Push & Pull: IU's Fan Encounter.

Push & Pull, what is the first thing that comes into your mind when this words are mentioned? Physics? Gravity? Maybe, Sports?  We are all familiar with phrases from famous scientists relating to Push & Pull with the likes of: "What goes up must come down" and science's well known "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." Well we can say that it has something physical and requires some kind of a force. But is it only related to the physical aspect and limited to the subjects of science and sports when this two words is used. Using our artistic side and wide imagination, we can relate this two balancing words to another aspects in society such as the Entertainment industry along with its influence to the psychological and emotional side of people present in the said category. 

The "Push & Pull" in the Entertainment Industry (Showbiz)
As I have mentioned above, when Push & Pull is mentioned think that that there is some kind of a force involved. So what can this force be in the Entertainment Industry. Well that force is participating behind the scenes of the industry, an aura for all celebrities alike, they are energy to feed through or the energy they give in, they are the ingredients for a recipe that a celebrity need for its success and sustainability in the business, the force that is called Fan(s).

What are Fan(s)? If you are thinking about those things with a small propeller with 3 levels of speed for wind and an option to turn it on and off, well it is not those things I am talking about. Fan(s) is a person with a liking and entusiasm for something, such as a band, a sports team or entertainer. Sometimes called aficionado or supporter more. There are 2 types of Fan; the fan(s), the supporter itself (the positive force) and the anti-fan(s) (more), the one who are against (the negative force) a certain personality. These 2 are the "Push & Pull" of the Entertainment Industry.

The "Pull" represents the anti-fan(s), the one that is "pulling" down the personality in their success through harsh criticism, continuous attack of weaknesses, sometimes even succumbing to involve the relatives as a form of attack. The "Push" represents the fan(s), the one that is "pushing" up the personality to do their best on whatever they are doing, giving undying support through thick and thin. Whenever one of the force is trying to do, the latter will respond, and vice-versa. As what Newton's third law of Motion states, "For every action, there is an equal an opposite rection."

Well-known and up and coming Personalities cannot escape this inevitable situation but just to get themselves ready for whatever this two forces throws at them. Having experience the, up-and-coming stage as well as the well-known stage of becoming a showbiz personality, IU have encountered these forces and in the variety show Strong Heart she shared her story.

Strong Heart Episode 110: Year End Special, IU is one of the guest and shared her story she titled " A ritual of curse words".

IU started her story with her very first performance, her debut, where she encountered an anti-Fan while she was performing. She was expecting for people to just listen and watch her performance and even hope some will cheer her on but instead got the opposite.

Here is the performance that IU is talking about:

(Credits to: IUsubteam)

In the video you can hear the shouts in the background, IU endured this baseless chanting and criticism until she finished her performance. (Back to Strong Heart) One comedian in the show made a funny side joke about the story and compliments IU's composure which IU responded with her patented laugh.

This was one of IU's two situations where she felt upset. The other one is something you might be familiar if you have already read my "Good Day" blog, where I called one of IU's "Good Day" performance as "Good Day's Most Memorable Performance". Yes the one that "EPIC Fan", was in.

IU started telling the second situation where she felt upset by first saying how "Good Day" help her to where she is now. But also mentioned that "Good Day" also made her upset. She goes on to tell the story of her performance where only one fan was present in the audience. Unless you have not read my previous blog (well what can I do, "Eotteokhae?"), here is the performance IU speaks of: 

(Credits to: KpopSoundx2)

☝ EPIC!

IU's "Good Day" won first place in that show. She also recounted the thank you message she gave after winning and how her goals came to be, also on how she perceived her fans due to this lone fan.

 Unless you have not (please go read my previous blog) seen the thank you message video, here it is:

(Credits to: KpopSoundx2)

Due to Leeteuk's cornyness (don't kill me ELF's), I have obtained EPIC Fan noona's name, which is:

Thank you, Jung So-Hee noona.

For the video of these screenshots along with IU's view on her goals and her fans and also for the whole episode 110 of Strong Heart Year End Special (really funny episode, also with Boom's interaction with her fans) visit Viki.com here.

( Credits to: SBS (video) & Viki.com (video with English Subtitles) )

There are always things that contradict each other and that is how things are maintained, a balanced state. Sometimes one side gets an upper hand and the latter will try its best to get in level, it might not seems like it but the two supports each other to keep itself in check. As I have mentioned before in my previous blog that an anti-fan(s) might be a celebrities worst nightmare, it can also be the one that can sustain and balance them. An anti-fan(s) is as much as supportive (through criticism) as the fan(s) themselves, but have to carefully take in the  needed support these anti-fan(s) provide. Do not let their guard down and get sucked in to the negative force that is presented but to keep things in check and balance it out with the positive force that the loyal fan(s) provide.

So let us end with my made up quote:

"Keep things around you in check and it will balance itself."

☞ *cue credits*

Thank you to the person reading this right now. ^_^