Flaws In Idol Culture Analysis

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Would you shave your head and publicly demean yourself if it meant that you could save your public image or keep your job? For the female members of Japan’s idol culture, this and other punishments are a harrowing reality. In 2013 one of the founding members of the J-Pop group AKB48, Minami Minegishi faced this exact dilemma. Minegishi was caught leaving the house of a member of one of Japan’s boy bands, and faced an immediate backlash from both her management and fans alike; her response for this seemingly meaningless crime, a tearful apology via YouTube video showcasing her freshly shaved head. While some were quick to criticize Minegishi for her actions, saying that she was in the wrong all along and the punishment justified, her managers should have no control over her personal life, especially when her actions had no real negative financial consequences. …show more content…
According to Martin, everything from AKB48’s music and performances, to all of the advertisements they are featured in the group is involved in order to sell products. The band sells these products using a carefully crafted image that fans recognize. As a result of this image recognition, Martin says when a scandal such as this one occurs, the fantasy that is being sold to the fans is shattered. He also says that with these fantasy scenarios becoming so prevalent, Japan is continuously on the lower end of the scale for gender-equality. Martin concludes by stating that so long as AKB48’s manager can make money off of them, this terrible misogynistic treatment will

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