Over the years, South Korea has become extremely popular around the globe. From the language to the k-dramas to the K-pop, South Korea has left a lasting impression on countless people. In particular, the notably famous K-pop group, BTS, has substantially changed and influenced people and the traditional way of thinking on subjects that have caused problems for centuries. This seven-member group has not only helped their people, but they also helped people in the rest of the world as well through their songs and views.
In the Esquire article, “The Boundless Optimism of BTS”, Dave Holmes recounts his time interviewing the K-pop group: BTS, otherwise known as Bangtan Sonyeondan, Bulletproof Boy Scouts. The band is made up of seven members who first debuted together back in June of 2013. Holmes not only talks about the interview, but he goes into depth about their accomplishments and bond.
Holmes is not only a writer and editor for Esquire Magazine, but he has hosted for multiple different channels, including CBS, FX, and Bravo. Holmes is a reliable author because he discusses events and facts that any person could search for, including their songs, achievements, and feelings.
Masculinity has become such a toxic thing that it affects everyone around it. The avoidance of feelings and being vulnerable has led to so much trauma and hate. This magazine article does so much more than talk about BTS’s relationship; it touches upon the topic of masculinity and how BTS has defied it. Holmes shows us how vulnerable and empathetic they can be, not only to each other but to their fans as well. Holmes wants his audience, those who doubt their worth and self-image, to know that masculinity does not define a person; each person is unique and has the quirks that make them who they are. Holmes includes quotes from BTS member Suga, who defends those who are not in a good mental state whether that applies to their looks or self-identity.
Holmes is supportive of BTS and who they have become today. He states that “BTS have already won… BTS have already conquered the world, clowned tyrants, inspired individual fans to perform the small and achievable acts of activism that have collectively begun to save the planet, challenged toxic masculinity by leading with vulnerability, and, along the way, become bajillionaires and international idols.”
Holmes keeps a positive and inspiring tone throughout the article. He reminds his readers that “Beneath the sheen and the beats has always been an unflinching examination of human emotion.” BTS has struggled and overcome so many obstacles. Holmes assures his readers that everyone has trouble finding who they are, but they eventually find themselves.
The Esquire piece is an entertainment article that was published on the Esquire website in November of 2020. This article made it into their Winter Issue for 2020.
This next source is from a Broadcast Transcript from National Public Radio. This broadcast clip from the news program: “All Things Considered” consists of five news anchors, including Mary Kelly, Stacey Smith, Tamar Herman, Vanek Smith, and Park Chan-Wook. This program reports current world events on the arts and life, music, and entertainment. This program is credible because they are using facts and numbers to back up their claims.
They discuss the impact of one of South Korea’s most sought-after bands: BTS. The group has become such a big sensation all over the globe, bringing in a colossal amount of money for South Korea. BTS has such a vast influence that they are “fueling tourism to Korea, study of the Korean language, interest in Korean movies, television, fashion and food.” A colleague of the news anchors is a big BTS fan who was able to learn Korean from their songs. The anchors speak about an online concert during the pandemic, which brought in more than $70 million through merchandise and ticket sales. According to the Bank of Korea, “BTS is bringing in an estimated $5 billion a year to South Korea. That’s around half a percent of the country’s entire economy.” The boy band has many partnerships with famous brands including, but not limited to Samsung Galaxy, Louis Vuitton, and McDonald’s. The news anchors want to emphasize just how much of an effect BTS has on the world.
The anchors want to relay this information to anyone interested in this band or just Korea in general. They talk about BTS’s popularity in an awe-struck and astonished tone. Tamar Herman says: “They’re just so big. You can’t just look at BTS and be like, ah, yes, this is just the same cloth reshaped. No, it’s a brand-new cloth.” Herman sees something new and great about BTS and their songs.
Mary Kelly talks about how two of BTS’s songs were being debated as the song of the summer. Stacey Smith responds by saying: “this is like a blip for BTS, which has been on a streak of success that’s almost hard to fathom.” The anchors clearly see how much of an impact BTS has left not only on their own country but the whole world.
This broadcast program is entertainment news which aired in August 2021. They uploaded the transcript onto their program section: “All Things Considered.”
The third source is a journal article from the “Journal of Analytical Psychology.” The author, B. William Brennan, is a psychotherapist from Providence, Rhode Island. Brennan goes into depth on how BTS puts a significant amount of meaning into their songs, music videos, and even logos. He is a reliable author because he talks about the significance and reasoning behind some of their songs, which the members talk about themselves.
Brennan wants to address those interested in the individuality of BTS and how they affect the world. BTS has “multi‐layered artistic expressions of self‐love and empowerment, vulnerability and open expression of emotions.” They want to connect with everyone, to show them that they understand what they are going through and that things will get better. It is important that people love and believe in themselves. Brennan brings up the fandom name for BTS, saying that the “clever use of the acronym A.R.M.Y [Adorable Representative M.C. for Youth] … gives their followers a sense of belonging and affiliation, so needed in our fragmented world.” Brennan tells his audience that BTS is a loving and caring group that cares about the well-being of everyone around the globe.
Brennan leaves a curious yet supportive tone throughout his article. He had not known about BTS before his client session, and so he finds himself “drawn into a maze where [he] discovered a multilayered world…” However, he still believes in the good that they are bringing to the world. He believes that “Their humility, positivity, overall wholesomeness, and depth of friendship provide an antidote for the maladies of our times.”
This analytical article made its way into the 65th edition of the Journal of Analytical Psychology in November 2020.
This last source is a tweet from @Jung_cookiees replying to a tweet from @bts_bighit. @Jung_cookiees Twitter seems to be a fan page for BTS with current news on the group and retweets of posts regarding BTS. She is credible because the tweet that she replies to comes directly from the company that manages BTS.
BigHit Music (now known as HYBE Corporation), a South Korean Entertainment company, uploaded a tweet on September 14, 2021, with hashtags in Korean saying: “Presidential Special Envoy,” “Got ARMY Behind Us,” and “With ARMY in my Heart” (translated by google). BTS is representing South Korea as the President’s Special Envoy at the United Nations General Assembly. The group was appointed specially by their president to bring hope and support to the youth all around the world.
@Jung_cookiees replies to the tweet by saying: “No words can describe how proud I am of u guy’s a 7 normal boys from Korea started from the bottom in a small company and moved their way up…” She talks directly to the members of BTS in this tweet, showing her love and pride for them. Her tone gives off elation; she says that she is “beyond proud” of BTS.
@Jung_Cookiees expresses her gratitude and love for the band. She wants them to know that they are “comforting millions of people around the world through [their] music and messages.”
All of these sources inform their audience, those who are intrigued by the band, of the achievements and impact that BTS has left on the younger generations of this world. However, they focus on different successes and influences. Holmes, the author of the Esquire article, aims to inform their readers about the change in traditional masculine thoughts. He focuses on how masculinity does not define a person, and BTS perfectly proves this fact. The journal article is similar because it talks about how much BTS is changing their fan’s views. Brennan expresses how BTS wants people to love themselves for who they are. The news broadcast tells their viewers how much they have affected their country’s economy through merchandise, tickets, and partnerships. The Twitter post highlights BTS’s recent achievement; becoming the President’s Special Envoy.
All four sources believe that BTS is doing something great for the world. They are impressed and approving of the group. The authors call attention to some kind of accomplishment whether it be mental or physical, like improving the economy. They use positive tones throughout their articles, broadcasts, or tweets.
The magazine and newspaper broadcast were similar in genres considering they both focused on entertainment, however, one is an article and the other is a news broadcast transcript, respectively. The journal article is an analytical essay, focusing more on the psychological effects of BTS. The last source is a tweet post.
