K-pop Fandom’s affective role in shaping knowledge of gender and sexuality among LGBTQ+ fans in Australia and the Philippines

2024/08/19 by Thomas Baudinette, Kelsey E. Scholes · 1 voice · 1 citation
Social Sciences · #Asian Culture and Media Studies #Japanese History and Culture

paper · pdf · doi:10.1177/13634607241275855

Abstract

Drawing on interviews with 17 K-pop fans from Australia and the Philippines who identity as LGBTQ+, this article explores and theorizes the role of K-pop fandom in the production of knowledge concerning gender and sexuality. Through an analytical approach sensitive to the affective discourse produced by fans, this article establishes that K-pop fandom operates as a queer space which normalizes queer sexuality and gendered performance through the production of feelings of security, attraction, and relief. Further, analysis of the LGBTQ + fans’ discourse uncovers that the androgynous gendered performances of K-pop idols facilitate fans’ queering of heteropatriarchal and heteronormative ideologies.

Cited by

• Precarious utopia: The affective politics of transcultural entertainment in K-pop Random Play Dance

Discussions

• Did you know that #Kpop has become an important space for international LGBTQ+ fans to make sense of their queerness? If you'd like to learn more, check out this open access article published in Sexua [bsky, 83 points, 2 comments]

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