I don't understand where so much criticism of the Japanese idol system comes from. Seriously don't you realize that the exact same system is used in all the globe?
When a producer took an unknown group called The Beatles and changed their image from almost juvenile delinquents to good clean kids? What was that? And the same thing was done hundreds of times!
For decades it was the method used by the Big Movie Studios. That a Hollywood Star has a good image in front of the public, trying to hide if he/she is an alcoholic, drug or sex addict, racist, or even a murderer? What it is this called?
Well, in Japan, instead of hiding the star's "sins"… they ask him to act the part. Otherwise, they're out of a job. How hard is that to ask?
And we all know they don't always do it. Some play a role, but secretly do what they want. Well, I don't think it's right for them to complain afterwards. When they knew VERY WELL the rules to follow. You don't want to be an idol, you might as well be something else.
by zetoberuto
8 Comments
Here’s the thing: The Jonas Brothers were an exception, not the rule. Part of the Disney system at a very specific time in history, the way they were covered was more abnormality than industry standard.
This isn’t me saying that the western music industry is healthy or normal, by any means. But to say they’re the exact same system is disingenuous.
Wait it’s real? I thought it was a South Park bit.
Lot of pop stars in the 2000s (especially ones with a large teen audience) were expected to have this very clean, chaste image. The Jonas brothers weren’t the only ones to wear chastity rings. Basically every Disney star did back then. After around 2010 Disney got a lot of flack for how they treated their talent, and they don’t do this anymore.
Me when I discover that two things can be bad at the same time.
It was also the subject of some criticism because of how ridiculous it is to make a kid wear a ring to symbolize their purity. Celebrities are still people they should be allowed to exist as people without people getting their panties in a twist because they had a public relationship. Also putting this one of pressure on a child is probably not good for their development.
Well I mean Johnnie said he based his system on the Motown way of doing things.
>When a producer took an unknown group called The Beatles and changed their image from almost juvenile delinquents to good clean kids? What was that? And the same thing was done hundreds of times!
I think that’s an unfair way for describing The Beatles. For a start they actually were a band before they met their producer. A better example would be The Spice Girls.
I think there are actually a few good things in the Japanese music idol industry. I like that when an idol retires they can, if they want, fully withdraw from the industry and it seems like the public respects that. In the UK it would take years before rags like the Sun and Daily Mail stopped covering you weekly if you had been as famous as some of the former AKB members.
I think there is also more of an acceptance of being an idol as just being a job where you get paid and go home.
However this is all massively counter balanced but the unfair profit sharing distribution, you hear of idols retiring and basically having not much to show for it. Also the sense of ownership is much more toxic. I’m sorry but it will never be reasonable to have a no dating ban. I know many groups claim that there isn’t one but lbr we know that there is. Until a top idol can openly date and still be in their group I will argue things need to change.
Lmao
The Jonas brother purity ring thing was a pretty big ordeal when it happened. It was seen as weird.
When it comes to American pop stars needing to have a “clean” image, it’s pretty much only ever because they are targeted towards kids. However these people can still publicly have significant others. The Jonas brothers weren’t barred from dating or even being seen with the opposite sex the way j idols are.
Japanese idols are grown women (for the most part, it’s even weirder when they’re minors) and the target audience is unfortunately grown men. The expecting grown women to not date anyone ever because they need to be seen as “open” for their creepy delusional fans is ridiculous.
Do fans REALLY want their favorite idols to disappear forever just because they had a relationship? Idk if this post is regarding Riri from takeneko in particular, but if you were her fan and honestly think she “betrayed” you by having a boyfriend, you’re a trash fan. That’s just my opinion but any other opinion is pretty delusional