What's In a Name? A Conversation on the Categorization of K-pop in the West
By Kaitlyn Read "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." According to Shakespeare's most famous tragedy, Romeo and Juliet , a name is insignificant. The conventions behind the meaning of a name or title are seemingly unimportant. They don't make us who we are. Western media, however, would disagree. When it comes to the music industry here, your name, your music genre or category, is everything, if you're even recognized. The Western world seems to be calling the shots and in charge, even if self-appointed. They run the awards shows, create the categories, and nominate their favorite artists (bias included). But what happens when this power is threatened, when the Western entertainment industry has such a hard time comprehending people wanting to listen to something "foreign," to something considered "other?" What happens when a band whose first language isn't English charts the tops above ...
