dismissing kpop as an inferior art form just because most idols don't produce their own music completely misses what art actually is. kpop is a modern total artwork that synthesizes music, dance, visual arts, fashion, and performance. is it commercial and manufactured? yes. but commercialization and artistic value have never been mutually exclusive. looking at art history, many of humanity’s greatest achievements emerged from strict commercial or institutional frameworks. classical music heavily depended on wealthy patrons and the church. renaissance masters painted masterpieces commissioned by powerful clients with rigid demands. being funded and directed by a system doesn't erase the art