Read on UnitedKpop!
|| A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR ||
It’s been a long time since I wrote this piece, I have gotten a lot of criticism
for it since publishing about a year and a half ago and the criticism is still
coming today. In retrospect, I am not entirely happy with this piece, and I
just wanted to take the time to clear up a few things.
1 – I accidentally conflated “homosexuality” and “homo-erotica”
in this piece. I am aware that these are two very different things. I was
trying to make the point that stereotypical portrayals of homo-erotica can often
lead to stereotypical interpretations of homosexuality. However, I did not
clarify this well enough at all. I apologise for this. I have learned a lesson
in the importance of clarity in my writing!
2 – I have been labelled a “hater” of N.O.M because of this
editorial. I can assure you, I am not. I actually enjoy some of their music and
wish them every success.
3 – This article is by far not the best thing I have
written, and the criticism I continue to receive for it has taught me an awful
lot about my writing. The overall point I was trying to make was simply not
well made, so I am going to clarify it here.
I feel that the use of homo-erotica in K-Pop (shown through
concepts and fan service) can often have a negative effect on interpretations
of real homosexuality. This can especially be the case in a country like South
Korea, where homosexuality is not fully accepted or understood by many (but by
no means all) people.
N.O.M can dress and express themselves however they wish to,
all power to them, but I think entertainment industries should be careful when
basing concepts off of areas that can have a real effect on real people.
Despite all this, I DO see how these portrayals could have a
positive effect of attitudes towards homosexuality in Korea too. I hope that,
in the future, homosexuality can be fully accepted all over the world. Love is
love.
===
‘Nature of Man’ or N.O.M as they are more commonly known are a 4 member, all male K-Pop group that debuted with their first single ‘A Guys’ back in August of this year. When considering the plethora of K-Pop rookies coming out seemingly every month, it might not surprise you if you missed their promotional period. It might surprise you when you learn more about them though, because their concept is very unusual – often dubbed ‘3rd sexuality’, but perhaps better known to you and I as homosexuality.
