Jonathan Emmesedi

Although this is the second "Kpop in Public" video I have posted in less than an hour, I would not want you to think I watch videos in this genre very frequently.

This evening, though, YouTube served this up, presumably because I have been watching the Fifty Fifty -- Midnight Special My Music Taste Stage video a lot recently.

Does Kpop lend itself to this kind of fan made video more than western pop does? I would guess the answer is "yes", because the Kpop industry places such emphasis on group choreography.

Watching this video made me aware of what a narrow range of body types one sees in Kpop. I am still trying to sort out my feelings about the industry's selectivity in this respect.

From the Ukrainian flags displayed in the YouTube description and the name of dance crew, I would guess that this lovely video was shot in Odesa. How sad that this cosmopolitan location and the innocent young people there should be threatened by the cynical belligerence of the Kremlin's kleptocrat in chief!

https://youtu.be/tlih1n50Tus?si=-JfRXGI6UQf0CX-p

#Kpop #DESSDanceCrew #KpopInPublic #MidnightSpecial #FiftyFifty #Odesa #Ukraine #Putin

[KPOP IN PUBLIC] FIFTY FIFTY (피프티피프티) - ‘MIDNIGHT SPECIAL' dance cover by DESS

YouTube
May 22, 2025 at 12:26amWeb
Show threadRikki Don't Lose That NumberMay 22, 2025
@jemmesedi That was really well done! It does seem like the trainee audition thing in K-Pop insures that idols will conform to a certainnarrowly-defined physical standard. It is actually really nice to see a variety of looks.
Show threadRikki Don't Lose That NumberMay 22, 2025

@jemmesedi Another (obvious) observation about physical conformity in idols: Western beauty ideals are getting imposed. Very noticeable if you watch early 2000's K-Pop vs. current artists. Can only imagine how many unnecessary & costly plastic surgeries are happening.

Anyway I'm not awake enough to take on the patriarchy ATM, but there's definitely work to be done. It's good and important to find and support indie artists, artists of all the genders, shapes and sizes making great music!