Music in Different Cultures: Asian Music Pop Culture

J-pop

    J-pop is a musical genre that entered the musical mainstream of Japan in the 1990s. Modern J-pop has its roots in traditional Japanese music, but significantly in 1960s pop and rock music. The term was coined by the Japanese media to distinguish Japanese music from foreign music, and now refers to most Japanese popular music. The musical genre has been immensely influential in many other music styles, and hence those of neighboring regions, where the style has been copied by neighboring Asian regions, who have also borrowed the name to form their own musical identities.

J-pop artist 'Kyary Pamyu Pamyu'

K-pop

    K-pop is a musical genre originating in South Korea that is characterized by a wide variety of audiovisual elements. Although it comprises all genres of "popular music" within South Korea, the term is more often used in a narrower sense to describe a modern form of South Korean pop music covering mostly dance-pop, pop ballad, electronic, etc. By tapping into social networking services and the video sharing platform YouTube, the K-pop industry's ability to secure a sizable overseas audience has facilitated a noticeable rise in the global proliferation of the genre. Since the mid-2000s, the K-pop music market has experienced double digit growth rates. In the first half of 2012, it grossed nearly US$3.4 billion, and was recognized by Time magazine as "South Korea's Greatest Export".

K-pop group 'Secret' 

 Japanese Rock

In the 1960s, Japanese rock music bands imitated Western rock musicians such as The Beatles, Bob Dylan, and the Rolling Stones, along with other Appalachian folk music, psychedelic rock, mod and similar genres. Japanese rock has a vibrant underground rock scene,best known internationally for noise rock bands and alternative acts. More conventional indie rock artists such as have found some success in Japan, but little recognition outside of their home country.

Japanese rock band 'One Ok Rock'

Representation and Comparison  

        In Japanes artist Kyary Pamyu Pamyu's 'Ponponpon' video we see a display of the popular Kawaii fashion, which can be characterised by almost child-like imagery and bright colours, appearing hyper-feminine and 'girly' (although the trend isn't gender specific and is commonly embraced by males as well)  - with some similarities to the well-known Japanese Lolita fashion. This could be seen as representing such artists and individuals following the fashion as fairly child-like and hyper-feminised, possibly leading them to be almost transformed into visual spectacle -especially with artists or 'idols', in which they have been manufactured to appeal and draw attention- which could possibly attract a hypersexualised and voyeuristic allure. 

Japanese 'Kawaii' Fashion

Japanese 'Lolita' Fashion

         

        Whereas with the Korean group Secret's 'Shy Boy'  video, although there is still an evident feminine quality it hasn't been harnessed and as exaggerated and overt in the visuals as with Kyary Pamyu Pamyu - yet is still visible in their costumes and actions. This could be due to different cultural views and trends, or to do with the marketing and image of the artists themselves, and the demographic that they are trying to target as their primary audience. 

J-pop artist 'Kyary Pamyu Pamyu'

K-pop group 'Secret'

          On the other hand, evidently there is a stark contrast between both Japanese artists One Ok Rock and  Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. As previously mentioned Kyary Pamyu Pamyu endorses the Kawaii fashion and is presented in her video 'Ponponpon' as hyper-feminine and childlike, however the Japanese rock band One Ok Rock are presented in a very different way. In their video 'Deeper Deeper', One Ok Rock are presented as fairly masculine -highlighted by the dark colour scheme and eerie, almost mechanical theme and visuals seen. It could also be suggested that the genre of the band itself could be seen as reinforcing masculinity as stereotypically rock and metal music is associated with aggression and a male audience, where as pop music is stereotypically targeted primarily at a younger female audience where it could gain commercial success and achieve the greatest proliferation of profit possible.

Japanese rock band 'One Ok Rock'

J-pop artist 'Kyary Pamyu Pamyu