Transnational Identities and Feeling in Fandom: Place and Embodiment in K-pop Fan Reaction Videos

This article explores the Korean Popular Music (K-pop) reaction video as a transnational representation of place and embodiment. In my analysis, I examine the performances of identity in videos created by North American fans of Korean popular culture who film themselves watching music videos for the first time. This understanding of fans outside of Korea centralizes their situated experiences and intimate community engagement. Rather than discussing transnational and online spaces as disembodied and place-less, it is crucial to recognize the material realities connected to these spaces, particularly on platforms that rely primarily on visual creative expression. I argue that the K-pop reaction video functions to represent the fluid complexities of transnationalism, while also embracing the tangible significance of place, body, and emotion.