Participatory Culture. How the K-Pop Industry and BTS Shaped Fandoms

Seminar Paper , 2022 , 9 Pages , Grade: 2

Musicology - Popular music

This paper argues that participating in a fandom helps artists to gain recognition and fans to grow as individuals. This will be done by giving a description of what being a fan is and what the fundamental needs of a community is. Furthermore, the K-Pop industry will be introduced by stating the admission process, the duty of the Korean Idols and a description of the impact of BTS on their fandom “ARMY” and contrariwise.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Participatory Fan Culture
• Fan Culture in the 21st Century
• Defining Fandom and Fanship
• Participatory Culture and the Role of Fans
• The Fundamental Needs of a Community
• The K-Pop Industry
• The Idol Training System
• The Impact of BTS on ARMY

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This paper investigates the dynamic relationship between the K-Pop industry and its dedicated fan culture, specifically exploring how BTS and their fandom, ARMY, have shaped contemporary fandoms. It examines the role of fan participation in an artist's success, the impact of fan culture on individual development, and the unique characteristics of the Korean entertainment industry.

• The evolving nature of fandom in the digital age
• The impact of fan participation on the success of artists
• The psychological and social benefits of belonging to a fandom
• The role of the K-Pop industry in shaping fan culture
• The unique case of BTS and their global fandom, ARMY

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Participatory Fan Culture: This chapter defines the concept of fandom and fanship, outlining the key characteristics of fans and their participatory culture. It also examines the fundamental needs of a community, drawing upon research conducted on the German electropop band Glasperlenspiel.
• The K-Pop Industry: This chapter delves into the K-Pop industry, outlining the rigorous training system for aspiring idols and the impact of the industry on the development of fan culture. It explores the importance of fan loyalty and the role of fan participation in the success of K-Pop groups.
• BTS and ARMY: This chapter focuses on the global phenomenon of BTS and their dedicated fandom, ARMY. It examines the history of the group, their rise to international stardom, and the unique characteristics of their fan culture. It also explores the role of social media in facilitating and amplifying fan engagement.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The main keywords and focus topics of this text include fan culture, participatory culture, K-Pop industry, BTS, ARMY, idol training, fan engagement, social media, parasocial interaction, psychological benefits, community identity, and global fandom.

• College: University of Innsbruck
• Grade: 2
• Author: Anonym (Author)
• Publication Year: 2022
• Pages: 9
• Catalog Number: V1244171
• ISBN (PDF): 9783346668820
• Language: English
• Tags: participatory, culture, k-pop, industry, shaped, fandoms, BTS, Participatory Culture, fans