Welcome back to our One Day at a Time series in which we count down to ATEEZ's fifth anniversary! As part of our special giveaway event, you can comment on each post for an additional entry into the giveaway being held on Instagram. If you want your comment to count as an entry, make sure to include your Instagram username in your comment.
If you've made it this far into the series, you're probably fully aware that we like ATEEZ. We like ATEEZ a lot. And you probably do too. Perhaps you are interested in taking your fandomship to the next level. If so, you've come to the right place. Let's talk about how you can really infuse your life with ATEEZ. Results are guaranteed.
level 1: music
This one's easy. In fact, you're probably already here. If you're a fan of ATEEZ, obviously you listen to their music, yes? But also consider making thematic playlists centered around ATEEZ songs. Maybe you should make one for this week. Or your mood right now. Or just based on vibes. Now that you've made one playlist, make 100 more.
level 2: related media
Sure, you listen to the music. But there's so much more out there. Did you know that for their Wonderland stage for Kingdom, they were inspired by Pirates of the Caribbean? You should definitely watch those movies. Or any of these other ATEEZ lore related movies. Maybe even have a watch party. Did you know that Pirates was loosely inspired by a book called On Stranger Tides? Can't call yourself a pirates enthusiast until you've read it. What about the lore? You've probably already read The Giver, but there's also a book called Eye in the Sky and ATEEZ once mentioned Eyes in the Sky so you better read that book too. The list is endless. But so is your love for ATEEZ.
level 3: collections
No, this is not about collecting PCs. . . but it could be. I mean, collecting albums and photocards is just the basics. What about all the merch? What about all the magazines? What about every animal thing? Jongho is a bear; therefore, all bears are Jongho. Are you really going to just leave Jongho on the shelf? Surely not. You should bring him home with you. You should bring all of him home with you.
level 4: hobbies
Truthfully, collecting things feels a bit passive, don't you think? We should really get active and create. Channel Hongjoong and reform your clothes and shoes. Make bracelets out of album paper that are infused with the souls of the members. Try out Wooyoung's recipes. Did you watch Hwa's Lego live? Why not ask for the Lego sets for your birthday and then spend hours putting them together yourself? Does Hongjoong play tennis? You should play tennis too. Did you once see Wooyoung riding a bike? Better get a bike yourself. Get out there and really embody ATEEZ.
level 5: lifestyle
Listen, are you really a fan if you aren't actually changing how you do your life? Surely when Summer Taste hit the airwaves, you converted to a Pepsi household. Naturally, anything 7 is incorrect and wrong. All things must be done in groups of 8. Obviously, Halazia was released at the end of the year so that you could use it as the basis for all of your New Years resolutions. Resolutions you'll make while snuggled up with your Yunho puppy underneath the ATEEZ posters you've blended right in with your normal, rational adult decor. We're all fine and normal here.
level 6: obsession
Is it enough to just chat about ATEEZ in text messages and group chats? Start a blog. You have Big Thoughts and everyone deserves to see them. Are you worried that Elon Musk will utterly decimate Twitter and all of ATEEZ's photos will be lost to time? Better upgrade your Google Drive and spend hours and hours creating an archive meticulously organized by date and member and source. Do you enjoy the lore? Do you enjoy the lore enough to create a database with images and links to track things like the diaries, the lyrics, the imagery and symbolism in the music videos? Have you signed up for an impossible-to-cancel, faith-based book subscription just so you can vote for Jongho's OST on a poll that no one else seems to know about?
Let's be honest. At this point, you'll feel like you're in too deep, but you're not. Not really. Not yet.
level 7: religion
As an Atiny, your final form lies in creating an entire religion based on ATEEZ and their lore. The Diaries are your Holy Writ, your Sacred Text. You must spend time each weekend delving into their truths. And take those truths with you into your week. Choose a boy to guide you through your days as Patron Saint. Mold your behavior after his. Let his aura guide your choices. Have you created religious ATEEZ tracts to convert non-believers into Atinys? Why not? Do you not want them to be Saved?
Be the Light; achieve Enlightenment.
Halazia.
On an actually serious note, lol. . .
It's no secret that society looks down on fandom. It is simply not cool to care too much. Especially if that thing you care about is something for shallow, stupid girls.
I've been a bit obsessed with this video that I randomly watched several days ago:
(Don't tell GD. She's beefing with BG3.) Though I am a gamer when I have time to be, I actually don't play Baldur's Gate (not yet, anyway). But I am always fascinated by listening to people talk about things that they love. I enjoy watching their eyes light up and their walls fall a bit as they get to expound on their Thing to someone who wants to listen.
What I love about this video is what Mo Mo has to say about allowing yourself to really Love whatever your thing is, no matter what other people think or have to say about it. Let yourself have Joy; it is truly difficult to come by.
And if ATEEZ is that joy for you, just let yourself explore it and immerse yourself in it however you want. Balance, of course, is key in everything (something else Mo Mo addresses). But don't hold yourself back on account of other people. Love the things you want to love in the way you want to love them.
There's only one day left in this series. Are you ready for whatever surprises ATEEZ may have in store?
“Results are guaranteed“ had me laughing but that’s so accurate! I absolutely agree with your take on fandom perception and culture, and that was an important and, in some ways, affirming read. Halazia! IG: destiny.hwa
“Jongho is a bear; therefore, all bears are Jongho.” This may be the greatest sentence ever written. That is not hyperbole, I am truly so tickled by this sentence. 🤣
Also your thoughts on fandom and how society views it (especially if it’s female-centric), whew, lots of thoughts on that one. But I’ll keep it positive and say that since joining the ATEEZ fandom and becoming an ATINY, I have met so many wonderful new friends and had so many new experiences and I owe all of that to the boys. I hope they have a happy 5th anniversary (since it’s already 10/24 in Seoul despite them not being there rn, lol). I can’t wait to see what the next…
Beautiful, funny and thoughtful too. I think we all have our range of ways to be a fan l but I’d echo just do it however you it feels right for you. I only know a handful of kpop fans IRL, and mostly interact with people online. Among my IRL friends it’s been fun to share my ridiculous adventures as none of them would have predicted I’d end up doing half of this stuff. We laugh so hard, which can be in short supply someday. I also have to appreciate the new people I’ve met via the fandom as I doubt I’d have ever have had the chance otherwise. I’m paraphrasing Mingi here, but for me it comes …