Don't bring up your real person ship to real people
Plus new releases from WJSN, Astro, IU and more
Hello! Welcome to maybe if you stanned: abridged version (that actually didn’t turn out to be that abridged). I’m back home in Nebraska and spent most of the day traveling, being with family, and sleeping, so if you notice things missing, that’s why! Still, we’ve got some great releases from WJSN, IU, and Astro plus thoughts about boundaries between idols, fanfiction, and shipping. Let’s get to it!
News
In case you forgot, T-4 days to EXO comeback
I have put this in the newsletter ever week since SM started dropping teasers (for easy access, Soompi has been compiling them). I think I can tentatively move EXO to my ult list because I am losing it over this concept-heavy comeback. Anyways, get ready for next week!!!! I am going to go feral.
BTS were the stars of Paper’s “Break the Internet” issue
Paper Magazine featured BTS as the cover stars of their “Break the Internet” issue, creating a gleamingly positive Twitter storm over United States media coverage of BTS. The cover features custom Lisa Frank stickers that “represent a cult-obsession, which BTS online fans, known as the ARMY, embody,” and 1. that’s a great parallel and 2. it makes for a killer aesthetic. Look at the puppy on Yoongi’s shoulder!!!! I’m gonna die!!!!
However, what really makes the issue gleam is the piece itself, written by PopCrush’s managing editor Erica Russell. It’s easily one of the best comprehensive BTS write-ups in recent memory, and ARMY responded in kind with an outpouring of support. It’s easy forget that the fandom, which is quick to leap to BTS’ defense, is also more than happy to praise those who provide fair and accurate media coverage.
New this week
WJSN — “As You Wish,” As You Wish
WJSN has always been one of the girl groups on my periphery. I’ve been really into a few of their tracks as they’ve been recommended to me (“Geeminy” and “BeBe” are some of my favorites, and “Boogie Up” was one of the best releases of the summer), but As You Wish is one of my favorite EPs of the year.
The title track is more EDM dance track than more classic WJSN (à la their iconic “Save Me, Save You), but there’s absolutely to be said for the catchiness of the song’s refrain and the princely, almost LOONA-esque aesthetic. (look, I know LOONA didn’t invent pants, but they have been styled in somewhat masculine, princely outfits for the better part of this year).
However, the group truly shines on the rest of the EP, a collection of eclectic dance tracks that break the safer EDM/pop mold. My favorites are the Mystery Skulls-esque “Luckitty-cat” and the high-energy “Don’t Touch,” which features panning drums and a chorus that leans into a funky half-time groove.
Astro — “Blue Flame,” Blue Flame
Astro is another group that has somewhat dropped off my radar over the past few years. I remember listening to a bunch of their early tracks during the summer of 2017, but since the late 2017 “Crazy Sexy Cool,” I haven’t really kept up with the group. I think that’s why I was so surprised to see something like this out of Astro — in my mind, they’re still the extremely boyish, poppy group that they were two years ago.
“Blue Flame,” however, is great. While the chorus personally leaves something to be desired, I think the sultry verses here are wonderful and really lean into the group’s mature side. Also… no K-pop man is safe from 2019’s rampant harness fixation.
IU — “Blueming,” “Above the Time,” Love Poem
Beloved soloist IU is back with her first music release of 2019, Love Poem. “Blueming,” one of the album’s singles, was initially surprising to me — with a strong rock-pop vibe that’s almost Owl City reminiscent, it felt like a bit of a departure from IU’s typical style. “Above the Time” is a continuation of the storyline introduced in 2011’s “You and I.”
Check out Tamar Herman’s write-up for Billboard for more IU context.
Please don’t talk to idols about shipping
Okay. Fans ship real people, and they ship idols, and this is a universal fact. I wrote my thesis on it. However, as I argue in that thesis, there’s usually a pretty key rule when writing and engaging with Real Person Fanfiction: you keep it far away from the people that you’re writing about.
Typically, these kinds are rules are self-enforced — fans are careful to block artists if they’re, say, posting NSFW art with their likeness, and there’s always fandom backlash when news comes out about a fan bringing up shipping or fic to an idol. That’s the kind of tension that famously placed strain on Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson’s friendship. Furthermore, there’s a distinction between firmly believing that two people are dating/in love and casually shipping them with clear awareness that you’re dealing with fictionalized versions of real people rather than the people themselves.
Anyways, this past week, BTS member Taehyung posted on Weverse (a social platform used by BigHit and Source Music artists BTS, Gfriend, and TXT) asking for help falling asleep. A fan suggested (per @doolsetbangtan’s translation) that he look at “photos of jjungkook oppa who taehyung oppa loves!”
Taehyung directly responded to the comment, saying, “you’d better get out of the imagination, it’s not good in there.” Fans heralded it as a total shutdown, while Taekook (Taehyung/Jungkook) shippers — or rather, Taekook truthers — worked to rationalize the situation.
ARMYs met the entire incident with swift backlash, doing the kind of internal policing (see the thread above) that typically ensures that ships stay in the fandom.
Ultimately, it’s a good reminder of a few things:
When shipping real people, keep it away from the real people. If they choose to seek out fic or other fan material about themself, then that’s on them. Other than that, don’t put any shipping/fic/whatever in front of them.
You have no control or true understanding over people’s lives. Ultimately, when shipping real people, you need to ethically do so with the understanding that you’re working with fictionalized versions of people.
There is a line between your ship and reality!
Anyways, it was a great takedown on Taehyung’s part.
Thanks, and until next week,
Palmer