'25 BFA Thesis

BTS, one of the most popular Kpop groups in the world, created this song to express how they have accepted their identity and know their worth in the industry. They learned to love themselves and to appreciate what inspired them to pursue their dreams. This is especially shown through how the song is executed in both the genre and choreography. Throughout the song, there is a mixture of three music subcategories: Traditional Korean music, Trap and EDM (and a little influence of African music with the beats/whistle in the background that could reference DJ Uncle Waffles. Trap is known as a genre that emerged from impoverished Black neighborhoods/communities, more specifically in Atlanta (the era of crack cocaine and “trap” houses) and EDM (Electronic Dance Music) emerged from Black and Queer communities (a safe haven for Black gay men or any gay men of color, it is also a part of the ballroom dancing culture.) Hearing these genres in a Kpop song gives a sense of appreciation to Black culture and featuring Nicki Minaj, a well-known female rapper in the Black community, adds a nice cherry on top. Now, as for the dancing, the choreography also has a mixture of both Korean and Black influences, more specifically African. In some parts there are moves taken from the Korean Traditional Ribbon dance called the Sangmo Dance while the rest of the choreography had South African moves like Gwara Gwara and Nigerian moves like Shaku Shaku. Although, this can be seen as appropriation to some, it is instead appreciation to the cultures that they have strong feelings towards and would like to give credit to them.
Unfortunately, that is not the same case for other Kpop groups that have the tendency to incorporate Black culture, which 9 out of 10 times are harmful stereotypes of what is considered being Black culture/ Western/ American trends. This is where my BFA focus is introduced with my creation of YCB, a Black Music trio that reinserts themselves into a realm where they are excluded yet aesthetically stolen from. YCB, Yeehaw Cornball Bitches, is a group consisting of a lesbian cowboy, an alien from outer space, and a romantic Y2K bad bitch who come from different multiverses. They all come together to form YCB in a single universe called The Pink.