卒業論文詳細 | 同志社大学社会学研究科

学科	社会学科	ゼミ教員名	MATTIAS VAN OMMEN	年度	2024年度
タイトル	Perfection vs. Imperfection: Japanese Female Fans’ Perceptions of Korean and Japanese Male Idols

内容	Johnny's and K-pop idols in Japan have a large presence in the entertainment culture. Johnny's idols are appealing because of their growth process and familiarity , and fans derive sympathy and joy from watching their efforts and evolution. K-pop idols , on the other hand , are characterized by their accomplished performances and sophisticated visuals , and many fans admire them for their perfection. Despite these differences , both idols offer special value to their fans through "oshikatsu" (supporting activities). In this study , semi-structured interviews were conducted with female fans of Japanese idols and female fans of K-pop idols to investigate what Japanese women look for in Japanese and Korean idols. The results showed that Japanese women who grew up with a culture in which "idol = immaturity and friendliness" tended to look for "immaturity" in seemingly perfect male K-pop idols. This study aims to shed light on the characteristics of idol culture in Japan and the value that Japanese and Korean idols , coming from different cultural backgrounds , provide to their fans , thereby contributing to a reevaluation of the role and appeal of "idols" in contemporary society.

内容

Johnny's and K-pop idols in Japan have a large presence in the entertainment culture. Johnny's idols are appealing because of their growth process and familiarity , and fans derive sympathy and joy from watching their efforts and evolution. K-pop idols , on the other hand , are characterized by their accomplished performances and sophisticated visuals , and many fans admire them for their perfection. Despite these differences , both idols offer special value to their fans through "oshikatsu" (supporting activities). In this study , semi-structured interviews were conducted with female fans of Japanese idols and female fans of K-pop idols to investigate what Japanese women look for in Japanese and Korean idols. The results showed that Japanese women who grew up with a culture in which "idol = immaturity and friendliness" tended to look for "immaturity" in seemingly perfect male K-pop idols. This study aims to shed light on the characteristics of idol culture in Japan and the value that Japanese and Korean idols , coming from different cultural backgrounds , provide to their fans , thereby contributing to a reevaluation of the role and appeal of "idols" in contemporary society.

講評	This thesis is a good example of how to turn one’s own interest and curiosity into an exciting thesis project. It presents qualitative evidence that cultural differences in idol culture are not necessarily prevalent on the production side , but evident in how fans consume and what they expect from their idols—even when these idols are located in a culture where different aspects are valued. I appreciate the author’s positive outlook throughout this entire process , even when needing to go through significant revisions regarding literature review and on how to present the interview data. Regarding literature , the one weakness that stands out is the low number of English academic sources included. Yet , even though this is a popular thesis topic , the thesis contains plenty of interesting and original insights combining the author’s own thoughts with the rapport they were able to achieve in in-person interviews.

講評

This thesis is a good example of how to turn one’s own interest and curiosity into an exciting thesis project. It presents qualitative evidence that cultural differences in idol culture are not necessarily prevalent on the production side , but evident in how fans consume and what they expect from their idols—even when these idols are located in a culture where different aspects are valued. I appreciate the author’s positive outlook throughout this entire process , even when needing to go through significant revisions regarding literature review and on how to present the interview data. Regarding literature , the one weakness that stands out is the low number of English academic sources included. Yet , even though this is a popular thesis topic , the thesis contains plenty of interesting and original insights combining the author’s own thoughts with the rapport they were able to achieve in in-person interviews.

キーワード1	Idols
キーワード2	Oshi
キーワード3	Fan Culture
キーワード4
キーワード5