K-Pop in Latin America: Transcultural fandom and digital mediation | Culture and communication in digital worlds

Author(s): Benjamin Han

Year of publication: 2017

Keywords: K-pop, Transcultural fandom, Latin America, Digital mediation, Popular culture

Methodology/Sample: Case study/_

Reference: Han, B. (2017). Korean wave| K-pop in Latin America: Transcultural fandom and digital mediation. International Journal of Communication, 11, 20. https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/6304/2048

Abstract

This article examines the transnational popularity of K-pop in Latin America. It argues K-pop as a subculture that transforms into transcultural fandom via digital mediation, further resulting in its accommodation into Latin American mass culture. The article further engages in a critical analysis of K-pop fan activism in Latin America to explore the transcultural dynamics of K-pop fandom. In doing so, the article provides a more holistic approach to the study of the Korean Wave in Latin America within the different “scapes” of globalization.

> Summary

The paper examines K-pop’s transnational popularity in Latin America as a transcultural fandom influenced by digital mediation.
It argues that K-pop transforms into a subculture integrated into Latin American mass culture.
The study highlights fans’ affective affinity for K-pop, transcending cultural and national boundaries.
It emphasizes the ongoing internalization of mainstream culture into K-pop fan identity among Latin Americans.
The research provides a holistic view of K-pop fandom dynamics within globalization’s various “scapes”.

> Problem statement

The paper examines K-pop’s transnational popularity and its transformation into transcultural fandom in Latin America through digital mediation.
It critiques the failure of Latin American media to recognize K-pop’s cultural significance, viewing it as inferior foreign music.
The study highlights the ongoing tension between foreign popular culture and local cultural industries in Latin America.
It explores K-pop fan activism and its role in shaping digital media practices within Latin American contexts.
The paper addresses the internalization of mainstream culture into K-pop fan identity among Latin American fans.

> Methods used

The paper employs a critical analysis of K-pop fan activism in Latin America to explore transcultural dynamics.
It examines transcultural fandom through digital mediation, highlighting its integration into Latin American mass culture.
The research utilizes Hills’ concept of “transcultural homology” to analyze fan identity formation.
The study moves beyond a nation-centric framework to understand transcultural fandom complexities.

> Practical implications

The paper highlights K-pop’s role in transcultural fandom, influencing Latin American mass culture and identity formation through digital mediation.
It suggests that K-pop fandom can challenge class hierarchies, offering fans a space for social and cultural reassertion.
The findings indicate that K-pop’s integration into mainstream culture can enhance community engagement and cultural exchange in Latin America.
The research underscores the importance of recognizing K-pop’s impact on local cultural industries and media practices.
It provides insights into how fandom can serve as a form of activism, promoting cultural visibility and representation.