History GeniusBonus / BTS

** The "Boy With Luv" music video heavily references the film ''Film/SinginInTheRain'', including the "Broadway Melody" scene in the bridge and final chorus. Not only does the film also follow the theme of personas - with Lina Lamont being a case of BitchInSheepsClothing and NiceCharacterMeanActor, as well as needing to have her acting and singing voice secretly dubbed by another woman during the UsefulNotes/RiseOfTheTalkies - but the "Broadway Melody" scene also has a self-contained story where personas, fame and pursuing your own passion appear as themes, as pointed out [[https://twitter.com/tropicalilies/status/1116065424863576067?s=19 here]].

** The title (along with the use of a dance group for its music video) also seems to be a ShoutOut to Darren Aronosfky's ''Film/BlackSwan'', which is a complete contrast to the movie referenced in ''Persona'', ''Singin' in The Rain'': while the latter is a 50s musical about the UsefulNotes/RiseOfTheTalkies, ''Black Swan'' is a 2010 PsychologicalThriller about a BrokenAce ballerina who needs to play the darker, more seductive character of the Black Swan (because the White Swan and the Black Swan are usually played by the same dancer) and is thus forced to face her sexual repression and the pressures of the role - which perfectly follows the concept of "shadow". The movie also focuses much more on the darker side of what happens behind the scenes of the spectacle, with even the dance scenes being largely shot in close-ups of the protagonist in JitterCam.

* The music video for "Spring Day" [[https://sites.psu.edu/coconut4171/2018/11/01/185/ references ]] Literature/ThoseWhoWalkAwayFromOmelas by Ursula K Le Guin.

** The "Boy With Luv" music video heavily references the film ''Film/SinginInTheRain'', including the "Broadway Melody" scene in the bridge and final chorus. Not only does the film also follow the theme of personas - with Lina Lamont being a case of BitchInSheepsClothing and NiceCharacterMeanActor, as well as needing to have her acting and singing voice secretly dubbed by another woman during the UsefulNotes/RiseOfTheTalkies -, but the "Broadway Melody" scene also has a self-contained story where personas, fame and pursuing your own passion appear as themes, as pointed out [[https://twitter.com/tropicalilies/status/1116065424863576067?s=19 here]].

*** Fittingly, the music video of "Black Swan" (not the Art Film, but the official music video) heavily references the film. It features the members in an empty theatre, with scenes of Jimin (who is trained in modern dance) dancing alone. While it averts JitterCam, it does focus in the performer's perspective (with BTS even performing the choreography on stage with their backs to the audience seats), references the MirrorScare scene from the movie, and in particular references Nina's performance as the Black Swan, with Jimin [[spoiler:sprouting black wings]]. Its references to ''Black Swan'' in contrast to "Boy With Luv"'s {{Homage}} to ''Singin' In the Rain'' is examined [[https://twitter.com/tybutdisagree/status/1235308439053758464 here]].

AC: Shadow

AC: Ego

''MAP OF THE SOUL: 7'' follows the concept started in the previous EP, now focusing on the concepts of "shadow" and "ego". [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_(psychology) Shadow]] is the unconscious (equiparable to [[UsefulNotes/IdSuperegoAndEgo the Id]]), [[BeneathTheMask the unknown side hidden by the persona]] where the less desirable aspects of one's personality reside, often (but not always) being negative traits, such as fears or hidden desires.
* In the comeback trailer song "Shadow", SUGA raps about his darker thoughts around fame, from his fear as he suddenly finds himself on a bigger platform with the risk of a higher fall, to his greed as he still wants more. The last part of the song shifts to his shadow's perspective, rapping about how it can never leave him because it is a part of him.

*** Fittingly, the music video of "Black Swan" (not the Art Film, but the official music video) features the members in an empty theatre, with scenes of Jimin (who is trained in modern dance) dancing alone. While it averts JitterCam, it does focus in the performer's perspective (with BTS even performing the choreography on stage with their backs to the audience seats), references the mirror scene when Nina's performance doesn't match her reflection in the mirror, and in particularly references Nina's performance as the Black Swan, with Jimin sprouting black wings. Its references to ''Black Swan'' in contrast to "Boy With Luv"'s {{Homage}} to ''Singin' In the Rain'' is examined [[https://twitter.com/tybutdisagree/status/1235308439053758464 here]].

The ''MAP OF THE SOUL: PERSONA'' album references [[https://twitter.com/idolsonyeondan/status/1029142293469585413 Carl Jung's Map of the Soul and the four steps of the process of individuation]], namely Persona, Ego, Shadow and Self. "[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persona_(psychology) Persona]]", in particular, is a social face or mask the individual presents to the world (with masks also being a recurring theme in the ''LOVE YOURSELF'' series).

''MAP OF THE SOUL: 7'' follows the concept started in the previous EP, now focusing on the concepts of "shadow" and "ego". [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_(psychology) Shadow]] is the unconscious (equiparable to [[UsefulNotes/IdSuperegoAndEgo the Id]]), the unknown side that often hides the less desirable aspects of one's personality, often (but not always) being negative traits.

''MAP OF THE SOUL: 7'' follows the concept started in the previous EP, now focusing on the concepts of "shadow" and "ego". [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_(psychology) Shadow]] is the unconscious (equiparable to the "id"), the unknown side that often hides the less desirable aspects of one's personality, often (but not always) being negative traits.

* In the comeback trailer song, "Shadow", SUGA raps about his darker thoughts around fame, from his fear as he suddenly finds himself on a bigger platform with the risk of a higher fall, to his greed as he still wants more; the last part of the song has him rap instead from his shadow's perspective about how it can never leave him, with the only thing he can do being learn to live with it.

''MAP OF THE SOUL: 7'' follows the concept started in the previous EP, now focusing on the concepts of "shadow" and "ego".

** The title (along with the use of a dance group for its music video) also seems a ShoutOut to Darren Aronosfky's ''Film/BlackSwan'', which is a complete contrast to the movie referenced in ''Persona'', ''Singin' in The Rain'': while the latter is a 50s musical about the UsefulNotes/RiseOfTheTalkies, ''Black Swan'' is a 2010 PsychologicalThriller about a ballerina who needs to play the Black Swan (because the White Swan and the Black Swan are usually played by the same dancer) and is thus forced to face her sexual repression and the pressures of the role - which perfectly follows the concept of "shadow".

** The title (along with the use of a dance group for its music video) also seems a ShoutOut to Darren Aronosfky's ''Film/BlackSwan'', which is a complete contrast to the movie referenced in ''Persona'', ''Singin' in The Rain'': while the latter is a 50s musical about the RiseOfTheTalkies, ''Black Swan'' is a 2010 PsychologicalThriller about a ballerina who needs to play the Black Swan (because the White Swan and the Black Swan are usually played by the same dancer) and is thus forced to face her sexual repression and the pressures of the role - which perfectly follows the concept of "shadow".

* The ''MAP OF THE SOUL: PERSONA'' album references [[https://twitter.com/idolsonyeondan/status/1029142293469585413 Carl Jung's Map of the Soul and the four steps of the process of individuation]], namely Persona, Ego, Shadow and Self. "[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persona_(psychology) Persona]]", in particular, is a social face or mask the individual presents to the world (with masks also being a recurring theme in the ''LOVE YOURSELF'' series).
** The concept photos of all four versions of the album are related to the concept of how people present themselves to the rest of the world: the members taking photos of themselves (version 1); standing, posing or doing their hair in front of a mirror (version 2); clearly pre-composed photos (to the point of looking like postcards) of the members posing with flowers next to a front door, complete with a jacket on a coat hanger on the side (version 3); posing with grapes and expensive clothes and jewelry in a way reminiscent of a Renaissance painting, much like how celebrities present themselves in society (version 4).

* "Jamais Vu" is a [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamais_vu psychology term]] that describes the opposite effect to a dejá vu, being that of experiencing something that one recognizes as familiar, but is felt as if it's being experienced for the first time. This is appropriate as the song "Jamais Vu" is about the main plot of the Music/{{BU}}: a young man going back in time over and over again, painfully trying and failing repeatedly to save his friends from tragic fates.

* The first track of ''MAP OF THE SOUL: PERSONA'', "Intro: Persona", is, as the title says, based on the concept of personas, which RM relates to his own double-identity as "RM" (the celebrity, the mask he presents to the world) and "Kim Namjoon" (the real, private person with doubts and fears).
** The music video also features him wearing a jacket with the phrase "Pay no attention to TheManBehindTheCurtain", a quote from ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'' (said by Oz after he's exposed to be a man rather than the wizard he pretended to be).
* The "Boy With Luv" music video heavily references the film ''Film/SinginInTheRain'', including the "Broadway Melody" scene in the bridge and final chorus. Not only does the film also follow the theme of personas - with Lina Lamont being a case of BitchInSheepsClothing and NiceCharacterMeanActor, as well as needing to have her acting and singing voice secretly dubbed by another woman during the UsefulNotes/RiseOfTheTalkies -, but the "Broadway Melody" scene also has a self-contained story where personas, fame and pursuing your own passion appear as themes, as pointed out [[https://twitter.com/tropicalilies/status/1116065424863576067?s=19 here]].

*** The concept pictures of Version 4 of the album show the members posing with grapes (also associated with Dionysus) while dressed in expensive clothes and jewelry in poses that evoke luxury, referencing yet again another thing associated with Dionysus, hedonism.

* The title of the song "134340" is a reference to Pluto's new name [[https://www.space.com/2876-pluto-number-134340.html after it stopped being considered a planet]]. The rest of the song has similar references to Pluto, Greek Mythology and astronomy in general.
* "Paradise" has the lyric "Marathon, marathon/ Life is long, travel slowly/ 42.195". 42.195 km is the official distance of a marathon.
* "DDAENG"'s lyrics are filled with [[https://armysalon.wordpress.com/2018/06/11/festa-2018-땡-ddaeng-by-rm-suga-j-hope-of-bts-lyric-translation-and-cultural-connations/ a plethora of Korean cultural references]], including many to the 섰다 card game. It also has the lyric "Frogs live up to their name/ Hope you die inside a well", which is a reference to the proverb (which itself came from a tale) "a frog in a well", referring to a person with narrow/limited views, who believes that what they see and know is the whole and absolute truth.

** The concept photos of all four versions of the album are related to the concept of how people present themselves to the rest of the world: the members taking photos of themselves (version 1); standing, posing or doing their hair in front of a mirror (version 2); clearly pre-composed photos (to the point of looking like postals) of the members posing with flowers next to a front door, complete with a jacket on a coat hanger on the side (version 3); posing with grapes and expensive clothes and jewelry in a way reminiscent of a Renaissance painting, much like how celebrities present themselves in society (version 4).

* [[Myth/ClassicalMythology Dionysus]] is the Greek god of (among other things) wine, drinking, grape-harvest, fertility, religious ecstasy and theater. The track "Dionysus" (also from ''PERSONA'') is about BTS dealing with fame, talking literally about drinking but also about getting "drunk" on art, fame and creation. It also mentions a "thyrsus" by name, a symbol associated with Dionysus, and includes it in live performances.

** The verse could also be referencing the *fly* from one of the fables, namely ''[[http://www.taleswithmorals.com/aesop-fable-the-bald-man-and-the-fly.htm The Bald Man and the Fly]]'', where said bald man stops trying to kill the fly buzzing around his head because it could hurt him, concluding that "you will only injure yourself if you take notice of despicable enemies". This ties to the main theme of "Mic Drop": a last goodbye to the haters who vainly hoped for BTS' failure due to them not being a cause of concern anymore.

* The "Boy With Luv" music video heavily references the film ''Film/SinginInTheRain'', including the "Broadway Melody" scene in the bridge and final chorus. Not only does the film also follow the theme of personas - with Lina Lamont being a case of BitchInSheepsClothing and NiceCharacterMeanActor, as well as needing to have her acting and singing voice secretly dubbed by another woman during the UsefulNotes/RiseOfTheTalkies -, but the "Broadway Melody" scene also has a self-contained story in itself where personas, fame and pursuing your own passion appear as themes, as pointed out [[https://twitter.com/tropicalilies/status/1116065424863576067?s=19 here]].

* The first track of ''MAP OF THE SOUL: PERSONA'', "Intro: Persona", is (ExactlyAsItSaysOnTheTin) based on the concept of personas, which RM relates to his own double-identity as "RM" (the celebrity, the mask he presents to the world) and "Kim Namjoon" (the real, private person with doubts and fears).

* Both the ''LOVE YOURSELF'' series and ''MAP OF THE SOUL: PERSONA'' album reference [[https://twitter.com/idolsonyeondan/status/1029142293469585413 Carl Jung's Map of the Soul and the four steps of the process of individuation]], namely Persona, Ego, Shadow and Self.
* The first track of ''MAP OF THE SOUL: PERSONA'', "Intro: Persona", is based on the concept of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persona_(psychology) Persona]] (a social face or mask the individual presents to the world), which RM relates to his own double-identity as "Kim Namjoon" (the person) and his persona "RM" (the celebrity).

* The "Boy With Luv" music video heavily references the film ''Film/SinginInTheRain'', including the "Broadway Melody" scene in the bridge and final chorus. Not only does the film also follow the theme of personas - with Lina Lamont being a BitchInSheepsClothing and a case of NiceCharacterMeanActor ''and'' needing to have her acting and singing voice dubbed by another woman during the UsefulNotes/RiseOfTheTalkies -, but the "Broadway Melody" scene also has a self-contained story in itself where personas, fame and pursuing your own passion appear as themes, as pointed out [[https://twitter.com/tropicalilies/status/1116065424863576067?s=19 here]].
* [[Myth/ClassicalMythology Dionysus]] is the Greek god of (among other things) wine, drinking, grape-harvest, fertility, religious ecstasy and theater. The track "Dionysus" (also from ''PERSONA'') is about BTS dealing with fame, talking literally about drinking but also about getting "drunk" on art, fame and creation. It also mentions a "thyrsus" by name, a symbol associated with Dionysus.
*** The concept pictures of Version 4 of the album show the members posing with grapes, also associated with Dionysus.

** The verse could also be referencing the *fly* from one of the fables, namely ''[[http://www.taleswithmorals.com/aesop-fable-the-bald-man-and-the-fly.htm The Bald Man and the Fly]]'', where said bald man stops trying to kill the fly buzzing around his head because it could hurt him, concluding that "you will only injure yourself if you take notice of despicable enemies". This ties to the main theme of "Mic Drop": a last goodbye to the haters who vainly hoped for BTS' failure.

* RM's verse in the original version of "Mic Drop" has the line "Right will eventually prevail/ Once upon a time/ Aesop's Fables fly". Literature/Aesop'sFables (being the TropeNamer for AnAesop) always have a moral lesson in the end.

* RM's verse in the original version of "Mic Drop" has the line "Right will eventually prevail/ Once upon a time/ Aesop's Fables fly". Literature/Aesop'sFables (being the TropeNamer for AnAesop) always have a moral lesson in the end. The verse could also be referencing the *fly* from one of the fables, namely ''[[http://www.taleswithmorals.com/aesop-fable-the-bald-man-and-the-fly.htm The Bald Man and the Fly]]'', where said bald man stops trying to kill the fly buzzing around his head because it could hurt him, concluding that "you will only injure yourself if you take notice of despicable enemies" - which ties to the main theme of "Mic Drop", a last goodbye to the haters who vainly hoped for BTS' failure.

Several of BTS' lyrics, music videos and performances make references to art, science, literature, philosophy, and psychology, among other things.