Problematic Korean Video Friday: Orange Caramel A~ING♡

[koganbot]

This week we present a trio of leggy model types in their late teens/early twenties dressing like kiddie toys in a kiddie picture book. It looks incongruous and eerie to me. As Mat says, "It's odd, because they almost have a supermodel look to them with their long legs, and it just seems grotesque to put them in cheap girly Halloween costumes." I think you get a lot of this in Korea; I don't have any insights. Orange Caramel are a sub-unit of the fierce After School, so perhaps this is a chance at another identity (or maybe it's a way to wall off this side of their characters so the rest of After School - mostly mid to late twenties, and supposedly inspired by the Pussycat Dolls' eroticism, though I don't necessarily see that - aren't contaminated by the little-doll stuff).

Orange Caramel "아잉♡"

Watch on YouTube

For further reading, see petronia on twee versus burikko.

(Orange Caramel also do a nice version of M2M's "The Day You Went Away," which it turns out has been covered a whole shitload of times in Asia.)

EDIT: Of course, just because something might strike us (in our ignorance) as grotesque doesn't mean that there's anything wrong with it, or anything problematic. Or the problem might only be ours, that we don't understand what's going on. But women acting girlie can raise a red flag. That is, do women in that world generally have a choice not to act girlie? What are the consequences for those who don't act girlie?

(no subject)

[meserach.livejournal.com]

So I was watching a music channel earlier today and heard a particular artist (whom I won't name for fear of biasing the poll) described as the "Queen of Pop". And I thought, woah, when did we decide that?

SO before I say more, let's hear your answers off the top of your head. Note for all questions it is also acceptable to posit that there is no current incumbent (or that their are contesting claims to a throne, or even that there's some sort of civil war going on or something depending on how far you like to extend you metaphors):

[Poll #1667934]

My personal take below the cut:

( After the fall of the House of Jackson... )