Notes: Emerging and Popular Asian Performing and Visual Arts

Subtopic 1: PERFORMANCE ART (K-POP, J-POP, C-POP)

  • Learning objectives: Explore emerging popular performing and visual arts in selected Asian countries; simulate an emerging music and dance, visual, theater, and integrative arts in Asia; express how such performances and visual arts developed in selected countries.

Key Concepts

  • Emerging: newly created or noticed and growing in strength or popularity and becoming widely known or established.

  • Popular Art: any dance, literature, music, theater, or other art form intended to be perceived and appreciated by ordinary people in a literate, technologically advanced society dominated by urban culture.

  • PERFORMANCE ART: an artwork or art exhibition created through actions executed by the artist or other participants.

  • VISUAL ART: art forms that express message, meaning, and emotion through visual means; may be decorative, commercial, or fine art (e.g., painting, photography, sculpture).

Content Overview

  • Emerging Popular Performing and Visual Arts in Asia include:

    • Performing Arts: K-Pop, J-Pop, C-Pop; Cosplay

    • Visual Arts: Digital Manga and Animation; Street Art and Mural Painting

  • K-POP (Korean Pop)

    • Origin/place: Korea

    • Characteristics: catchy melodies, captivating performances, strong emphasis on visuals and fan engagement; multimedia productions; highly synchronized choreography; global reach

    • Global status: has become a global phenomenon with millions of fans worldwide; records in album sales, streaming numbers, and social media engagement

    • Notable artists/groups mentioned: BTS, BLACKPINK, EXO, TWICE, SEVENTEEN, RED VELVET, GOT7, MAMAMOO, IU

    • Representative description: vibrant cultural phenomenon with a heavy emphasis on visuals, performance, and fan culture

    • Key features to study: multimedia integration (music videos, choreo, fashion), fan communities, and cross-border influence

  • J-POP (Japanese Pop)

    • Origin/place: Japan

    • Characteristics: diverse musical styles, strong vocal performances, ties to multimedia (anime, films), vibrant visual aesthetics, cultural significance in Japan and beyond

    • Notable artists/groups mentioned: PERFUME, ARASHI, HIKARU UTADA, BABYMETAL, KENSHI YONEZU, NOGIZAKA46, AAA, PERFUME, RADWIMPS, KANA-BOON

    • Key features: integration with media franchises and fashion; distinctive Japanese pop aesthetics

  • C-POP (Chinese Pop)

    • Origin/place: China

    • Characteristics: diverse musical styles, lyrical depth, visual aesthetics, cultural significance in Chinese-speaking regions and beyond

    • Notable artists/groups mentioned: JAY CHOU, FAYE WONG, JJ LIN, G.E.M., HEBE TIEN, LI RONGHAO

    • Key features: cross-cultural reach within Asia and globally; a spectrum from traditional to modern pop influences

  • Visual Arts under Subtopic 1

    • Digital Manga

    • Animation (Anime)

    • Relationship: Manga are Japanese-style graphic novels; Anime refers to Japanese-style animation (shows/movies) often based on manga but not exclusively; Manga refers to printed cartoons, not limited to Japan; the terms anime and manga have global usage with Japan-specific associations

    • World-famous examples: Dragon Ball Z, Sailor Moon, Pokemon, One Piece; Animated titles like Aladdin, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Akira, Mulan, Toy Story, Coco, etc.

  • Subtopic 1: Key takeaways for study

    • K-Pop, J-Pop, and C-Pop are distinct but interconnected strands of Asia’s popular arts, each with unique origins, aesthetics, and artist rosters.

    • The term Emerging vs Popular: K-Pop, J-Pop, and C-Pop are framed as emerging/popular performing arts within Asia’s contemporary culture; their influence extends globally.

    • Visual arts associated with these genres (music videos, stage design, fashion) reinforce the performance and audience engagement model.

  • Subtopic 1: Representative Artists (summary)

    • K-Pop: BTS, BLACKPINK, TWICE, EXO, RED VELVET, GOT7, SEVENTEEN, MAMAMOO, IU

    • J-Pop: PERFUME, ARASHI, KENSHI YONEZU, HIKARU UTADA, NOGIZAKA46, AAA, RADWIMPS, KANA-BOON

    • C-Pop: JAY CHOU, FAYE WONG, JJ LIN, G.E.M., HEBE TIEN, LI RONGHAO

Subtopic 2: COSPLAY

  • Definition: Cosplay is short for costume play; a form of performance art and hobby where participants elaborate costumes of favorite characters from films, TV, video games, and comics to attend conventions/events and showcase creations.

  • Practice: Cosplayers often act in character and are subject-matter experts on the characters they replicate.

  • Reasons for cosplay:

    • Creative self-expression

    • Escaping reality

    • Sense of community

  • Activity 5: Concept Note (guide questions)

    • Look at pictures and complete a concept note describing characteristics of the cosplay images.

    • Guiding questions include analysis of costumes, aesthetics, hair/makeup, and creativity.

Subtopic 3: DIGITAL MANGA AND ANIMATION

  • Digital Manga: Manga are comics or graphic novels originally published in Japan; manga refers to Japanese-style graphic novels. They share illustration styles with anime but are distinct media.

  • Anime: Anime refers to Japanese-style 2D animation; can be hand-drawn or computer-generated; originates from Japan; not all anime is based on manga, though many are.

  • Relationship: Manga are books; anime are shows or movies; many popular anime are adaptations of manga; in global usage, anime/manga terms are strongly associated with Japanese works.

  • Notable examples of manga/anime pairings: Dragon Ball Z, Sailor Moon, Pokemon, One Piece.

  • Animated Movie: A movie created from a series of drawings, computer graphics, or photographs of inanimate objects (puppets) with motion created by frame-to-frame changes; examples include Aladdin, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Akira, Mulan, Toy Story, Coco, etc.

Subtopic 4: ASIAN VISUAL ART (STREET ART AND MURAL PAINTING)

  • Street Art: Created in public places like walls or streets; often uses spray paint or stencils; typically bold, colorful, and can convey messages or emotions.

  • Mural Painting: Large artworks painted directly on walls or ceilings; often depict stories, culture, or community life.

  • Street Art vs. Mural Painting: Street art is a contemporary form to spread messages, not solely to beautify; murals are often integrated into public spaces to reflect community heritage.

  • Notable examples cited:

    • Haji Lane, Singapore (street art scene)

    • Everton Road murals in Singapore by local artist Yip Yew Chong, depicting nostalgic scenes from the 1950s-1960s

    • Graham Street, Hong Kong, End markers and the Instagram Wall; Hong Kong street art scene; Heung Yip Road (Wong Chuk Hang, HK) as a street art hub following HKwalls Street Art Festival (2017)

  • 17 Best Cities to See Street Art in Asia (reference in materials)

Asian Visual Art (DIGITAL MANGA AND ANIMATION) – Additional Notes

  • Digital Manga vs Animation distinctions clarified; manga are printed, animation is time-based media; many titles cross into both domains; common misconceptions addressed (manga = anime, etc.)

  • Examples of popular media titles used to illustrate these forms are provided to aid recognition and cross-media understanding