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#방탄소년단 #MapOfTheSoul #HYYH #WINGS
THREAD: A journey from the most beautiful moment in life through the WINGS short films and the Highlight Reels that leads us to the Map of the Soul
✱ warning: long read ahead!
#BTSTheories #ARMYTS
@BTS_twt @army_society
THREAD: A journey from the most beautiful moment in life through the WINGS short films and the Highlight Reels that leads us to the Map of the Soul
✱ warning: long read ahead!
#BTSTheories #ARMYTS
@BTS_twt @army_society
TW // abuse, blood, violence, death, self-harm and suicide
Please know that this isn’t an exhaustive list of possible triggers in The Notes and the MVs.
Also, I didn’t include the Japanese MVs in this thread. I’ll try to make a separate thread for them when I can!
Please know that this isn’t an exhaustive list of possible triggers in The Notes and the MVs.
Also, I didn’t include the Japanese MVs in this thread. I’ll try to make a separate thread for them when I can!
« HYYH ERA »
This covers the start of young adulthood.
HYYH 1: Experiencing life’s beauty and uncertainties
HYYH 2: Embracing those uncertainties and working through them
HYYH: Young Forever: Cherishing the beautiful moments in life despite the difficulties they came with
This covers the start of young adulthood.
HYYH 1: Experiencing life’s beauty and uncertainties
HYYH 2: Embracing those uncertainties and working through them
HYYH: Young Forever: Cherishing the beautiful moments in life despite the difficulties they came with
I NEED U, HYYH ON STAGE: PROLOGUE, RUN, EPILOGUE: YOUNG FOREVER
These MVs show beauty alongside pain. From The Notes, we know the boys have their own struggles, yet they find solace in each other.
Here, we see their most beautiful moments together but also how they fell apart.
These MVs show beauty alongside pain. From The Notes, we know the boys have their own struggles, yet they find solace in each other.
Here, we see their most beautiful moments together but also how they fell apart.
HYYH ON STAGE: PROLOGUE
As the name implies, this is the back story. This is like an overview of The Notes as well.
The scene where Taehyung calls his hyung is likely referencing the events from the I Need U MV. What follows, the MV itself, is a series of flashbacks.
As the name implies, this is the back story. This is like an overview of The Notes as well.
The scene where Taehyung calls his hyung is likely referencing the events from the I Need U MV. What follows, the MV itself, is a series of flashbacks.
This also shows Taehyung jumping into the sea, while a similar scene occurs earlier in the MV, when Taehyung is on the roof while the rest of the boys were seated at the empty swimming pool.
This is also referenced in later MVs, such as the Euphoria MV!
This is also referenced in later MVs, such as the Euphoria MV!
I NEED U and RUN
These MVs are interesting because they seem to be parallels. I remember watching these as a baby ARMY and thinking how so many scenes seem to be repeated.
This could be an indication of the time loop, so we could be seeing two different storylines already.
These MVs are interesting because they seem to be parallels. I remember watching these as a baby ARMY and thinking how so many scenes seem to be repeated.
This could be an indication of the time loop, so we could be seeing two different storylines already.
There are moments when the boys were all happy together, and ones when they’re separated.
We also see what happened that led to their fall out like Yoongi and Jungkook fighting, the house of cards falling down, and scenes that seem connected but aren’t exactly the same.
We also see what happened that led to their fall out like Yoongi and Jungkook fighting, the house of cards falling down, and scenes that seem connected but aren’t exactly the same.
I want to point out that in Run, we see Seokjin building a house of cards. Later when it collapses, he gets a blank look on his face (which he often does in the BU videos!).
At this point, Seokjin is already in the time loop, which restarts whenever he fails to save everyone.
At this point, Seokjin is already in the time loop, which restarts whenever he fails to save everyone.
In the MVs, we see the boys meeting several unfortunate events - attempting to take their own life by drowning or burning, passing out and not getting medical attention, getting beat up, committing crimes and getting arrested.
These events restart the loop for Seokjin.
These events restart the loop for Seokjin.
The house of cards is symbolic because it represents the boys. The act of it collapsing is a representation of Seokjin failing.
At one point in the MV, we even see Taehyung causing the house of cards to fall apart. This shows that Seokjin cannot control the other boys.
At one point in the MV, we even see Taehyung causing the house of cards to fall apart. This shows that Seokjin cannot control the other boys.
While Seokjin can go back in time to try to fix everything, he cannot control the every variable. The other boys can act however they wish and other factors also come into play.
He has no control over both of these things. He will just have to keep trying until he succeeds.
He has no control over both of these things. He will just have to keep trying until he succeeds.
The lyrics of House of Cards echo this frustration, “even if I knew already, I can’t stop, as time passes, it just becomes more ruined, it’s collapsing again”.
As Seokjin tries to change the past, he faces more challenges. He keeps trying since he knows the result if he fails.
As Seokjin tries to change the past, he faces more challenges. He keeps trying since he knows the result if he fails.
EPILOGUE: YOUNG FOREVER
As the name implies, this is the epilogue, the conclusion of the HYYH era. The song lyrics also talk about running towards one’s dreams and holding on to hope, despite falling down, getting hurt, or navigating through what seems like an endless maze.
As the name implies, this is the epilogue, the conclusion of the HYYH era. The song lyrics also talk about running towards one’s dreams and holding on to hope, despite falling down, getting hurt, or navigating through what seems like an endless maze.
The HYYH era gave use these pairings:
Namjoon and Taehyung
Yoongi and Jungkook
Hoseok and Jimin
Seokjin is alone
The pairings have like yin-yang dynamic: one complements the other, as if they can complete each other. We even see these pairing during the MOTS era!
Namjoon and Taehyung
Yoongi and Jungkook
Hoseok and Jimin
Seokjin is alone
The pairings have like yin-yang dynamic: one complements the other, as if they can complete each other. We even see these pairing during the MOTS era!
As HYYH is about experiences of the youth, we can look at this from a perspective of an adolescent.
Like the album titles, these moments when one can be carefree are the most beautiful moments in one's life, and they’re like a dream that one may not want to wake up from.
Like the album titles, these moments when one can be carefree are the most beautiful moments in one's life, and they’re like a dream that one may not want to wake up from.
Unfortunately, one has to grow up. And by growing up, that means waking up from the beautiful dream and coming back to reality.
Reality isn’t always beautiful, and life can be unkind to someone just starting to find his way in the world.
This brings us to the WINGS era!
Reality isn’t always beautiful, and life can be unkind to someone just starting to find his way in the world.
This brings us to the WINGS era!
« WINGS ERA »
This covers the stages of growing up and what happens once childhood innocence is lost and the painful reality sets in.
Seven short films were released, which also ties in with the storyline in The Notes 1. Each film also quotes Herman Hesse’s book, ‘Demian’.
This covers the stages of growing up and what happens once childhood innocence is lost and the painful reality sets in.
Seven short films were released, which also ties in with the storyline in The Notes 1. Each film also quotes Herman Hesse’s book, ‘Demian’.
“Seven, but One. Seven boys with One heart. One boy with Seven hearts. One and Seven, a reflection of each other. How many roads must a boy walk before you call him a man?”
“Are the crimson flowers of youth still in full bloom?”
“The boy smiles. He can smile when he is whole.” https://twitter.com/rwapmon/status/981937480554475520
“Are the crimson flowers of youth still in full bloom?”
“The boy smiles. He can smile when he is whole.” https://twitter.com/rwapmon/status/981937480554475520
BEGIN
If HYYH is the “day”, adulthood is “night”, and young adulthood is where "day" and "night" meet. Jungkook wakes up and witnesses painful events that he can’t seem to accept or believe is happening. This painful awakening from the dream is where everything will “begin”.
If HYYH is the “day”, adulthood is “night”, and young adulthood is where "day" and "night" meet. Jungkook wakes up and witnesses painful events that he can’t seem to accept or believe is happening. This painful awakening from the dream is where everything will “begin”.
LIE
Jimin is seen with an apple, a symbol for paradise lost. In Lie, it’s the innocence lost as one's eyes are opened to the painful reality, and can’t be regained. It’s realizing that life isn’t always as good as we hoped it would be, and feeling like everything was a "lie”.
Jimin is seen with an apple, a symbol for paradise lost. In Lie, it’s the innocence lost as one's eyes are opened to the painful reality, and can’t be regained. It’s realizing that life isn’t always as good as we hoped it would be, and feeling like everything was a "lie”.
STIGMA
Graffiti are made to leave a mark. In Stigma, Taehyung is arrested for his vandals and graffiti. From The Notes, we know he blames himself for their mother leaving and for his sister getting beat up by their father. He believes this is his mark, his self-imposed "stigma".
Graffiti are made to leave a mark. In Stigma, Taehyung is arrested for his vandals and graffiti. From The Notes, we know he blames himself for their mother leaving and for his sister getting beat up by their father. He believes this is his mark, his self-imposed "stigma".
FIRST LOVE
In First Love, Yoongi breaks into a music store with a piano. He leaves, but a car barely misses him and crashes into the store, setting everything on fire. The Notes tell us he lost everything in a fire. All he has left is a piano key, a symbol of his "first love".
In First Love, Yoongi breaks into a music store with a piano. He leaves, but a car barely misses him and crashes into the store, setting everything on fire. The Notes tell us he lost everything in a fire. All he has left is a piano key, a symbol of his "first love".
REFLECTION
Namjoon in The Notes is seen as the responsible one yet he believes hr’s incapable of taking care of others. In Reflection, we see mirrors shatter. He resents not being able to live up to the image that other have of him, so he cannot stand his own "reflection".
Namjoon in The Notes is seen as the responsible one yet he believes hr’s incapable of taking care of others. In Reflection, we see mirrors shatter. He resents not being able to live up to the image that other have of him, so he cannot stand his own "reflection".
MAMA
In The Notes, Hoseok had a traumatic experience as his mother abandoned him at a theme park with only a chocolate bar. In Mama, he drowns in pills to cope. The chocolate bar symbolizes the dose of the only medicine he craves, which is to once again see his "mama".
In The Notes, Hoseok had a traumatic experience as his mother abandoned him at a theme park with only a chocolate bar. In Mama, he drowns in pills to cope. The chocolate bar symbolizes the dose of the only medicine he craves, which is to once again see his "mama".
AWAKE
It's amazing how Awake captures the elements from the six films, both physically and in the polaroids Seokjin has. The lyrics of the song are also very telling. No one can stay in the beautiful dream (HYYH!) and so after experiencing the darkness, one is now "awake".
It's amazing how Awake captures the elements from the six films, both physically and in the polaroids Seokjin has. The lyrics of the song are also very telling. No one can stay in the beautiful dream (HYYH!) and so after experiencing the darkness, one is now "awake".
I didn’t go into too much detail on the films here as I’ll post a separate thread for them. Please be patient with me, I’m currently working on that thread where I’ll attempt to explain them in relation with the concept photos, the song lyrics, and the book Demian. 
The WINGS era gave us a new set of pairings.
Namjoon and Jungkook
Yoongi and Jimin
Hoseok and Taehyung
Seokjin is alone once again
The pairings serve the same purpose as the HYYH pairings, similar and complementary at the same time.
Namjoon and Jungkook
Yoongi and Jimin
Hoseok and Taehyung
Seokjin is alone once again
The pairings serve the same purpose as the HYYH pairings, similar and complementary at the same time.
However, growing up is not purely about pain.
We may grow apart from other people, but grow closer to others. We may lose old friendships or relationships, then find new ones. We can also create a healthier relationship with ourself.
This brings us to the Love Yourself era!
We may grow apart from other people, but grow closer to others. We may lose old friendships or relationships, then find new ones. We can also create a healthier relationship with ourself.
This brings us to the Love Yourself era!
« LOVE YOURSELF ERA »
This covers the stages of falling in love, falling apart, and learning to love oneself.
Highlight Reel ‘起承轉結’
‘起’ - Euphoria: Theme of Love Yourself 起 Wonder
‘承’ - Love Yourself 承 Her
‘轉’ - Love Yourself 轉 Tear
‘結’ - Love Yourself 結 Answer
This covers the stages of falling in love, falling apart, and learning to love oneself.
Highlight Reel ‘起承轉結’
‘起’ - Euphoria: Theme of Love Yourself 起 Wonder
‘承’ - Love Yourself 承 Her
‘轉’ - Love Yourself 轉 Tear
‘結’ - Love Yourself 結 Answer
Euphoria: Theme of Love Yourself 起 Wonder
This is where the era started and what set the tone for the Love Yourself series. This Highlight Reel focuses on beginnings and first encounters, even portraying the first introduction of the girls in The Notes.
This is where the era started and what set the tone for the Love Yourself series. This Highlight Reel focuses on beginnings and first encounters, even portraying the first introduction of the girls in The Notes.
Highlight Reel ‘承’ / Love Yourself 承 Her
This Highlight Reel shows us the relationships that have developed between the boys and the girls, possibly depicting the stage of life where one falls in love.
In The Notes, the book The Art of Loving by Erich Fromm is also quoted.
This Highlight Reel shows us the relationships that have developed between the boys and the girls, possibly depicting the stage of life where one falls in love.
In The Notes, the book The Art of Loving by Erich Fromm is also quoted.
Highlight Reel ‘轉’ / Love Yourself 轉 Tear
This Highlight Reel shows us the endings to what were once beautiful moments shared with a loved one, depicting the stage of life where one deals with the pain of loss and separation.
Most of the time, this is sudden and unexpected.
This Highlight Reel shows us the endings to what were once beautiful moments shared with a loved one, depicting the stage of life where one deals with the pain of loss and separation.
Most of the time, this is sudden and unexpected.
Highlight Reel ‘起承轉結’ / Love Yourself 結 Answer
This is the collection of the highlight reels, and its last part show the events happening in reverse, similar to a time loop restarting. The answer to stop the loop is that one must learn to love and accept oneself fully.
This is the collection of the highlight reels, and its last part show the events happening in reverse, similar to a time loop restarting. The answer to stop the loop is that one must learn to love and accept oneself fully.
The Love Yourself era MVs, particularly the one for Euphoria: Theme of Love Yourself 起 Wonder, is also noticeably a “lighter” version of the HYYH MVs!
In Euphoria, Seokjin is there when they come to pick Taehyung up. He didn’t come with the other boys in HYYH epilogue.
In Euphoria, Seokjin is there when they come to pick Taehyung up. He didn’t come with the other boys in HYYH epilogue.
We even get these Yoongi and Jungkook moment in both MVs, with the other members just in the distance.
Here are more parallels between the MVs which are very striking because only Taehyung and Seokjin exchange places.
Jungkook’s scene also implies the car accident played out differently, so these are two different timelines as well.
These also give very different emotions!
Jungkook’s scene also implies the car accident played out differently, so these are two different timelines as well.
These also give very different emotions!
The loop continues even though the answer, that one must first love oneself, is already implied. Why?
Because only knowing it isn’t enough, it must be put into practice.
We can't love ourselves if we don't truly know, ourselves.
This brings us to the Map of the Soul era!
Because only knowing it isn’t enough, it must be put into practice.
We can't love ourselves if we don't truly know, ourselves.
This brings us to the Map of the Soul era!
DISCLAIMER: I'm aware that the MOTS MVs aren't BU certified, which is why my threads for those focus more on the Jungian concepts.This is just my attempt to explain how it's possible to connect the storylines, especially as the BU themes are still seen in the MOTS era.
« MOTS ERA »
In search of the map of the soul, one must undergo the process of individuation. This is based on the principle of Carl Jung, a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst.
The goal is to know the Self, and knowing the Self requires knowing both the Conscious and Unconscious.
In search of the map of the soul, one must undergo the process of individuation. This is based on the principle of Carl Jung, a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst.
The goal is to know the Self, and knowing the Self requires knowing both the Conscious and Unconscious.
Jung’s model of the psyche has three systems: the Ego, the Personal Unconscious, and the Collective Unconscious.
He identified many archetypes, but the four major ones were the Persona, the Shadow, the Animus/Anima, and the Self.
Archetypes stem from the Collective Unconscious.
He identified many archetypes, but the four major ones were the Persona, the Shadow, the Animus/Anima, and the Self.
Archetypes stem from the Collective Unconscious.
For me, one giant hint that they dropped for us that they may connect the previous eras, especially HYYH, are the photos from the 2019 FESTA!
This also includes the very intriguing board from the Intro: Persona MV and the words "Dream Love Happiness" and "Persona Shadow Ego"
This also includes the very intriguing board from the Intro: Persona MV and the words "Dream Love Happiness" and "Persona Shadow Ego"
The 2019 FESTA photos shows the pairings on the board!
Jungkook — Euphoria ⇢ Love
Yoongi — Give it to Me ⇢ Shadow
Jimin — Serendipity ⇢ Happiness
Hoseok — Daydream ⇢ Ego
Taehyung — Singularity ⇢ Dream
Namjoon — Intro: Persona ⇢ Persona
Seokjin — Epiphany ⇢ Man/self https://twitter.com/jessikatsu/status/1284482608194154497
Jungkook — Euphoria ⇢ Love
Yoongi — Give it to Me ⇢ Shadow
Jimin — Serendipity ⇢ Happiness
Hoseok — Daydream ⇢ Ego
Taehyung — Singularity ⇢ Dream
Namjoon — Intro: Persona ⇢ Persona
Seokjin — Epiphany ⇢ Man/self https://twitter.com/jessikatsu/status/1284482608194154497
I explained in this thread how I connected the solo songs to the concepts on the Persona board.
It’s also interesting because the photos were taken before Interlude: Shadow and Outro: Ego came out, but the songs for Yoongi and Hoseok had the same theme as their MOTS solos! https://twitter.com/jessikatsu/status/1295329991261970432
It’s also interesting because the photos were taken before Interlude: Shadow and Outro: Ego came out, but the songs for Yoongi and Hoseok had the same theme as their MOTS solos! https://twitter.com/jessikatsu/status/1295329991261970432
This is also their HYYH pairings, and interestingly the pairings are made so that it’s one vocal line member with one rap line member. This holds true even for their WINGS pairings!
Seokjin is still unpaired, as with HYYH and WINGS.
Seokjin is still unpaired, as with HYYH and WINGS.
The sequence in the 2019 FESTA photo above is the same sequence they followed for the Euphoria photo.
1 - Jungkook and Yoongi
2 - Jungkook/Yoongi, Jimin/Hoseok
3 - Jungkook/Yoongi, Jimin/Hoseok, Taehyung/Namjoon
4 - Jungkook/Yoongi, Jimin/Hoseok, Taehyung/Namjoon, Seokjin
1 - Jungkook and Yoongi
2 - Jungkook/Yoongi, Jimin/Hoseok
3 - Jungkook/Yoongi, Jimin/Hoseok, Taehyung/Namjoon
4 - Jungkook/Yoongi, Jimin/Hoseok, Taehyung/Namjoon, Seokjin
The journey in finding the map of the soul holds the answer to finding the real Self, therefore finally truly love oneself.
It's a long process and not a linear one either, we might have to attempt many times after making many mistakes (like the time loops!) before we succeed.
It's a long process and not a linear one either, we might have to attempt many times after making many mistakes (like the time loops!) before we succeed.
With every mistake and every attempt, we grow a bit wiser and hopefully that helps us to do better.
Of course, it's not a guarantee since there are many other variables and things don't always work out as planned, but the point is we gain a bit more insight each time we try.
Of course, it's not a guarantee since there are many other variables and things don't always work out as planned, but the point is we gain a bit more insight each time we try.
I'd go so far as to say that there's no definite end to knowing and loving oneself.
We continuously discover things about ourselves that we hadn't known before, so we may need to go through the whole process again.
But then maybe that's the point.
Maybe it’s about the JOURNEY.
We continuously discover things about ourselves that we hadn't known before, so we may need to go through the whole process again.
But then maybe that's the point.
Maybe it’s about the JOURNEY.
The map of the soul isn’t an object to “find”, it’s “discovered” along the process.
The more you go through the cycle of making mistakes, acknowledging them and loving yourself regardless... the more you know yourself and the more you’re able to discover the map of your soul.
The more you go through the cycle of making mistakes, acknowledging them and loving yourself regardless... the more you know yourself and the more you’re able to discover the map of your soul.
Aaand we’re done! 
If you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading this long thread and I really hope it helps somehow in connecting the storylines. I also apologize for any typos I’ve made.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this so feel free to comment!
If you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading this long thread and I really hope it helps somehow in connecting the storylines. I also apologize for any typos I’ve made.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this so feel free to comment!
I know I missed a lot in this thread so I’ll make separate ones that are more focused on the individual MVs. It just really takes me a while to post detailed threads. Hahaha!
Anyway, all my threads are in my pinned tweet so you can check them anytime!
Anyway, all my threads are in my pinned tweet so you can check them anytime!
