Frank Kogan

Thanks. This is useful info and makes sense, though it doesn't necessarily support my attempt to find reasons to gallantly defend 4minute as I imagine them soldiering on in the face of a contemptuous world (a world that is rewarding them very handsomely; at least a part of the world is).

I nonetheless would assume that "we are famous for not having talents" resonates with all the times that they or other idol girls get trashed as talentless, as compromised, unless and until they've demonstrated respectable chops in some respectable endeavor (even if in this instance what's being referred to is comic mimicking, which isn't part of the respectability convo).

An idol girl being awesome or charismatic onstage and a lovable relatable dork offstage makes promotional/psychological sense, her getting to be a superior talent and a charismatic object of attention while somehow not claiming superiority over us as a human lovable being (even while having a talent for acting lovable). I haven't had time to watch many variety/reality shows. But I wouldn't be surprised if HyunA turns out to be something special (rather than just par for the course) as someone who can be the lovable ditz and dork while being able to effortlessly generate a sense of command when called upon. It sounds correct that the antis aren't following the reality-show HyunA, just the onstage super sex bomb. Where they might find dissonance is HyunA's willingness to demonstrate both pop aegyo and hip-hop swagger. One reason she seems coherent to me (not that she would be worse if she didn't), is that the aegyo itself doesn't feel ingratiating so much as an adventure — as sexiness and silliness on the rampage and try to stop me. She really looks like she's having fun as a star,* which is why I've belatedly come to appreciate her dancing (which is about postures way more than about skills).

Have any performers in Korea ever succeeded artistically or commercially when they've gone for a haughtiness or aloofness that they refuse to turn off? Have performers succeeded by challenging audiences? I'm not just thinking of Iggy Pop types (in the Stooges, Iggy would literally dive into the audience and goad people to assault him), but of Miles Davis turning his back on the audience. I'm kinda hoping that Jiyeon and Hwayoung have some of this in their arsenal.

The "follow me" meme contains a kernel of such a challenge, even if the challenge is curtailed. (I basically think such challenges don't work anymore in Anglo-American entertainment, are no longer credible — goth seems silly to me — but challenge was an effective part of my rock-fan youth. For all I know, Grace Slick was a lovable, relatable drunk dork offstage, not much actual command over her life or tongue, far too genuine; but on camera she was a living, awesome threat, and I was enthralled.)

*I recall reading that she was pulled from the Wonder Girls for health issues, so for possibly being too weak. Think it's great that we now seem to be seeing from her unfettered joy in stardom.