BTS: A spectacular and artistic MV

BTS is no exception to its habits and offers the public a very worked MV. Between artistic, cinematographic and cultural references, the group transmits a message of hope: that of always moving forward.

The MV title “ON” was released Saturday, February 29th at midnight and has excited the fans, reaching nearly 10 million views within an hour after its publication on the BANGTAN TV channel, official channel of the group.

Each output of a video clip of BTS, a thorough analysis of it is needed to understand all the hidden messages, meanings of the decoration, images and history.

Indeed, the group is especially known for having worked MV that leave nothing to chance. Fans of the group, named ARMY, thus have the habit of studying every little detail in order to develop theories, that is to say the reconciliations writings, accounts or beliefs Foreign order to give meaning to each item. And we can say that this new MV filled fans on this point, it has multiplied the references.

To better understand the references we will deal later please view the MV.

The MV starts off strong since it begins with the images of a battlefield in a huge plain, bodies litter the ground, through the smoke it is possible to see worn flags and various arrows which suggest that a a hard fight took place on these lands. Iconic scene that we find in particular in films and series dealing with a bygone era such as the series “Vinkings”, the cult series “Games of Thrones” or the series of renowned films “The Lord of the Rings”.

The camera then focuses on JIN, one of the group’s singers, who approaches an arrow in particular, the one that pierces a dove, yet a symbol of peace, which is brutally killed here, which introduces the fact that the universe in which BTS is currently is indeed at war.

The second member to appear on screen is JUNGKOOK, lead singer and youngest member of the group. He fled from a place enclosed by large concrete walls. His hands are bound by shackles made of brambles. This short scene reveals a second cinematic reference in connection with the film “Divergent” (itself taken from a literary trilogy of the same name written by Veronica ROTH). The common point between the MV and the film of Neil BURGER, is in the standard of living of their two populations which are both locked in a city closed by large walls, making them ignorant of what is behind them. In addition, we can also make the connection between the different types of clothing that define belonging to a community (called faction in the film).

It is also possible to find a meaning in the brambles that bind the singer’s wrists together, these having several meanings depending on the cultures.

First of all, in the language of flowers, the thorn is the natural defense of plants, it is said to be the symbol of virgin land. But, it can also refer to the crown of thorns of Christ which celebrates the marriage of heaven and virgin earth. However, in Egypt, it symbolizes the ascetic engagement while in the Muslim world, it is the symbol of pain and difficulty, whether physical or moral. The interpretation therefore depends on the gaze of the person viewing the MV.

This video clip includes several links between the other MV of the group.

What is strong, is observed with the appearance of V, one of the singers of BTS, the one made in connection with the MV of “Make it right“. Indeed, the link is made through two main characters. One is a boy with wavy hair and the other is a girl with long blond hair. The two of them are near a fire and the young man helps his friend get rid of the shadow around him to bring back the light. The only difference between the two MV is that this time, the young girl is plunged into darkness because of a blindfold which deprives her of sight.

Blindfolded or closed eyes are of great importance in the MV. It is true that during the release of “Make it right” there were many speculations regarding the possibility that the boy is BTS and that the girl represents the ARMY, in “ON” the blindfold would then be the metaphor for injuries. and demons from the fans and the band would help them open their eyes and finally achieve happiness, which the clip confirms.

Indeed, the doors open when JUNGKOOK opens his eyes and TAEHYUNG, V‘s first name, removes the blindfold from the little girl’s eyes. Regaining sight of the world around them or their life then allows them to reveal a way out which allows them to escape their prison.

This scene also shows an inspiration from the film “The Labyrinth”, which is taken from the novel of the same name, written by James DASHNER. In this film, a group of teenagers are locked between four walls and their possible exit is a labyrinth whose concrete doors slide each morning to give access to the labyrinth, just like the wall that encloses BTS in a world of war. Likewise, in James DASHNER‘s world, men are victims of a disease which causes them to lose all humanity, the first physical sign of this epidemic is the presence of black veins on the bodies of the sick, which TAEHYUNG carries in the MV. But, just as it could be cinematic inspiration, it could just as easily be the progression of “Shadow” in the singer’s soul.

The “Shadow” is taken from Jungmian psychology based on the belief of four archetypes of the human mind, which form the Self (personality) of each individual. The “Shadow”, or Ombre in French, is the bad side of every individual and is one of these four archetypes.

The references are still numerous in this MV, in particular with the presence of Noah’s Ark, the Conch shell, an inspiration from “Liberty leading the people” or any other science fiction film with the theme of enclave, poverty and people’s revolution.

Note that each reference, whether biblical or artistic, is the symbol of rebellion that ends with victory and a new beginning.

Finally, the latest images of the MV attest to this point as the people break free, the dove comes back to life and six more join it and fly above the limbs, a sign of peace, hope and renewal. Moreover, the parallel between the title of their first music “No more dream”, a title which reassured young adults about having no dreams and the word “Dream” which incites him to daydreams only affirms these hypotheses.

Other references are surely hidden in this MV but each individual has his own vision which then gives a whole different story to the video clip.