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PSY transcends cultural boundaries
By Tyeisha Prior
On October 24, 2012
Oppa Gangnam Style!
If you haven't heard this saying already, then you probably haven't Gangnam Style by South
Korean rapper PSY.
The song is based on the high-class lifestyle of residents in the Gangnam District of South
Korea.
Gangnam Style has become a viral hit on YouTube with over 520 million views, making it the
third most watched video on the site and most watched K-pop video to date. It has also topped
music charts in various countries.
PSY has even signed a contract with Justin Beiber's manager Scooter Braun's label Schoolboy
Records.
It's an infectious and funny song that anyone can really enjoy, regardless of whether you like K-
pop or another genre of music. Also, as a K-pop fan myself, I think it's amazing that PSY (and
any other musician whose first language is not English), can transcend the language barrier into
countries such as the United States. Especially since it can be a challenge for acts from other
countries to successfully break into the global music market.
Others are not so enthusiastic. There are people who believe racial stereotypes of Asians
perpetuated by the media are a big part of PSY's popularity.
I came across an article a while ago about this in a blog called High Yellow, where the author,
Crystal Anderson, made a broad claim.
She said, "PSY's video owes some of its popularity in the United States to the way the
mainstream likes to portray Asian and Asian Americans in popular culture. One of those ways is
in comedic roles, where laughter comes at the expense of Asians and Asian Americans."
A little further into the article, she says, "When people ask why PSY's video is so popular, this
is one of the major issues that goes unanswered. I think more people are laughing at PSY than
laughing with him."
A part of me agrees with her statement because if you look back on how the media has portrayed
Asians, PSY fits the "funny Asian" stereotype pretty well.
However, you're also going to have those people who make fun of the video because: 1. He's
Asian, 2. PSY's doing a comical dance that could easily be made fun of by others, and 3. You
are always going to have at least one person say an ignorant or rude comment about someone,
regardless of ethnicity, gender, age, etc.
These factors could go for any other music video or song by an artist as well. Just replace Nos. 1
and 2 and fill in the blanks for said artist.
PSY focuses on comedy in his music. If you ever get a chance to listen to some of his older
songs, this is how the majority of them are written.
PSY also has a contagious personality. I remember watching him on the VH1 show Morning
Buzz over the summer when I first heard the song. I couldn't stop watching him. He was
hilarious on the show.
He's just a naturally funny guy who everyone likes. What's the harm in any of that?
In the end, I think that people are looking into Gangnam Style a bit too carefully.
While we do have a South Korean musician who has successfully made it into the American
market, it's not necessary to break it down into racial stereotypes and take it too seriously.
I don't think PSY made Gangnam Style with the intent for it to be broken down and analyzed by
critics in a negative way.
It's a funny, catchy and danceable pop song and video that has reached millions of people around
the world. Regardless of whether you can understand the lyrics, you're still having a good time
singing and dancing to it.
This is what I think PSY wanted.
Tyeisha Prior can be reached by email at prior.record@live.com
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