Weki Meki Used A Rifle in Their Concept Photos

[LostInTheDream]

So, I don't per say stan Weki Meki, but I have always been interested in their comebacks.
I watched the music video and loved the song, so decided to look at their profile on this site, in order to learn who is who a bit better.
What surprised me was to see many of the members posing with a rifle in their concept photo:

As someone who has been negatively impacted by fire arms in the past, this is a bit upsetting to me. I personally don't think it is okay to use guns in any kind of aesthetic way, unless it is being used in regards to the fight for gun legislation.
Not only does this make me almost angry that has been so harmful to those I knew, but it makes me concerned that fans will see this and think that guns are cool, or that they are okay because an idol is holding it. This could result in further gun violence, whether purposeful or on accident.

What they are posing with is most definitely a fake gun, but it looks so similar to a real one, and is being handled in what I would say is threatening way (aiming it).
Other artists have also used gun imagery before, but when they do, it tends to not look like a gun, like this in EXO's "Love Shot" MV:

I'm still not 100% ok with EXO's interpretation, but at least the gun seems less threatening, and does not look like a traditional gun.

Also, I'm not saying that Weki Meki is the only group or soloist to use gun imagery like this in their releases, this is just the one that I happened to see first and felt most impacted by.

What do you think, should something that is used to harm people be used like this in media, no matter how harmless the intentions?

 

[KaatKate]

Yeah I agree with what you say. Things like this shouldn’t be used for aesthetic purposes because it can influence their fans to do the same.

 

[LostInTheDream]

Yeah I agree with what you say. Things like this shouldn’t be used for aesthetic purposes because it can influence their fans to do the same.

Thanks for saying that, I wasn't sure if I was just being overly sensitive or something...

 

[OppaIsTrash]

i agree that romanticizing guns/the use of guns isn't good, but personally i think that the fictional/artistic use and representations of gun and gun use is less important that the concrete legislation. the way i see it, it doesn't really matter if you think guns are cool~ if you can't get your hands on one.

additionally, i looked up some information about guns in south korea and from what i can see the restrictions on guns there is on the stricter side, so gun violence is lower than other places, which i think may be one reason why you might see guns more casually presented in artistic spaces. here's the site i found if you're interested yourself, i admittedly only browsed a few of the sections.

that said, it's absolutely understandable that you feel this strongly about this. i'm very sorry for your experience. i'm sure if i had a similar experience i would find it hard to see guns in the same way.

 

[puertty]

I don't think it was necessary to use guns in the concept photo because it wasn't related what so ever. It may influence fans to have one. But i don't think i saw any of the Weki Meki members using or holding guns in the music video. Fantiago (company) should be careful next time though.

 

[gardenofeden]

It may influence fans to have one.

Why would it do that? It's just a prop

 

[LostInTheDream]

Why would it do that? It's just a prop

Younger people might not know it's a prop, and think it is cool because their idol has one.
The way they are using the gun in an aesthetic way like that may lead others to believe that they would look cool, beautiful, or be popular if they had one and posted a similar picture.
It's a similar phenomenon to violent video games.

 

[gardenofeden]

Younger people might not know it's a prop, and think it is cool because their idol has one.
The way they are using the gun in an aesthetic way like that may lead others to believe that they would look cool, beautiful, or be popular if they had one and posted a similar picture.
It's a similar phenomenon to violent video games.

the myth about violent video games have been proven false though.

 

[gardenofeden]

the myth about violent video games have been proven false though.

That's as if saying "I saw someone drink bleach, so now I'm gonna drink bleach." Humans have brains that tell them what's right and wrong

 

[LostInTheDream]

the myth about violent video games have been proven false though.

It's not necessarily a myth, tons of psychological testing has proved that people who engage in violent video games are more likely to engage in violent behavior. Even before violent video games were created (Bandura's Bobo Doll Experiment) there is proof of this kind of modeling.
It's very rare that they would act on this violence, only a small percentage of people will go through with the violence who play violent video games, like the man who impacted my life through gun violence.

 

[gardenofeden]

It's not necessarily a myth, tons of psychological testing has proved that people who engage in violent video games are more likely to engage in violent behavior. Even before violent video games were created (Bandura's Bobo Doll Experiment) there is proof of this kind of modeling.
It's very rare that they would act on this violence, only a small percentage of people will go through with the violence who play violent video games, like the man who impacted my life through gun violence.

I understand that this impacts you, but guns are always gonna be depicted in media because it's supposed to parallel real life. It wasn't really used as a "concept". Also these studies show theres no correlation between video games and violence https://www.forbes.com/sites/ollieb...mes-and-aggression-in-teenagers/#7717b370328e

Violent Video Games Don't Make Kids Violent, Study Finds - GoodTherapy.org Therapy Blog

According to a recently published study, violent video games don't make children more aggressive. A more telling factor is how long a child plays video games.

www.goodtherapy.org

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/video-game-health/201907/blame-game-violent-video-games-do-not-cause-violence

 

[LostInTheDream]

I understand that this impacts you, but guns are always gonna be depicted in media because it's supposed to parallel real life. It wasn't really used as a "concept". Also these studies show theres no correlation between video games and violence https://www.forbes.com/sites/ollieb...mes-and-aggression-in-teenagers/#7717b370328e

Violent Video Games Don't Make Kids Violent, Study Finds - GoodTherapy.org Therapy Blog

According to a recently published study, violent video games don't make children more aggressive. A more telling factor is how long a child plays video games.

www.goodtherapy.org

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/video-game-health/201907/blame-game-violent-video-games-do-not-cause-violence

I give up, I'll agree to disagree

 

[gardenofeden]

I give up, I'll agree to disagree

Why can't we just have a debate as 2 intellectuals? We'd both learn something. You shouldn't be so quick to throw in the towel

 

[LostInTheDream]

Why can't we just have a debate as 2 intellectuals? We'd both learn something. You shouldn't be so quick to throw in the towel

Because discussing this in detail greater than I anticipated is making me sad, as I am beginning to think more and more about what happened in my past

 

[gardenofeden]

Because discussing this in detail greater than I anticipated is making me sad, as I am beginning to think more and more about what happened in my past

I mean I'm sorry about what happened to you, and if I said something that upset you. But I'm just saying

 

[LostInTheDream]

I mean I'm sorry about what happened to you, and if I said something that upset you. But I'm just saying

In another scenario, yes I would like to debate with you, but I don't feel like falling down the rabbit hole that happened 7 and a half years ago