Formal Analysis: study of reaction videos to K-Pop
Over the last seven to eight years, K-pop has skyrocketed to become one of, if not, the biggest music genre in the world. K-pop continues to grow and rise in popularity, as more and more people become shocked and surprised to the quality of the song, music video, dance, fashion, and their love for the group, or idol. K-pop has been a genre that a lot of people listen to. But it is also being compared to other genres like hip-hop, rap, and pop music. Same with their artist. Psy’s Gangnam style, having over 3.7 billion views, exposed, and introduced K-pop to the world. As well as paving the way for other K-pop groups, or artists to be exposed. K-pop is huge, and it has so many things that can happen all at once. Unfortunately, that is not the case with us humans, especially with our emotions. We do not have a lot or know what kind of expression or emotion we will bring out when we watch or listen to a K-pop. Luckily, these opposite factors brought forth reaction videos, which are popular and trendy! So, what is it with people creating and watching reaction videos? And why? What specifically makes people want to watch more reaction videos? Today I am going to be focusing on explaining the aspects that make people watch reaction videos to K-pop in a structural and non-structural format, and the criticisms against it.
One of the most popular YouTube channels that create and make many reaction videos is the REACT channel. Obviously, a popular and common YouTube channel that everybody knows and has watched. And if you have been keeping up with the channel over the last several years, you know that the viewers always ask for the K-pop videos. It is probably their biggest genre that a lot of viewers’ request! I mean look, someone created a playlist that is categorized as “Every K-Pop Episode” and has over 30 videos made by REACT in the last several years! The REACT channel focuses on the reaction of every generation from young to old that is either trendy or unusual. But for them to have over 30 videos that has been requested over millions of viewers, that is insane!
The videos that REACT makes are very structural, focusing on positive or interesting/unusual reactions. But they also reveal a lot background info, social issues, and who the artist are personally and what message they are conveying. REACT does a good job giving the viewers the topic/genre they want. In return, the channel informs a lot of good information to let the reactor and audience know who and what they watched, as well as voice the reactors’ opinion. For REACT videos, I believe a lot of viewers like to watch these structural K-pop reaction videos because it is positive, informative, and the people. To see your favorite YouTubers, react to K-pop and be astounded by so many things, it makes people be happy. And it is entertainment; people want to be entertained by the uncertainty and learn what kind of emotion a person might react.
The REACT channel does a good job, being simple and straight. But it loses a lot of the excitement that a lot of people to see, crazy and obnoxious reaction. Personally, I like to see non-structural reaction videos because they are more real and there is no filter; not a lot of edit is being shown but rather their emotions and thinking of the video.
I think what makes this non-structural reaction video so popular is because it is what the viewers want. The reactor has a lot of excitement and craze over the scenes. 90% of the video are reactions that are hyped up. Even in the comment sections, you can see the comments are even laughing and are like the reactor.
People want to see and comment as they laugh, to connect one another: having empathy and acceptance. This is the biggest highlight, in which one can connect and have similar feelings through the digital age. Acquiring entertainment and laughter through the internet, rather than physically meeting up and trying to find reactions that may or may not be as exciting as what one may see in the media.
With reaction videos, there is a lot of positive aspects to what one can bring to the media. However, that is not always the case. Some of the issues that make reaction videos not so great, or whether it is a big thing in the digital age, is the limitations of reacting, its content, and reacting in physical form. To react to anything unknowing is great! But, to react over and over to something that is the same genre, can lose its touch.
For example, YouTubers Dan Howell and Phil Lester have been on the REACT channel mainly on K-pop content. And they have done around 3–4 times. Because they have reacted so many times, their reactions have becoming boring and it does not surprise them. Another issue is the content, in which all reaction videos are all the same. The content focuses on reactions, which again, can be boring the more you watch them. Finally, is the physical form of watching people react. The truth is people do not need to go online to find reactions. There are people around us and we have friends that can react to videos, which we can see how they react. In general, reaction videos have become an easy way to look up and see entertainment.
Overall, reaction videos have driven people to watch because of connection, love, entertainment, and acceptance. Whether the video is structured or not, the video has been a platform digitally for people to feel positive. Reaction videos give a place for viewers to feel accepted, not be shameful, and grow their love for the genre and K-pop group/artist.
