In K-pop, there are fangirls, fanboys, maybe haters and then there are the sasaeng fans. The simple fact that you're reading this post right here right now presumably makes you a part of the first or second category, but even then, the term 'sasaeng fan' will probably not be an unfamiliar one to you.
Sasaeng fans are motivated by self-seeking goals, looking only towards their personal benefits. In one aspect, they could be desperate to receive any form of attention or notice from their idols because it gives them a sense of accomplishment or satisfaction in which they can find security.
I've read an article entitled, "'Sasaeng' Fans: who and why (2/2)" by Bianca Gomez of angrykpopfan.tumblr.com tells that there are two concepts that relate to the analysis of the general fan psyche: Parasocial relationships and Attachments. Parasocial relationship is a one-way relationships with famous people in which we feel we know them really well through constant and pervasive media exposure. The more interviews, performances, appearances, and even fan accounts we watch or read, the bigger this illusion is, despite never having met them nor interacted with them in real life. Parasocial relationships feel real, though they are merely imagined. And lastly the Attachment, refers to a strong enduring affectional bond to a particular other. It forms the foundation for all relationships — mother - child, husband - wife, even fan - celebrity. There are two elements involved: perception of other, and perception of the self in relation to the other. So what are these?
The perception of the other can either be positive or negative: “trustworthy and available” versus “unreliable and rejecting”. The perception of the self is also either positive or negative: “worthy of love and support” versus unworthy. Bianca also stated that, "Individuals with this attachment style may indulge in approach and stalking behaviour because they overvalue others and perceive that contact with others is a means by which they can gain personal validation, which they can use to challenge negative views of the self. In essence, acceptance from others serves to indicate that the individual is acceptable and valued. Individuals of high social status, particularly celebrities, would be expected to be most at risk of approach behaviour and stalking motivated in this way."
Moreover, these sasaeng fans do indeed have a problem that needs attention. If they are in fact developmental or psychological, then their needs cannot be swept to the side. The thing is, South Korea and many parts of Asia in general are still too hesitant to confront issues of psychological disorder and what not. This needs to change.
There was another concept about this issue.
Who among us hasn't fallen victim to a little celebrity worship? Whether the object of our affections are movie stars, athletes, poets or politicians, we're hungry for information about them. It is true right? I think that if people keep up with celebrities as a hobby, it’s fine and there’s nothing wrong with it. But when people look at celebrities as actual role models, or people whom they would like to model their lives after, that’s when I think it’s taking things a little bit too far.
Now the question is, Is Celebrity Worship Good or Bad?
According to the another article that I've read entitled, "The Psychology of Celebrity Worship" by John M. Grohol of psychcentral.com tells that, there was a certain type of person that seem drawn to celebrity worship. Entertainment social celebrity worship appears to have no implications for self-esteem, intense personal celebrity worship was related to positive self-esteem but also to a propensity toward stable and global attributions, and borderline pathological celebrity worship was related to external, stable, and global attributional styles and was close to being associated negatively with self-esteem. John Grohol also stated that, "This suggests that people with the most extreme celebrity worship engage in an attributional style that believes the cause of most events in the person’s life are external, that is, they are outside the control of the person experiencing the event. People who have stable, global attributions share such an attribution style with people who are depressed. So people who have the most extreme celebrity worship look to the outside world for explanations, and believe celebrities might hold a piece of that cure."
When our own lives start to go down hill, we gain some value when we can read about the most famous and popular people in our culture who suffer from not dissimilar woes from our own. They breakup, they makeup, they wear bad clothes, they have hangovers, just like us. Now let me ask you, what's the difference between a hobby, a passion, and an interest that's gone too far? Is there any difference between being a devoted fan and being an obsessed fan?
Walang komento:
Mag-post ng isang Komento