BTS A Global Interdisciplinary Conference

Proposal for an academic paper presentation

Title of an academic paper presentation: Can BTS (still) be considered K-pop

Abstract:
Among fans and scholars, there is still an open discussion directed towards the understanding
of Korean popular music. This kind of practice implies the constant redefining meaning of K-pop, thus
the BTS' roll in it. Hence, I would like to make my own understanding of K-pop phenomenon by pointing
out the basic characteristics that make it distinguishable and unique. Is it a music genre or smart
production and marketing move is yet to be answered. The importance of comprehending this
phenomenon lies in a better understanding of BTS' place and roll in the K-pop industry. Later, by solely
focusing on BTS, their music history and concepts, I will be able to dive into the specific features of this
group. Eventually, by comparing basic musical and non-musical aspects of K-pop and previously
mentioned boy band, as well as scholars' and fans' perceptions, I will be able to answer the main question
of this paper - is BTS (still) part of K-pop or its supreme form?

Short biography:

Violeta Jokić is PhD student of Ethnomusicology and teaching assistant at the Faculty
of Music in Belgrade, Serbia. Among other publications, she is a co-author of a handbook for
frula [wooden flute] players named Škola frule “Sveti Vladika Nikolaj” [School of frula ’Sveti
Vladika Nikolaj’] published in 2017. A year after, she held a master class ’Playing traditional
instrument – frula' in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In 2019, she participated in the Conference
within Vlado S. Milosevic's Days in Banja Luka, talking about Sevdalinka with saz
accompaniment. In the same year she attended 7th IsaScience Conference in Austria. Now,
beside the traditional music, field of her research is mostly dedicated to K-pop and fandom in
Serbia which has been her occupation since 2016. She published a research paper named ’K-
pop in Serbia: How young people express an affinity towards a certain type of music through
dance' in 2018.