BTS “CITY DIONYSIA BEGINS” (VCR) GDA 2020 - ANALYSIS

Preface

I know that some BTS fans love to analyze and theorize when it comes to BTS songs and videos. I am still fairly new to BTS so I might miss some references to their older music, but I wanted to analyze this VCR video, as it caught my attention. I studied ancient literature and mythology as part of my degree and was so thrilled to see some familiar symbols in the video.

(FYI: I started writing this analysis long before we got the map for BTS comeback, so I had to go back and add some bits.)

So, here’s my analysis of the symbols in the “City Dionysia Begins” VCR that was shown at Golden Disc Awards. Some are obvious, but some are not so much. I will share my thoughts on BTS comeback as well.

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The video starts with the view of a desert and several items in the sand:

• Thyrsus (a staff entwined with vine-branches surmounted by a fir-cone)

• Pearls

• Snake

• Diadem/laurels

• Chalice (cup)

• Grapes

• + extra one - hourglass

There are seven symbols, as there are seven members. All symbols are related to Ancient Greek mythology, and in particular, to Dionysus. Dionysus, also called Bacchus (in Ancient Rome), was the god of wine, and the personification of the blessings of Nature.

This VCR is tied to the song “Dionysus” from “Map of the Soul: Persona” album. I think it can be treated as a somewhat bridge between “MOTS: Persona” and “Map of the Soul: 7”. Seven is the number of symbols related to Dionysus in VCR; the number of BTS members, the number of songs on “MOTS: Persona”, and 7th is the number of “MOTS: 7”. The importance of this number is quite obvious.

The song “Dionysus” is, obviously, about their life as K-pop idols and creators.

For example:

“Everyone fall, fall, fall into this crazy artist

One drink (one shot), two drinks (two shots)”; “stadium party”.

Dionysus had the power to inspire and to create ecstasy. After discovering vine and introducing wine to humans, he gained many followers, especially among women. The festivities in honour of Dionysus became widely spread. They were called orgia (an ecstatic form of worship, i.e. orgies) or Dionysia (Bacchanalia, in Ancient Rome).

The female worshipers were called “Maenads”, which meant “a mad or demented woman”. The ultimate worship, crazy fans (saesangs) that follow BTS’ every step are, obviously, reminiscent of Dionysus’ maenads.

Dionysus was the god of the most blessed ecstasy and the most enraptured love.

Dionysus was regarded as the patron of the drama, and his cult had particular importance for art and literature. Performances of tragedy and comedy in Athens were part of two festivals of Dionysus, one which was called City Dionysia (or Great Dionysia). Since we already have BTS Comeback Map, which gave us an outline of the ‘Connect, BTS’ project, that encompasses different art forms and is related to the concept of the Dionysia festival.

One of the sources mentioned “the six days of Dionysia”, and if we look at the BTS Comeback Map, we can see six days for Connect, BTS project: Online, London, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Seoul, NYC.

Even though there are depictions and statues of Dionysus as a middle-aged man, the later works described him as: “ a youth of singular beauty, though of somewhat effeminate appearance; the expression of the countenance is gentle and winning; the limbs are supple and gracefully moulded; and the hair, which is adorned by a wreath of vine or ivy leaves, falls over the shoulders in long curls.”

I mean, all BTS members fit the description to a certain extent as they are all beautiful and graceful in their own way. (Please, do not get hung up on “effeminate appearance” quote as different cultures have different beauty standards, including Ancient Greece). I think that all members are different representations of Dionysus.

Now let’s look at the symbols that are presented by each member.

RM: temple columns, throne, thyrsus

Namjoon is the leader, and therefore, he sits on the throne and holds a thyrsus - a staff entwined with vine-branches surmounted by a fir-cone. Dionysus is always described to carry a thyrsus in one hand. And columns represent ancient temples, places of worship.

Jin: seashore, pearls, diadem/wreath

Diadem or wreath is connected to a wreath that Dionysus wore on his head. The seashore can represent Greece or the fact that Dionysus belongs to Sea Divinities. Pearls are also connected with the sea.

There is a myth about Dionysus being taken by the pirates. Eventually, the boat came to an island, where Dionysus fell in love with a mortal woman. After her death, the god turned her diadem into the Corona constellation. The temple behind Jin reminds me of Naxos.

Jimin: waterfall, mountains, golden snake

Okay, so this one is very hard. I think that a golden snake might be connected with a story of Midas, who asked Dionysus to give him an ability to turn everything he touched into gold (and that did not end well). The serpent was also one of the sacred animals for this god. Supposedly, some followers of Dionysus cult carried or handled snakes during rites.

Waterfall and mountain might be a connection to Nysa, the mountainous district, where Dionysus was brought up.

Suga: chalice/cup, wine, fire

Wine and a chalice are pretty self-explanatory as both are direct symbols of Dionysus. As for the fire, well, according to the legend, the mother of Dionysus was killed in the fire when Zeus revealed himself to her. He managed to save the baby, but the mortal mother perished.

JHope: temple columns, grapes, hand chain bracelet

Even though I’m still not entirely sure if the bracelet that Hoseik is wearing has a direct connection to Dionysus, but it must be important as it wouldn’t have been shown otherwise. It does remind me, once again, of the Midas’ story, though. Columns and grapes are self-explanatory.

Jungkook: grape leaves/vine, a crown of leaves, green foliage background

As mentioned above, Dionysus was brought up in a forest, is considered to be the personification of nature’s blessings, and is seen followed by forest nymphs, satires, etc. Jungkook looks like a younger version of Dionysus.

V: red veil, nimbus, cosmos

Taehyung’s symbols were also hard to interpret as they strongly remind me of another god from Greek mythology but not so much of Dionysus. The fact that he is the only one who was shown in black and white at first, and only as he unveils himself, the colour comes back - it strongly reminded me of the underground world.

Dionysus is said to visit or even to live in the world of the dead. According to the myth, he goes down to the underworld to bring back his mother. There is a duality in the image that Taehyung portrays, as there is a duality in Dionysus, as he is both the god of life and death.

Taehyung has cosmos/night behind him, which can be also a connection to the pantheon of gods, and\or the theory of archetypes by Carl Jung.

“In all chaos there is a cosmos, in all disorder a secret order. Every civilized human being, whatever his conscious development, is still an archaic man at the deeper levels of his psyche.”

Connection to “Map of the Soul: 7”

The VCR video begins with a quote by Carl Jung, that goes as: “The dream is the small hidden door in the deepest and most intimate sanctum of the soul, which opens to that primeval cosmic night that was soul long before there was conscious ego and will be soul far beyond what a conscious ego could ever reach.”

In Jungian psychology, “ego” represents the conscious mind (thoughts, memories, and emotions a person is aware of). Another principle concept is “shadow”. “Shadow” is an unconscious aspect of the personality which the conscious ego does not identify in itself. Shadow is your doubts and fears, both creative and destructive.

Another concept is that of “the persona”. Since the previous album was called “Map of the Soul: Persona”, and the last song on it was “Dionysus”, it is not a coincidence. According to Jung, “the persona” (or mask) is the outward face we present to the world. It conceals our real self and Jung describes it as the “conformity” archetype. This is the public face or role a person presents to others as someone different to who we really are (like an actor).

If you look at the Comeback Map for MOTS 7, you will see that all three (shadow, ego, and persona) are marked there. We already have “Shadow” interlude, and BTS will be releasing “Ego” soon.

It is obvious how both Greek Mythology and Jung theory align with the MOTS. (Jung himself based his archetypes on analyzing ancient myths.) If “Persona” was something that BTS present to the world as artists and performers, MOTS 7 is bound to be more about internal struggle, fear, doubt, etc. BTS have already spoken about their fears and insecurities, so it may not be anything new. However, I have a feeling that this time, this album will be something completely unexpected and raw.

Since there is also “Ego”, which is your consciousness, I am interested to see how they would express themselves in this album.

Thank you for reading this. I plan to do the second part of the analysis, in which I focus on the whole pantheon of gods, and not just Dionysus.

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References

1. https://www.connect-bts.com/

2. https://www.simplypsychology.org/carl-jung.html

3. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Great-Dionysia

4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dionysia

5. “Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome” by E. M. Berens

6. https://academyofideas.com/2017/03/nietzsche-and-dionysus/

7. Video source - https://youtu.be/LAZzXA7HNlA