When OA Meets Nonchalant: More than Just an Emergent Pop Culture Trope
ALAMAT’s Jao and Taneo, BINI’s Sheena and Gwen, EXO’s D.O. and Baekhyun, Red Velvet’s Irene and Wendy, SEVENTEEN’s Mingyu and Wonwoo, TWICE’s Sana and Tzuyu, ZEROBASEONE’s Taerae and Yujin, and the list goes on. Have you noticed a pattern?
You know what they say! There are two types of people in this generation: the OA and the nonchalant. But is this all there is to know about these two buzzwords trending within and beyond the Hallyu wave?
In Filipino slang, the initialism OA (pronounced as oh-ey) represents the noun over-acting or the adjective overreactive. It refers to individuals who are as expressive as they can be with a noticeably dramatic demeanor.
By contrast, the typical nonchalant person goes out and about in everyday life without the urge to exaggerate; they are unreactive and unbothered on most occasions. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, it originates from the prefix non- and the French word chaloir, meaning “to concern.” To use chalant as its antonym is incorrect since it is not formally recognized in the English lexicon, so people resort to the term OA.
Both K-pop and P-pop stans observe the OA-nonchalant archetypes among their idols, often labeling who is who. Together, these opposites create what seems to be an unstoppable, ideal dynamic the masses unwaveringly support.
“Opposites Attract”
With the rise of OA and nonchalant temperaments in mass media, this time-hallowed question still stands: Do opposites really attract? Believe it or not, the truth to this adage is *drumrolls* no!
Although the latest trend says otherwise, a 2023 study claims that individuals sharing similar traits and interests likely get along with each other. Researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder reveal this is evident between long-term partners — by any chance, the key ingredient to building a strong relationship!
“[B]irds of a feather are indeed more likely to flock together.” — Tanya Horwitz, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience and Institute for Behavioral Genetics
If this is the case, why are many people drawn to it? Backed by psychology, the main reasons may be the excitement and chemistry it brings. Fans presumably find the interactions amusing or appealing. After all, their favorite artists’ jobs revolve around the entertainment industry, so it is only natural that they pique their audiences’ interests.
Nonetheless, this operates on a case-to-case basis — what serves one may not work out for another. Like anything else, there are pros and cons to the OA-nonchalant pairing, and so do other couples with similar prevailing characteristics!
Beating the OA and Nonchalant Allegations
Whether a person identifies as OA or nonchalant, embodying these titles does not impose boxing oneself to a single, monotonous personality. Misconceptions have yet to be cleared, too.
A common assumption would be that OAs can barely handle emotions and end up being excessively expressive, but in reality, there is nothing of the sort! Expression is boundless, and it is only a matter of authenticity and articulation.
On the other hand, nonchalance is not equivalent to apathy. The former leans towards the casual calm attitude and minimal eagerness, but it does not necessarily mean extreme disregard. Meanwhile, the latter pertains to the lack or complete absence of emotion, initiation, and motivation, which is scientifically associated with neurodegenerative disorders.
At the end of the day, the qualities that form one’s character — celebrity or not — remain in constant flux. Certain personal features will stay, but not everything is consistent and persistent throughout. Perhaps to grow is to respectfully accept each aspect of it!
All the more interesting to discover how OA or nonchalant you can be, don’t you think?
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Article by Shaniah Marie Atienza
Visuals by Raven Chloe Carlos
