Communications Question

This component of the midterm assignment provides you with a space to reflect and individually expand on the takeaways and analyses you and your group mates forged through collective dialogue and research. Your essay should first open with 1-2 short paragraphs describing the specific role(s) you played in preparing your group’s presentation as well as the overall process by which your team worked together to gather research and compile an argument. The remainder of your essay should then flesh out the formal analysis and cultural tensions broached by your group presentation, explicating any personal stakes and resonances that became apparent in the research process. You may adopt a more informal journalistic style of writing here, much like we saw in the pieces by Josh Kun and Michael Fuhr assigned in Week 2. It is important that you not only learn how to conduct a scholarly analysis, but understand the meanings and implications it has in your own life.

SUMMARY OF EXPECTATIONS

3-4 page synthesis of key points broached in your group presentation (double-spaced, 12 point font), which includes:brief description of your group’s overall process of preparing for your presentation and the specific roles and responsibilities you took on (roughly 1-2 paragraphs)further elaboration of the formal strategies and cultural issues at work in the two concepts analyzed by your group some discussion of personal meanings and takeaways from this research process ● Brief narrative of your group’s origin story
○ At a time when most Girl groups were doing cute style, BlackPink attracted a
large number of die-hard fans with their unique Girl Grush style stage.
○ BLACKPINK means to focus more on strength and not just on looks. This also
shows the purpose of yg company when creating a girl group, they looking for not
only the appearance, but also focus on how members perform on stage.
○ As we can see here, BLACKPINK is not a typical YG girl group. All of them
have good looking. But they still carried YG’s tradition which is all of the YG
groups have their own popular songs.
○ Just like the beginning of BLACKPINK’s career, WHISTLE and PLAY WITH
FIRE.
● Brief overview of how this story fits within the brand identity the group’s management
company
○ Talking about YG. YG Company is one of the best reputed entertainment
company in South Korea, and it is also the entertainment company with the largest
○
○
number of Hip Hop singers in Korea
Whenever we talk about YG, we can’t avoid talking about seo taiji and boys.
YG was founded in 1996 by Yang Hyun-seok, one of the members of Seo Taeji&booys
○ Seo Tae-ji and boys is a very popular group back in the 90s. It has push
RapDance forward. Yang Ju, one of the member in Seotae-ji&boys is the first
generation of Korean Breakdance dancers. And Seo Tae-ji& boys is also good at
unconventional things and innovation.
○ This kind of idea led to the later YG artists’ innovation and uniqueness.
○ YG is not picky about appearance and does not pay that much attention to dancing
skills compared with SM and JYP. YG’s open-minded attitude of not restricting
the development direction of artists which makes YG’s artists have distinct
personalities. Base on the personalities, they have strict requirements on their
singing skills and creative ability. So compared to SM and JYP, YG puts music
first.
4张单曲、3张迷你专辑、2张正规专辑；all members have the SOLO, besides
Jisoo(upcoming 2023)
● 2010–2016: Formation and pre-debut activities
● 2016–2017: Debut, rising popularity, and commercial success
● 2018–2019: International breakthrough and first world tour
● 2020–2021: The Album and The Show
● 2022–present: Born Pink and second world tour
Debut – Shuyi
So black pink officially debuted on august 8th 20 16; and released their first album Squared one.
There are two songs in this album, Whistle & Boombayah.
Both songs got really great achievement after release; they dominated the top one position of
major music platforms; the song Whistle also got the top one in the Inkigayo on the 13th day
after its release which broke the previous record. Therefore, the first title of BP after debut is
known as Monster Rookie.
Then, we deeply analysis these two song in the debut album
Whistle
This is a love song from girls‘ perspective. The lyric talks about the love-call to the boy that the
girl is interested in. From the musical side, it begins with a really representative hook, the whistle
song & and “hey boy” from jisoo. These are the two key elements of this song. The whistle
sound and snap run through the entire song as the basic melody. The whistle contains two
meanings, one is used to describe the melody that the racing heart makes; the other is the way the
girl wants the boy to call her out. And for the “hey boy”, this is a really successful hook for this
song, give audience a mysterious feeling. Also, it delivers the idea that “hey everyone should
start to focus on me”. So, the overall message is more like the girl crush
Boombayah
Although these two songs are produced by the same producer, Teddy, who is also the producer
for lots of other songs from BP, there is a different style between boom & Wh. Boombayah has a
very rich and dynamic beat blend that definitely gives off a tribal party vibe. The lyrics give
audience four different types of attitude. One is aggressive, like bad girl style. Also, this song can
feel the girls’ confidence, there is one line song by lisa “I don’t care if you stare, I wanna dance”.
The third type is sexy. The overall outfit in this song’s mv is sexier than whistle and the dancing
part, there are lots of Provocative moves and touching. Besides, this song still displays the girlish
style of blackpink, especially they shot for “oppa” which is a intimate calling for elder brother or
boyfriend.
Therefore, from these song in their debut album, we can see the diverse aspects of bp and define
them as “young rebellious girls who yearn for love and are full of mystery”. Also, their songs are
from the girls perspective, but with really strong personalities, girl power and professional vocal,
rap & dancing skills. This give audience the sense that “pretty is not everything” which is the
main concept of bP.
Lisa-Group concepts and intended audience connection in Comebacks
■ Concept:
● Pink usually connects with pretty and girly
● Blackpink: color black is dark and has a big contrast with pink.
This means blackpink would demonstrate something beyond pink.
It indicates that these four girls are not only pretty girls but also
have multiple sides and potential.
● Songs:
○
love story
■ Attracting attention
■ Getting hurt
■ Recovery
■ Awaken of feminine power; being strong; selfdiscovery
○ Intended audience:
■ Young girls who experienced similar love story.
Want to inspire and encourage them to be strong
confident, and love themselves
■ Use of black culture (rap, hiphop, colorful bright
colors) and Greek Mythology in music and music
video making;
■ trying to get into the US market, where self-love
self-confidence, and girl power are emphasised and
valued
■ 4 stages of the love story:
● As if it’s your last
○ want to be loved and insecurity
○ “Even when I look at you I’m missing you”; “baby hold me
tight”
● DDU-DU DDU-DU
○ Becoming the goddess (wearing the crown and dress in the
mv)
○ Succeeded to win the attention, being in charge of the
relationship, knowing what the boys want; doing it with
ease
○ “Pretty and savage”, “I take whatever I want”
● Kill This Love
○ Start with strong hitting base beats mixed with marching
horns (different from the previous two which start fading
in)
■ Blackpink in your area
○ Awareness of the price of love; Beginning of
revolution/battle; put in actual action to end this toxic love
relationship
○ “Here I come kick in the door” “look at me look at you
who will be in more pain?” “I’m not sorry” I cannot stand
myself to be weak and I need to end this
● How You Like That
○ Also, start with suspension strong beats
■ Blackpink in your area
○ “Pink” side gone; reborn as “black” side, revenge start;
realize that they are the ones who can save themselves not
others
○ Overcoming the hardships; Taking fate into your own
hands
○ “In this even dark place shine like a star”
So I’m gonna talk about the comebacks of Blackpink
As mentioned before for Blackpink’s concept, Color pink is usually connected with pretty and
girly style and blackpink in contrast imply that these girls are not only pretty but powerful and
have great talent as well. The comeback songs I chose here are As If it’s your last, DDU-DU
DDU-DU, Kill This Love, and How You Like That. The lyrics of these songs, I think, tell the
story of the 4 stages of a girl’s love story that resonate with Blackpink’s concept.
Looking at the lyrics and music videos. In As if its your last, it represents when the girls trying
to catch a boy’s attention and the insecurity they have when in love. Bright and warm colors are
used in this song and lyrics are saying things like “Even when I look at you I’m missing you”;
“baby hold me tight”. Moving into DDU-DU DDU-DU, they master the relationship with the
lyrics saying “I take whatever I want” and wearing crowns in the music video. Then, it comes to
Kill This Love which is when they got hurt from the relationship and made the decision to end it
and start their battle by singing “I cannot stand myself to be weak and I need to end this” and
their visual changed to a more military look at the end. Lastly, How you like that is when the
pink side is gone and they reborn as the black side. They overcome the hardship, ready to
revenge, and take fate into their own hands.
Those comeback songs all have choreographed group dance with center part allocated to each
member depend on their strength, which help the group stand out on the daily music show on
Korean television and win the Korean market. Also, as the music incorporates elements like hippop, rap, and EDM that are popular in Western countries, it also opened the US and European
market for Blackpink.
In addition, Blackpink’s girl crush image attracted a lot of young girls to be their fans, and the
love story depicted by these four songs might have happened to a lot of young girls. In this case,
these songs resonate with the targeted audiences and the main value of these songs might inspire
and encourage girls to be strong, confident, and take control of their own life instead of trapped
in the expectation to be a pretty girl that needs to be loved.
Bai- BLACKPINK’s Globalization
https://ucsd.zoom.us/rec/share/MqmIyvecrzl8tpOEPZgjmyxltoM2SkFkvEC72dRI74WiSc1
4rSSkMaVTwAQeqP1b.eubSwBcgpIJYmfQv?startTime=1676320202000
Passcode: *s5k#PCS
● success can be attributed to their strong musical abilities, stylish fashion, and charismatic
personalities
○ Music: unique blend of hip-hop, R&B, EDM and pop(mainstream music in
Western world. The globe)
■ Hip-hop is genre that roots in african-American culture(rap verses,
rhythmic bears);
● collaborations with other musicians, brands, and entertainment
companies. For example, the group has collaborated with wellknown musicians such as Lady Gaga and Selena Gomez, fashion
sense and beauty
○ The group’s music, videos, and behind-the-scenes content are widely shared on
social media platforms, including Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, which has
helped them build a strong following and increase their exposure.
○ television shows, commercials, and magazines(helping to build their brand image)
■ Fashion:
● bold, daring style and often wear cutting-edge fashion(influence
fans even younger fans);
● High-fashion elements, fashion sponsorship; global ambassador
● Hybridity
○ Music blending in different genres: catchy hooks, strong beats, and powerful
vocals
○ Fashion image: blends elements of Korean and Western style; hanbok in How
you like that; geomungo거문고 in pink venom
○ Diverse background with Korean and Thai heritage, also Jennie grew up in New
Zealand and Rose is Korean- Australian; and they bring unique experiences and
perspective to the group
● femininity
○ Lyrics
■ empowerment, self-confidence, and girl power, rejecting the notion that
women should be submissive or passive.
■ From album to album is a serial to tell the love and relationships, but they
often take a more assertive and independent stance, rejecting traditional
gender roles in which women are expected to be passive and submissive.
○ MV
■ portrayed as strong, confident, and stylish women
■ often use pastel colors, flowers, and other feminine imagery in their
music videos, emphasizing their vulnerability and tenderness Ex: Jennie
SOLO，
○ Overall
■ BLACKPINK’s lyrics and music videos challenge traditional gender roles
and expectations, presenting a nuanced and multi-faceted image of
femininity and masculinity. Their music and image encourage both
women and men to express their individuality and reject traditional gender
roles, promoting a more inclusive and empowering vision of femininity
and masculinity.
Representation of Women: Some critics have argued that Blackpink’s music and image objectify
women and reinforce harmful gender stereotypes
Cultural Appropriation: （Black/Korean identity and culture）Some have accused Blackpink
of cultural appropriation, particularly in regards to their use of African American cultural
elements in their music and image.
Lack of Creative Control: （manufacture/authenticity）Some fans and critics have claimed
that Blackpink is not given enough creative control over their music and image, and that they
are simply a product of their management company.
BLACKPINK
IN YOUR AREA, REVOLUTION, AND
BORN PINK
COMM 146 Midterm Group Presentation
Presented by:
Shilong Zhang , Tianyu Bai, Yulin Fang, Shuyi Wang
FEB 13, 2023
UNIQUE STYLE, GRILCRUSH STYLE
THE MEANING BEHIND “BLACKPINK”
NOT TIPICAL BUT CARRIED ON YG TRADITION
Launched by YG Entertainment on August8, 2016
ONE OF THE BEST ENTERTIMENT COMPANY
YG——SEO TAE-JI&BOYS
NOT PICKY ABOUT APPEARANCE COMAPRE WITH SM AND JYP
DISTINCT PERSONALITIES
MO
IE
K
O
O
R
N ST ER
DEBUT CONCPET
GIRL CRUSH
Two meanings of Whistle
Love-call from girl to
the boy
The melody of racing
heart
“Hey boy”
Full of mystery
Indicates “hey focus
on me”
YOUNG REBELLIOUS GIRLS WHO
YEARN FOR LOVE AND ARE FULL OF
MYSTERY
PRETTY IS NOT
EVERYTHING
BAD GIRL
Aggressive
“I don’t need a boy, I
need a man”
Confidence
“I don’t care if you
stare, I wanna dance”
Sexy
“I’m so hot”
Provocative moves
and touching
Girlish – ”
”
오빠
COMEBACKS
AS IF IT’S YOUR LAST
(2017)
4 STAGES OF LOVE STORY
PINK -> BLACK
TARGETING: YOUNG GIRLS &
OVERSEA MARKET
KILL THIS LOVE
(2019)
DDU-DU DDU-DU
(2018)
TRYING TO CATCH
ATTENTION
INSECURITY
HOW YOU LIKE
THAT (2020)
BEGINNING OF
REOLUTION
END OF TOXIC
RELATIONSHIP
BEING PRETTY AND
SAVAGE
KNOW WHAT THE
BOYS WANT
START REVENGE
TAKE CONTROL OF
THEIR OWN LIFE
AUDIENCE
& COMMERCIAL INFLUENCE
Jisoo
INS FOLLOWERS
4.15.2022
Jennie
INS FOLLOWERS
2.13.2023
Lisa
EARNED MEDIA VALUE
Rose
0
50
100
150
200
GLOBALIZATION
HYBRIDITY
FEMININITY
STRONG MUSICAL ABILITIES
STYLISH FASHION
CHARISMATIC PERSONALITIES
DIFFERENT GENRES
FASHION IMAGE
DIVERSE BACKGROUND
LYRICS
MUSIC CONTENT
CRITICAL TENSIONS
REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN
CULTURAL APPROPRIATION
LACK OF CREATIVE CONTROL
THANK YOU
SO MUCH!
B L A C K P I N K
COMM 146 Midterm Group Presentation
Presented by:
Shilong Zhang , Tianyu Bai, Yulin Fang, Shuyi Wang
FEB 13, 2023