We need to talk about “KPop Demon Hunters.”
Partly because everyone else is, but more importantly because your kids are likely talking about it, which invites a special opportunity for parents and caregivers to get involved in the media kids are consuming.
This Salon.com article can act as a primer for you about the making of the movie, its deep ties to KPop culture and fandom. This movie is an incredibly well-told story that was carefully and skillfully crafted with intention (see the article for more). You can also read this CBC article about the director, who is from Toronto.
Many fans of the movie, myself included, quickly fell in love with the story and characters, and of course the music. And it’s not just for kids (I loved the reference to the K-Drama “Business Proposal”!)
Online, I’ve seen a lot of discussions from parents asking why their kids are watching this over and over. Reels and memes are all over social media (my daughter and I keep sending them to each other, so my Explore feed on Instagram is a bit, shall we say, biased). Golden, one of the many popular songs from the movie – and the song chosen to be considered for an Academy Award nomination – is showing up on radio stations and music streaming playlists everywhere.
I will offer this piece of advice if you haven’t seen it yet: and it’s the same thing I recommend for most children’s media that your kids get attached to: Watch it with your kids.
Join in their excitement, their attempts to learn the dances, and chat about what you think about each of the characters, the funniest moments, and their favourite songs (just don’t make me choose one). Laugh about how cute the tiger is (you’ll get it once you watch) and dive into the themes about being true to yourself, friendship, and more.
Media literacy isn’t just about downloading talking points. It’s about seizing the opportunity to learn together and create conversations around the media.
This Netflix hit of the summer (and maybe year) is one way to start.
Related resources: