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11 - Transcultural Fandom

BTS and ARMY

from Part V - The Band That Surprised the World

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 March 2023

By
Candace Epps-Robertson
Edited by
Suk-Young Kim
Suk-Young Kim
Affiliation:
University of California, Los Angeles
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Summary

The global success of BTS demonstrates that their artistry and message have captured the attention of many. Similarly, their fandom, ARMY, has received attention for its ability to organize around social justice causes. While BTS and ARMY are pushing against and connecting across borders that often seem impermeable, this work does not happen with ease. How do people in a fandom that spans the globe both organize and educate within this fandom community? This chapter examines fandom through a case study. The Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests called attention to violence and racism against Black people after the murder of George Floyd. There were concerted efforts within the ARMY fandom to raise money and awareness for BLM. Many of these efforts began before BTS and their company announced support for BLM. It is important to recognize the fandom’s public-facing, collective work, and it is equally important to recognize the effort required to educate within the community about this and other social justice issues. This chapter identifies, tracks, and analyzes attempts being made in the fandom to educate and discuss race and racism around BLM by sharing stories of personal experience with racism, hashtags meant to encourage solidarity, and visual art.

Keywords

fandomactivismBLMARMYBTS
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Companion to K-Pop , pp. 208 - 228
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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