criticisms, including changes to lyrics and public apologies.

15:05

🔄 Evolving Perspectives and Ongoing Dialogue

In the final paragraph, the script discusses how BTS and their management have continued to address past controversies and work towards greater cultural sensitivity. It mentions specific actions taken by the group, such as changing lyrics and addressing past mistakes, as well as ongoing discussions about representation and cultural appropriation in K-pop.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Cultural Appropriation

Cultural appropriation refers to the adoption of elements from one culture by members of another culture, often in a way that is disrespectful or exploitative. In the video, this concept is discussed in the context of BTS's early music and image, which were heavily influenced by black hip-hop culture. The script mentions how BTS initially presented themselves with an aesthetic that closely mirrored black hip-hop culture, which some argue is a form of cultural appropriation.

💡Colorism

Colorism is discrimination against individuals with certain skin tones, typically favoring lighter skin over darker skin within a racial or ethnic group. The video addresses colorism through instances where BTS members made comments about each other's skin tone, suggesting a preference for lighter skin or making light of darker skin, which can perpetuate harmful stereotypes and biases.

💡Racism

Racism is the belief in the inherent superiority of one race over another, which often results in discrimination and prejudice. The video discusses racism in relation to BTS's use of language and imagery that has been criticized for being racially insensitive. For example, the script points out instances where members used racial slurs or made inappropriate comments about race.

💡Hip-Hop

Hip-hop is a cultural movement that originated among African American and Latino communities in the United States, characterized by rap music, breakdancing, and graffiti art, among other elements. The video explains how BTS's music and style were initially heavily influenced by hip-hop, with the founder of their label acknowledging the use of 'black music' as the base for their sound to facilitate entry into Western markets.

💡K-pop

K-pop, short for Korean pop, is a genre of music originating in South Korea that has gained global popularity. The video discusses the origins of K-pop and its foundation in black music, as well as the practices of K-pop groups, like BTS, in relation to cultural sensitivity and appropriation.

💡BTS

BTS is a globally popular South Korean boy band known for their music, performances, and dedicated fanbase. The video uses BTS as a case study to explore broader issues of cultural appropriation, colorism, and racism within the K-pop industry and how these issues have been addressed or perpetuated by the group over time.

💡Black Music

Black music refers to musical genres and styles that originated from African American culture and communities. The video highlights how black music has been a foundational influence for BTS and K-pop more broadly, with the script noting that the founder of BTS's label acknowledged the use of black music styles to make their music more palatable for Western audiences.

💡Cultural Insensitivity

Cultural insensitivity refers to a lack of awareness or respect for the customs, traditions, and values of different cultures. The video discusses cultural insensitivity in the context of K-pop and BTS, examining instances where the group's actions or lyrics were seen as disrespectful or offensive to other cultures.

💡Bang Si-hyuk

Bang Si-hyuk, also known as 'Hitman Bang,' is the founder of Big Hit Entertainment, the company that created and manages BTS. The video mentions Bang Si-hyuk's acknowledgment of the influence of black music on BTS's sound and how it helped the group break into Western markets, illustrating the intersection of business strategy and cultural appropriation.

💡N-Word

The 'N-word' is a racial slur historically used to demean black people. The video script recounts instances where BTS members have used this word inappropriately, sparking controversy and criticism for their insensitivity and racial insensitivity.

💡Rastafarian

Rastafarianism is a religion and lifestyle that developed among African-Caribbean communities, with its own unique cultural symbols and practices. The video points out the use of Rastafarian imagery and colors in the album art commissioned by a BTS member, raising questions about cultural appropriation and sensitivity.

Highlights

Adiola discusses BTS and issues related to racism, cultural appropriation, colorism, and cultural insensitivity.

BTS's initial concept was a rap group, heavily influenced by black hip-hop culture.

Bang PD acknowledged that BTS's music is based on black music, which helped them break into the Western market.

The Big Three K-pop companies (SM, YG, JYP) have all been influenced by black music.

BTS member Namjoon was seen with cornrows and dreadlocks before debuting.

Namjoon used black English on a radio show in 2013.

The group was seen singing along to the n-word in a 2013 video.

Jimin made a skin tone-related comment towards Namjoon during a roast.

Namjoon expressed regret for using the term 'westside till I die' in a song.

Jungkook made a comment about Hosak's skin tone during a show.

J-Hope made a comment about getting tanned and needing sunscreen.

Suga wore red braids during a performance, mimicking black hairstyles.

Namjoon made a colorist comment about his band members V and J-Hope during an interview.

Jungkook and Jin made a comment about Tae Young's skin tone in an interview.

Namjoon made a New Year's resolution to be more considerate of his words and actions.

BTS changed a lyric in their song to avoid sounding like the n-word.

J-Hope's album art featured rastafarian colors and what appeared to be locks.

Namjoon sampled a speech from cult leader Jim Jones in his mixtape, causing controversy.

Big Hit Entertainment apologized for the Jim Jones sample, attributing it to the producer.