Across Generations with BTS

Across Generations with BTS

It is at the intersection of youth, midlife and intergenerational gaps that the messages of BTS and what they stand for are felt and experienced by ARMY of all ages. Wherever they are in the developmental stage of life, BTS is there to meet ARMY where they are at. Over the course of a decade, BTS’ discography is an impressive saga of life journeys.  

In the Skul Luv Affair era, they are unafraid to speak of issues relevant to young people. No More Dream, NO, Dope and SIlver Spoon are but a few songs that question, challenge and subvert the status quo, social structures and the existing hegemony. Though the songs are in Korean, these themes hold a universal appeal.  It is an amazing feat that “BTS has built a substantial body of work that grows more introspective with every comeback. The Love Yourself era featured the members singing about how it can be more difficult to love yourself than it is to love someone else. In the Map of the Soul era, BTS has reflected on the images they put forth, the masks they wear, and what it means to achieve your dreams and find out that life still has its shadows.” (Dodson, 2020). Their message on the struggles of change and growing up, acceptance of oneself and enduring the routine, almost robotic demands of daily living are embedded in their songs. They sing about their own journey at the same time, they sing for ARMY.

At the start of the lockdown, BTS was able to express their fears, anxieties, frustration and upended plans of pursuing solo projects. The BE album was their vehicle to drive past the pallor, suffocation and trauma of Covid-19. With the release of Dynamite a few months earlier, BTS successfully subverted the grayness and sickliness that powered over humanity at the onset of the pandemic. Not only did BTS come at a time when philosophy and humanities education are hardly thriving. They use the language of the times to comfort young people navigate an awkward, chaotic and confusing time (Cha, 2021). Their music advocates self-awareness, perseverance and courage like a friend  would speak to another. Ultimately, BTS's older fans love the message of BTS's lyrics — and they also love the way that message inspires people to form communities, to reach out to one another (Dodson, 2020).