[UPDATED] Youth Theories

In the "Most Beautiful Moment in Life" album, BTS seems to grow out of their early years at debut—in such a way that can't be declared as good or bad. Besides their hip-hop eras to the relations of arts, they seem to develop as artists through their eras.

If you notice, the albums Skool Luv Affair, O!RUL8,2?, etc... hold concepts which seem to represent the beginning of growth; maturity. The growth seems to represent school life which originates love, confusion, and heartbreak.

Then, comes along, "coincidentally", next, the Dark & Wild album which seems to have much more of a darker feel, and a bit of immature dictatorship... It revolves around the idea of losing a loved one which leads to major obsession, questioning, and immature doings.

However, once the "Most Beautiful Moment in Life" cycle seemed to come along, Bangtan seemed to have gone through a drastic change: they seem to depict much more of emotional sense and maturity essence. This growth that Bangtan seems to express and show through their MVs and music seems to touch base on many issues that adolescents face today.

Friendships, family issues, and hardships are relatable to those who fall under adolescents.

Whilst the "Most Beautiful Moment in Life" era seems to hold aesthetic appeal and artistic critique, this series seems to fall under a story that subjectively isn't purely centered around sexual desire or lust; but rather the idea of youth—the hair-raising development that all adolescents withstand.

In Run, there is are specific stanzas that really shout out to me—they seem to speak in a desperate tone to show the despairing and exhausting sensation that adolescents feel when they try to "run" away.

Let me run more

Please let me run more

Even though my feet are full of scars

I smile whenever I see you

Let’s run run run again! I can’t stop running

Let’s run run run again! I can’t help running

Only thing I can do is run

While adolescents try to run, I believe that BTS to trying to characterize the idea of "you can't run away from the problems". The lyrics discuss such desperation and hold such a essence of hurt and legitimate desire.

The complexities of youth—the problems that come—can never be fixed by running away. Running seems like something all adolescents attempt or wishful think of, but it is extremely exhausting, and there is a boundary for all those who attempt in running away.

In I NEED U, the fire seems to hold a deeper meaning.

There many instances where fire is used in I NEED U—when you see Suga in the middle of the flaming hotel room, the photograph that Jimin burns in the bathtub, etc... I NEED U seems to emphasize fire, not as its literal purpose or doings, but as unheeding and actually corrosive...

Fire and running are all energies and subtle movements.

However, if you notice, Bangtan tends to spin around a lot. Particularly, in circles.

Where Jin drives a car in multitudinous circles around V and Rap Mon, or when Jungkook is being swayed into a circle by his opponents...

Not only that, but you can find Rap Mon rapping about the circle movement—even if it's somewhat indirect, it does inexplicably appear to render the concept of these sub-dued movements...

It goes round & round, why do I keep coming back

I go down & down, at this point, I’m just a fool

In Run, a toy whirls around on the playing record, and J-Hope moves his arm in a circular motion as his friends wheel him on a wheelchair. The circular movements are hold an eerie sense and odd "ring" to it... it feels rather surreal and trippy...

I suppose that the idea of the crucial motion literally means that many adolescents go in circles; particularly when they're in panic, or when they are lost. When adolescents try to run away, cause destruction, etc... In the end, they get worse and worse, if they don't do anything to fix it. Therefore they're really just going in circles.

In this series, Bangtan's role is to portray the problems that adolescents experience—family issues, illnesses, friendship, and loneliness.

BTS not only uses aesthetic appeal, but profoundly, uses movements like running, fire, and the circular motion as a metaphorical relation to youth.

UPDATE:

I know this is not related to the HYYH series, but I have a comment about the new music video, Spring Day.

If you notice, this is something that you would find at an amusement park. It looks like a ride that goes in circles. Not only that, but it seems to correlate to this idea because the ride is broken down and it looks old.

Perhaps that could mean that (because YNWA is a later era), their evolution as adolescents could be a way of saying that their youth is coming to an end, and could follow the same path as that amusement park ride.

You can also see Jin looking at a washing machine, which moves in circles. He looks somewhat nostalgic; it looks like he is missing something or feels in question or possibly unhappy.

Perhaps, like Jungkook, who is found standing in front of the ride often, he feels somewhat sad because his youth is coming to an end.

Youth, of course, may seem eerie, and utterly unpredictable, but the mood of these MVs/videos (I NEED U, Run, Young Forever, etc...), correlate such a gloomy, monotonous feel that seems to curiously describe what adolescents endure.

The usage of color lacks immensely.

Alas comes the sensation of feeling somewhat uncertain, unsure, and actually compelled... along with negative result of the ignorant fans who desire more than concealed meaning.

Another movement could be the sea. It is the opposite of fire, which is odd, but there are many references of water... scenes with Jimin and the bathtub, V falling into the water, etc...

I believe the sea is just a symbolic way of metaphorically saying that many adolescents fall into such a "sea" of doubt, worry, and fear, which brings immense suffering and struggling into their lives, thus mental illnesses, and issues beyond to occur.

The party scenes/parts that seem to show the act of having "fun", is most likely just there to portray that while they are holding such burden of fear, anger, loss, they're are having fun together, but it may be a "mask" or a way to confuse and perplex...

When I was an adolescent, I remember the soothing thought of having friends who cared about me. I also vividly remember the frequent visits and time we spent together that really brought those moments into something so poignant and memorable.

As this post speaks of youth; and its resemblance towards the "Most Beautiful Moment in Life", there also seems to be a portrayal of rebirth and modification... 

This period of change seems to fall after youth, as when you grow older, you tend to modify yourself in such a way for a drastic change can occur... However, the change can be described as something negative or even bad, but I believe it's just a symbol of youth's beautiful conclusion.

I had a little help with some research and I was looking through old concept photos and videos. Bangtan's old comeback trailer, "Never Mind" seems to go through the perspective of an adolescent.

It begins with a large crowd (possibly Bangtan's), and in the middle, a drawing of a butterfly is being traced in an illuminating color.

Then, an animation begins, beginning the storyline of the adolescent.

The boy plays basketball, and he finds himself struggling. An animated version of water pops up and you can find the boy feeling lost and puzzled... (possibly about the sea metaphor?) He sits down with a demeanor of frustration and devastation.

Then, all of a sudden, a butterfly comes out. 

That seems to lift his spirits up, which allows him to go and catch the butterfly. To reach for it—to hold it in his very own hands. Along comes the disorienting and peculiar tunnel of white and black—I suppose that can resemble the act of confusion—the process of development.

The loss of youth, the growth of opportunities, and yourself. That tunnel seems to be a metaphor for adolescents who are beginning to grow older and mature...

The tunnel is disoriented, which seems to metaphorically describe the changing. The development is often hard to describe and extremely challenging which leads to an era of hard, complicated times which include fear and worry.

The metamorphosis that butterflies overcome can be a metaphor for adolescents. It's the act of changing and being different—youth and metamorphosis is a new way for people to open towards new beginnings; new meanings of life, and finding the endearing reason to stay alive.

Butterflies also tend to appear in Korean folk art as a symbol of happiness and prosperity. 

Through the Run and I NEED U MVs, they characterize in such anger and simply negativity, so this really is an essence of hope: a short snippet of satisfaction and pleasure.

To conclude, V emerges from the water which can resemble a way of saying "I am done. This is finished".

That gives the fans an idea: even though V was fighting his own struggles of such anguish and pain, and the fact that he chose to toss that all away and to refrain from worrying, he chose to come out if the water as a new person—a butterfly.

I believe this entire cycle and series was supposed to leave the viewers in such a sensation of hope and nostalgia: to feel wistfully and in such an abnormal state of regret and penitence.

Perhaps, also teach the new generations that you should never dwell on such things: be happy and enjoy youth. The most beautiful moment in life is seeming to revolve around youth, with the knowledge that it's short, and it doesn't last forever.

The song "Young Forever" holds lyrics that seem to relate to what I'm saying:

Forever, we are young

Under the flower petals falling down

I run, so lost in this maze

Forever, we are young

Even when I fall and hurt myself

I keep running toward my dream

The lyrics say that you should continue to live life to its fullest—to follow your dreams, hopes, and passions... To be able to embrace perseverance and bravery—to continue and strive as a beautiful spirit—a butterfly.

Even if you think you lost your youth, know that the idea of living life to its fullest and following your dreams. Even if you think you lost your youth, know that the idea of living life to its fullest and following your dreams.

So, according to Bangtan, yes, you are indeed, young forever.

First Written: 2/5/2017

Originally Posted Here