In this class, we’re looking at how people engage with Kpop as music & media across a wide range of personal and cultural contexts. For this assignment, please reflect on the role that Kpop (*or, if you’re new to kpop, another form of music/media fandom) has played in your life. Please lean into specific experiences and examples; for example, I’d encourage you to focus on the impact of one artist or experience (like a concert) to help anchor your essay.

In a 800-1000 word essay (3-5 pages double spaced) please respond to dimensions of the following prompts. (You don’t need to hit all of them – just the ones that speak to you and help you find a focus for your essay):

• Personal impact: How has kpop (or another form of music/media fandom) impacted your life? What kind of influence has it had on your personal growth and development? Again, I encourage you to focus on the impact of a particular artist or group to avoid speaking too generally.
• Personal evolution: How did you discover kpop*? Has your relationship with it changed over time? Have your tastes or fan participation changed as you've grown older, and if so, why do you think that might be the case?
• Appreciation & connection: What do you appreciate about this music/artist/group? Is it the lyrics, the melodies, the dance routines, or something else entirely? How do you connect with the music (or other aspects) on a personal level?
• Coping & frictions: How has this music/media/fandom helped you through difficult times or brought you joy? Has this music helped you cope with challenging situations in your life, or has it simply brought you happiness and joy in good times? Has it ever brought negative feelings/experiences (disappointment, anger, frustration), and if so, how did you contend with that?
• Fandom: Have you interacted with other fans of kpop* (online or in person)? If so, how have you experienced that social connection/interaction with other fans or fandom? Have those interactions shaped or transformed your own engagement?
• Insights & values: What have you learned from this music, artist(s), or fans? Have you gained any insights or life lessons from the messages conveyed in the music or from your experiences with the fandom? What kind of impact have the artists or fandoms had on your life and worldview?

Please be honest and reflective in your writing. The goal of this assignment is to consider your personal connection with the themes we’ll be exploring this semester. I encourage you to draw on readings we’ve done so far to help give your essay focus and depth. Please cite these readings according to Chicago Author/Date .

The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th Edition

Good luck and happy writing!

<aside> 👉 Do note, we’ll be writing this essay in two stages, with one rough draft due (approx 500 words), a feedback session in class, and an individual session with your peer writing tutor after you’ve written your rough draft. After these feedback processes, you will have the opportunity to revise/expand your essay. You can check out the Writing Feedback Guide to get a sense of that process.

Writing Feedback Workshop Guide

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