Bikkuri Project

If I was a Japanese studies major I would write my thesis about the ‘idol’ concept. It’s just so fascinating really. Thinking about all of the good things about being a fan of idols has made me also consider one of its major perils: idol disillusionment.

We know that idols strive to portray themselves as the ‘ideal’ girl/guy that you so often see in romantic comedies or TV shows. They have their own individual personalities because ‘ideal’ means different things to different people, but their negative points are only shown just enough to add interest and charm. Like “Aww… she’s so clumsy, how cute!” or “Ooh. She’s kind of shy, how sweet!” The difference between idols and those movie characters is that the movie is upfront about being a fantasy, but we’re encouraged to believe that the idol really is that person we see on TV. Deep down, I think even the most diehard fans suspect that it can’t be totally true, but they want it to be true, so suspicions are suppressed. Others of us simply enjoy the game of pretend, so we enjoy the illusion until they give us reason not to. I’m not saying that all idols are really horrible people or even that their entire personality is a lie. It’d be nearly impossible to spend that much time constantly acting like someone they’re not. However, I do realize that the sides of their personality we are allowed to see is something that’s carefully controlled both by the idol and his or her agency. We see all of the good things about them, but anything that the public might find distasteful is carefully hidden away, allowing us to believe that there really isn’t anything distasteful about them at all.

Idols want you to accept the fantasy, but doing so puts the fans and even the idols themselves in a potentially dangerous position. We, the fans, may allow ourselves to become emotionally invested in our idols, and if that illusion of perfection is ever shattered or even cracked, the results can be devastating for both sides. Unfortunately, since the idols are only human, this is something that’s bound to happen eventually in most cases.

It doesn’t take much to damage that dream of perfection. It could be something as small as the idol who you thought was the world’s most wonderful singer hitting a bad note during a concert. It could be a picture of the girl who you thought possessed unworldly beauty looking tired and bloated. It could be a rumor that two members of a group that you enjoy don’t really get along very well in real life or a sharp comment an idol makes about overzealous fans. It’s not too hard to move past these little dings in an otherwise flawless image, but you can tell from the emotional reaction these events draw that they do bother the fans on a deeper level than they ought to. It can be very disappointing when something like that happens, because you trusted that idol and she has let you down. Some fans will react by becoming extremely defensive and proclaim that there was no bad note, she’s looking as lovely as ever in that picture, those girls are best friends because two people who are both so nice couldn’t not get along, and of course that idol loves and adores each and every one of her fans. Despite the squadrons of knights in shining armor rushing to protect their idol’s honor, every single one of these small slights does damage his or her image in some way. Even if you choose not to believe it, you can’t unhear that rumor or un-see that performance. Bit by bit the fantasy becomes tainted.. The most devoted fans will continue to deny that these flaws exist, but the rest of us have to sigh and accept them. It’s too bad, but not entirely unexpected, and she’s still pretty darn great even if she’s not perfect, right? We certainly prefer to see them as perfection personified, but almost perfect is usually good enough. An idol’s image can take a certain amount of damage without their idol status being lost. The idol and fan relationship will persist until one black day when blurry grey pictures splashed with headlines appear on your computer screen.

A major scandal is the worst case scenario. What happened with Aibon, for example, resulted in MASSIVE disillusionment for her fans. If, to a fan, one of the small flaws mentioned above stings a bit, a major scandal is like a shotgun blast to the gut. There was indeed much weeping, gnashing of teeth and pulling of hair over Miss Kago. Aibon’s scandal evoked a strong emotional reaction in all of her fans. Though you didn’t know it at the time, by becoming your fan, you were setting yourself up for heartbreak. When you think about it, it’s strange that it should be that way. We don’t know this girl. She doesn’t owe us anything, so why did we feel so betrayed, lied to even?

The truth is, we were, and are, being lied to all along about our idols, but we just don’t want to hear it. We like our happy illusions that there are perfect humans among us. In an often pessimistic world they reflect the most optimistic sort of view on humanity. If people like that are really out there, the world can’t be that bad a place, I think. There is a sort of unspoken promise between an idol and their fans. If you support them they will provide you with that sort of escape from the harsher realities of the world. That’s why we feel so betrayed when our angels fall. You may know full well that the girl is just a normal human who happens to have a pretty face, but she has agreed to allow you to dream and pretend that she is something much much more than that, and if she has a scandal that suspension of disbelief is no longer possible.

Perhaps eventually we can come to accept that he/she was only human after all, direct our anger at the ‘unfair’ idol system or the heartless tabloids, and wish them happiness in their life. Once that illusion is gone though, even if he/she should return to show business, the virtual relationship you had with them can never be the same again because they have broken your trust.

To draw in another metaphor, logically I know that what goes on behind the scenes at Disney Land is not all peaches and cream and magic and wonder, but I can still get immense enjoyment out of visiting the park and pretending otherwise. If someone tried to show me all of the bad stuff, I would be quite upset, because I’d never enjoy going there the same way again. I’d have irrevocably lost something that used to bring me joy. Patronizing idols is similar to patronizing Disney Land. I know that the bad stuff is out there, but as long as I can’t see it I can successfully pretend that it doesn’t exist. There is a lot of fun to be gained from a visit to Disney Land or following a favorite idol, but disillusionment is a very painful process, so those who engage in idol worship (or Disney fanaticism) best be aware that they may be setting themselves up for a fall.