On first impressions, BTS seem like many other K-pop bands: an attractive group of boys (Jungkook, Jimin, V, Suga, RM, J-Hope, and Jin) singing catchy songs, accompanied by meticulous choreography. However, it is their lyrics, visual storytelling, and sociocritical messages that give BTS further depth.
BTS came from a smaller label (Big Hit), giving them more independence and autonomy and the chance to take more creative risks. Their early songs related to the members’ lives—BTS members often co-write their songs—and they addressed youth issues, such as academic and social pressure, mental health, and conformity, all of which resonate with their fanbase. BTS and their label also excel in storytelling, and it became a unique art form in their hands. Their music videos and short films are more than promotional content; they expand on the themes and meanings found in their songs. Many of their music videos follow a set of interconnected, incomplete, and non-linear narratives peppered with clues that invite active participation from viewers to complete the story. BTS fans often share theories and analyze the meanings of these fragmented but compelling videos. This phenomenon will be discussed in more detail below.
Their storytelling element also draws from literature. Band leader Namjoon—who also goes by RM (short for Rap Monster)—is vocal about his love of literature.
1Namjoon’s Library, “When the world’s biggest band ignites a love of reading,” Korean Literature Now, August 1, 2022, https://www.kln.or.kr/strings/columnsView.do?bbsIdx=1818. BTS has incorporated literary references in their work from the fiction of Ursula K. Le Guin and Haruki Murakami, and even non-fiction books like
Into the Magic Shop by James R. Doty and
Map of the Soul, Murray Stein’s book on Jungian psychology. The book that has had the greatest influence on their work, however, has been
Demian by Hermann Hesse for their album
Wings (2016).
What is interesting about BTS’s use of
Demian is how the book was used to intertwine narratives and themes from their previous albums.
Demian integrates perfectly into what is referred to as the Bangtan Universe (BU), a fictionalized setting for the storyline the BTS band members inhabit as characters with their own fictional backstory that is not a reflection of the real-life band members. The term “Universe” is used as their narrative setting appears to takes place in multiple timelines, with many fan theories speculating that one band member, Jin, is a time traveler.
2Koreaboo, “7 Shocking Fan Theories About BTS, That Could Actually Be True,” Koreaboo, December 5, 2018, https://www.koreaboo.com/lists/bts-fan-theories-surprising-maybe-true/. Their album
Hwa Yong Yeon Hwa (The Most Beautiful Moment in Life, 2015)—usually called
HYYH—began the narrative found in the BU that is continued in
Wings. The storyline is fragmented, leaving a series of clues for the viewer to put together, creating an immersive experience for fans. To understand how
Demian is used in
Wings to amplify the theme and storytelling, it is essential to learn about the context of BTS’s earlier work and their criticism of Korean society.