It is no secret that the sexualization of K-pop idols comes in many different forms: from the use of revealing stage outfits, to raunchy choreographies and scenes in music videos with sexual undertones. Through this, “K-pop’s pervasively sexualized content and...lookism has become overt to many audiences” (Lin with Rudolf 2017:28). Nearly every female idol is sexualized because of the demands of their agency and by their fans. For this paper the example of Stellar will be used to present that the forced and blatant over-sexualization of K-pop girl groups without the members consent is something that should be exposed to the general public.
When Stellar debuted, they did not originally have the provocative concept they became known for. Many will remember watching the music videos for “Marionette” and “Sting” and being shocked because of the concept change. Returning to these music videos with knowledge of the male gaze and fragmentation will reveal that these MV’s are prime examples of these elements. In "Sting", the entire concept of the video was each member being isolated, close up shots on their bodies, and camera work suggesting the members were being watched. “This goes in line perfectly with the notion that “she is isolated, glamorous, on display, sexualized...her eroticism is subjected to the male star alone. By means of identification with him, through participation in his power, the spectator can indirectly possess her too” (Mulvey 1975:13). Clear fragmentation was displayed with close-up shots of their exposed bodies that took precedence over any face or full body shots. There were also many scenes that could be interpreted very sexually. This is the reality for most girl group music videos in K-pop, companies and fans only view the girls as sexual objects. While scenes in Stellar’s MV’s seem very clear in the sexual nature, others follow the mindset that “the viewer in such videos is regularly constructed as male, and the potential assertion of subjectivity is accompanied by a coy passivity that returns initiative to men” (Epstein with Turnbull 2014:318).
Last year, in an article on allkpop.com, former Stellar member Gayoung confirmed that the members were forced into their provocative concept and threatened with the fear of being forced to pay contract termination fees if they did not follow orders. One of the younger members was even traumatized by white milk based on how her scene in their music video for ‘Marionette’ was edited. Intimidating someone into doing sexually suggestive things knowing they do not consent is highly disturbing but unfortunately commonplace in K-pop, especially with smaller agencies. How female idols are viewed by their agencies as simply commodities that can be exploited for money is what drives situations like the one Stellar was in. However, based on how rigid the patriarchy is and how ingrained the concept of hierarchy is in Korea, any sort of positive change is unlikely to happen in the near future.
If companies make their girl idols look a certain way and sexualize their bodies in music videos, it helps make more money for the company in the long run. Due to these girls havI got such idealistic bodies, dieting brands will start to pay for these girls to appear in their ads. This circle goes round and round because money is the only important thing to these companies.
This was also my first time watching Marionette, and I am horrified to learn about the circumstances surrounding the music videos “Marionette” and “Sting.” I watched both music videos, along with their music video “Vibrato” to get a better understanding of the group, and I saw the fragmentation of body parts in each music video, with emphasis on their breasts, crotches, and thighs—very blatant objectification. And after reading the lyrics to these songs, I saw a disconnect between their lyrics, and the sexualized image they gave off. It makes me sad that this kind of sexualization is common because it draws attention to the idol, and it sells. And this type of objectification doesn’t just harm the idols, it also affects how women are viewed in society, reducing a woman to her body.
Thanks for your response @Taitum Silvers!! I feel bad that your first exposure to Marionette was after reading my essay (because the song is great...just everything surrounding it isn't) but I feel like it would have further helped Stellar for everyone to be aware of what they went through before consuming their songs/MV's. Also @nicsand yes the concept was an oddly accurate representation of what the girls were going through...it's a good point and I'm glad you brought it up.
This essay was wonderfully written, and it really.... moved me. As someone who does/did not follow Stellar very closely this essay really brought to light a lot of things I did not know happened. The fact that they were forced to do such things, and that there are other groups being persuaded to do so still is absolutely revolting. No one should be threatened into doing acts that they are uncomfortable with. While writing this I went and watched "Marionette", a song that I had never heard or had gotten to watch the music video for and it was troubling to say the least. If these girls had wanted to do a song like this and were down to perform as they did there would be an entirely different feeling within the music video. While watching it was like I could feel the tenseness and the uncomfortable atmosphere that these girls must have felt while filming, they do not look like they are happy and comfortable, and it is very saddening to know that they were made to do this. To make matters even worse not only are the artists sexually objectified and made to perform for a particular audience, but they are more often than not attacked by the opposing individuals for having to do such things. It really is an upsetting reality in the Kpop world that instances like this are happening still under the guise of "sex sells" and to appease the audience/viewers who crave the sexual performance within these songs. Stellar deserved better, and every other group who has to go through this it has gone through this deserves better.
@avewise I think Stellar was a great choice to examine the depiction of women in kpop. I specifically remember when they released "Marionette" right after their previous release and the change was so drastic that I almost forgot these were the same girls that debuted with "Rocker Girl." Their debut was more cutesy, and there next few releases were definitely leaning more into the lolita style, and upon watching them again it was clear to see sexual objectification. However with "Marionette" the sexualization was so blatant and in your face, that it was clear the tactic being used was the idea of "sex sells." I find it really sad that these girls were forced into portraying such as provocative image in order to be able to gain enough popularity, and the fact that some members were traumatized by it makes the situation even worse. I think another important to mention when companies force idols to pursue such an image they get feedback from both extremes. Clearly, the sexualized images of the idols brings in more fans, mainly male fans who are attracted to it, but along with this comes the major backlash from antifans who shame them for promoting such an image. It's never the company that actually gets the shaming of being sexual. It's always the artists. Which makes me even more mad because in this specific case Stellar was forced to perform in this image even though they didn't want to. I'd also like to say that Stellar has some musically amazing songs like "Vibrato" and "Crying," songs that I've had on my playlists for so long. It upsets me when people only remember a group like Stellar for their sexual image and not for the great songs they put out because they had several songs that popped off.
@avewise I really liked your essay and liked that you focused on Stellar because I don't think they are as well known, but they had some very sexual music videos. Something that I found interesting was that I actually did not know about Stellar until "Marionette", so I thought their concept was a more sexual one, and I never knew they were forced to do it, but it's not surprising, which is the worst part of it. Also, something that is interesting, if I am remembering correctly, Marionette made Stellar more well known because of the sexual content because the music video was banned from KBS, and I thought at the time people were curious why so a lot of reactors on YouTube reacted to the music video. I could remembering incorrectly, but if that's true, it shows the idea of "sex sells", and the company continued to do sexualized videos for "Sting" and "Vibrato" afterwards. In the beginning of the essay you added a quote that K-pop's sexualization has become overt to many audiences, which I find interesting because my roommate and I were discussing this last night because she is not a fan of k-pop but has friends who are, and when they show her music videos of girl groups, she said she noticed right away how sexual they are. She has seen very few, and she mentioned that without me bringing it up, which I found to relate well to that quote. Lastly, I will say it is annoying that music videos for girl groups is shot with the male gaze and shot for the male audience when the majority of the time it still is women supporting these groups and liking the songs. I tend to like girl group songs but not follow them or learn more about them because I believe the girl groups sometimes feel more "fake". They are too scared to be themselves, or they try to be perfect all the time, and I do not connect to that. Also, with your conclusion in mind, it would make sense that they would feel the need (even more than men potentially) to be perfect or pretty because if they aren't, they do not have the privilege of finding another job potentially or will upset their agency which is run by men.