Kuwentong Bangtan: Honoring Fan Loyalty While Holding Space for Respectful Co-existence

ARMY has always had a complex, evolving relationship with multistans (I say this from personal experience as well as initial studies into fandom culture). And I still hold this truth: there’s no single, correct way to love BTS or your Kpop idols. Or both. And all of the above. Fangirling doesn’t have to follow a template. However, fandom culture can serve as a compass: a guide for how we care for and interact with one another, not a set of rules to police, control, use one’s fan group authority over members who express a different opinion, even dissent. We can co-exist by honoring each other’s space and recognizing the moments we come together in joy, memory, and meaning.

I deeply appreciate perspectives that highlight inclusivity and musical exploration. To say, “We’re ARMY, and we’re here to appreciate BTS’ music and others’, too,” is a valid and thoughtful stance. After all, art invites openness, and BTS themselves have never asked us to close our ears or hearts.

But here is where the complexity lies: being ARMY isn’t just about enjoying music. It’s an identity shaped by shared history, grief, joy, activism, and meaning-making. For many of us, choosing to stay rooted in BTS, especially in moments when it would have been easier to drift and stan other groups, wasn’t just preference. It was intention. It was love made active. And that choice, while never demanded, does hold value. It forms the core of a community that didn’t just survive BTS’ absence during enlistment, it grew, reflected, and remained.

That said, now that BTS has returned and the next era is beginning, with PTD On Stage Live as a marker of that transition, fan loyalty holds a renewed kind of weight. It’s not about exclusion or elitism. It’s about continuity. BTS’ legacy was built through years of shared dedication and ARMY’s loyalty has been key in preserving their story, especially during the enlistment period when silence could have meant abandonment and erasure.

So when some ARMYs express what seems like protectiveness, or even gatekeeping, it often comes from a place of history and love. From the effort it took to keep streaming alive, to organizing community projects, to simply showing up even when it was hard. That labor mirrors the love and sacrifice BTS has poured into us over time.

Yes, there’s space to love others. But there’s also something beautiful and worth naming about fans like us, ARMY who held the line, and are now ready to march again as this new chapter opens. In this moment of return, may we honor both the openness BTS inspires and the loyalty that kept the light on while they were away.

Apobangpo! Purple and true!

Kuwentong Bangtan: Who is BTS in our lives?

On ARMY Day, I reflect with gratitude on a journey that began with my ARMY daughter and BTS. For me, it has always reached beyond music; beyond the Purple ocean or universe. From day one, transcendence was apparent. It was already in motion. Not during the enlistment era or after, when all members have all been discharged. For who in Kpop would dare reference Omelas and Snow Piercer in a song of loss, longing and emancipation?

At the 4th BTS Conference in the University of Malaya, I had the honor of standing among scholars and fellow aca-fans who continue to explore what BTS means in our lives. For many of us, BTS was not just a gateway into K-pop and newer music or transmedia storytelling. BTS was, and still is, a lifeline. Their music helped us heal. It gave language to our silences. For some, it even became a form of decolonization, a path toward reclaiming joy, self-worth, and belonging.

It has been my lived experience. It was never about image or optics. It was speaking one’s truth, and holding power and accountability for myself and others I hold in high esteem. And having one’s own understanding of this dynamic, parasocial it may be, is the pre-requisite for realignment.

Before we can realign our purpose as ARMY, we must first ask: Who is BTS in our lives? Not just as artists, (and in delulu moments, partners even lovers; in worst cases, commodities we can simply consume) but as companions, teachers, mirrors, and catalysts. Our answers to that question shape the kind of fandom, fanbase or fan group we choose to build, one rooted in authenticity, reflection, and care.

ARMY as a fandom has changed in the last three years; and so are the Tannies and the industry they disturbed and helped change. Newer entry points into K-pop will continue to emerge, and we welcome them. But they also remind us that BTS’ story is still unfolding. And so is ours. ARMY. Whatever this is going to look like or will be, our history and culture which began back in 2013 can become pins of light. Whatever this will bring us, I am here for the ride.

Finally, I honor Zoe, who, to this day is still surprised I became ARMY. A story I will never tire of telling. And of course, much love and appreciation to the Tita ARMYs who are my companions in this ever-evolving journey. We may not all be published or cited as Bangtan scholars, but we have done the quiet, steady work of remembering, creating, caring, and holding space.

You know who you are. Happy ARMY Day! Borahae!

Zarah Gagatiga 7.10.25

Kuwentong Bangtan: Happy 4 Years BE!

BE is 4 years old today!

BE is a heartfelt and intimate album that perfectly captures the collective emotions of resilience and hope during challenging times, specifically, the pandemic of 2020. It offered songs with soothing melodies and reflective lyrics that provided a sense of connection and solace, making BE a timeless reminder of how music can heal and unite during moments of global uncertainty.

The lead track, “Life Goes On”, stands out for me with its gentle, easy melody that offers comfort and reassurance, embodying a quiet yet powerful determination to persevere no matter what life throws our way. Coming in second is, “Blue & Grey”, as it shines as an emotional masterpiece, with V’s velvety voice delivering raw vulnerability and an ethereal falsetto that ascends beautifully, leaving a lingering impact. Together, the album’s introspective themes, sincere lyricism, and diverse soundscapes create a deeply personal listening experience that speaks to the heart of any listener navigating life’s ups and downs.

Thank you, BTS! You really are ARMY’s forever artist!

Kuwentong Bangtan: When Kim Namjoon Went Nuts: A Review of Nuts, RPWP 2024

When the MV of Nuts dropped a few weeks ago, I and ARMYs in my circle speculated on this one person who hurt our Joonie. This is an ongoing question since he’s always bared his feelings of deep anger, regret and frustration. By default, I, like many ARMYs, couldn’t wait to pulverize the person in question. Back pedaling to Nuts, however, and watching Joon sing and move-dance about in a studio all by himself made me ask: Is he talking about and with himself?

Nuts is Kim Namjoon’s soliloquy making the song and the MV highly appealing. Soliloquy as narrative device allows the character to connect more emotionally and psychologically to the audience. The self-talk is an exposition of prevailing themes in the story as well as the underlying conflicts and the more obvious problems or issues at hand. The technique is a delicious invitation to the character’s introspection of past actions leading to decisions or possible consequences brought by the thinking process. This metacognitive approach to storytelling engages audiences even more and for fans like me, we become deeply invested in the artists that we stan.

Soliloquies or self-talk in literature are not new. A classic example is Shakespeare’s Hamlet. To see Namjoon’s soliloquy is for me, a novel presentation of his saga and journey as artist and leader of BTS. This is another style of intertextuality — borrowing from the classics and putting a new spin to the technique. Then again, in his own discography there are songs ( Joke, RM 2016; Reflections, Wings 2017; and Persona, MOTS 2019) that  are reflections of his state of mind and internal battles against the backdrop of a capitalist economy imbued with the Korean Han. That fear of losing the Self is an ongoing narrative of Kim Namjoon.

Taking Nuts as a soliloquy and a reference to Hamlet’s, this 2nd track of Right Place Wrong Person, is Kim Namjoon’s madness in full display, once again. The song lyrics references two genders. A She and a He. Using Jung’s Map of the Soul as framework for this discussion, the former is the Anima and the latter is the Kpop Idol Persona

These two stanzas show the conflict that drives Namjoon insane as Anima and Persona clashes.

Verse 1

“She a pro rider… When it comes to love, she could be an all nighter | Best gaslighter, no man could ever fight her.

I go mad, how can we do everything together?”

Verse 2

“He a pro rider… | Must be an A1 guider, always on that fuckin’ Kakao talk | When it comes to money, he could be a damn fighter | Best gaslighter, no woman could stop him.

I go nuts, I feel like a monster.”

The song closes out with two stanzas by the Anima and the Persona.

“Now lay back | You never been so high | Know you ‘fraid of heights | I will close your eyes”

“Now lay back | You never been so high | Know you ‘fraid of heights | Don’t say a goodbye”

Words of caution. A caveat. A desire to rest and to take a pause but it is not a goodbye. It is not the end because, later on, Namjoon sings Come Back to Me to reassure himself and ARMY that he has integrated with the Anima. The male Ego leaves the set of mazes intact and can confidently walk along side its feminine power.

1/7 of our Global Music Princes have overcome the madness that comes with fame, ambition, immense success and the power of influence. Namjoon has taken ARMY and the bigger audience into an adventure of the human mind and its capacity to be broken and to be healed! I am not surprised since he once said in one of his lives during the pandemic, “let’s be insane to be sane.”

And there lies the courage and the intelligence of Kim Namjoon. Blessed with a 148 IQ, his heightened awareness of his Self and the world around him drives him “nuts”. Choosing music to channel and balance the crazies that torment him all day and all night, he is able to create art that is both luminous and illuminating.

I am really glad he picked up learning the saxophone while on military service. Serenading Jin and playing the chorus of Dynamite are manifestations of grace. Our Joonie is going to be fine.

Kuwentong Bangtan: JHope asks, "Did you cheat?"

Every year at Festa, BTS members would write ARMY a letter. It is a tradition that both parties look forward to. If you are ARMY, you would know and recognize how much it means to Bangtan to share slivers of their lives in the persona they chose to assume. It’s impressive how they do this - to be authentic and sincere while wearing the skin of a Kpop idol.

This year, I was reduced to tears reading all seven letters. How I wished I had the wisdom that each of them displayed when I was in my 20s-30s. I thank God, nonetheless, for witnessing the depth of Bangtan’s knowledge of themselves amidst a world where people choose to destroy each other. Theirs is an awareness that springs from a deep personal recognition of their limitations. They are eternally curious, too. They wonder all the time! This is power. If you are ARMY, of whatever age, creed and culture, you would do the same in your own unique way.

You would want to create art. You would want to share; to grow; to connect; to reflect, introspect and ask questions. So, I wasn’t surprised when Jhope, our Hobi, inquired. We are used to hearing/reading their reminders and asking us of self care. It was the question about loyalty that was unexpected.

How many were caught off guard? How did ARMY, especially Pearl ARMY, respond? The responses were as interesting as the question itself.

Translations on X abound. And we know what gets lost in translation. But, to continue, I picked two: one from Haruharu and another from an un-named source (will get back on the credit). The former is direct and blunt. The later is gentle and kind. Either way, the question is a brave exploration into human nature and the circumstances that inform our decisions.

What a courageous thing to do, Jung Hoseok!

His question merits a truthful answer. Only in truth can we set ourselves free.

Happy Festa! Happy Independence Day!

#festa2024 #independenceday2024 #AGU_Communication #ARMYGlowUp2025

ARMY Glow Up Goal: Upskilling on Pottery Handbuilding Techniques

 

@titazeeh7

This Moonchild planter is my first. The slight crack is only at the surface since the bottom remains unbroken. I combined handbuilding techniques for this planter.

♬ moonchild - RM

Kuwentong Bangtan: BTS Lockdown

Filo ARMY streamers are getting flack for incessant streaming campaigns. Give them/us a break. We are streaming hard for BTS and treating RM’s 4th album as a BTS comeback because #BTSPavedtheway  

ARMY has a legacy to protect.

We must chart BTS songs, old and new releases.

We realize and acknowledge that the necessity to keep BTS, solo and OT7 releases on the charts, is due to the legacy they have built & earned. Protect, preserve and uphold #BTSLegacy. They are paving the way for many dreams and ambitions #YetToCome

Charting and voting are measures of success alright, but our love for the Tannies run deeper than the numbers. Their art and music have healed us. Their songs speak of growth and evolution. What they stand for is family, friendship and the unending pursuit to be free.

BTS' music must live on!

Griffins Learn Together: Cyanotype Printing with Enzo Abalayan

Last Friday, my former student, Enzo Abalayan was on campus teaching me cyanotype printing. We are preparing for the yearly Alternative Class Days. Part of it are test runs and walk throughs of processes and activities which informs us of logistics, budgetary and instructional issues and decisions. In return, I gave Enzo some ideas and suggestions for him to draft the proposal. 

 I didn't expect it would be easy and simply amazing. Enzo was patient and entertained all my questions. At one point he said that he didn't see himself working with chemicals since Chem was a tough subject in the DP. Back in the Academy, he struggled through his science classes but, thanks to the arts. It became an avenue for overcoming challenges and self-doubt. 

 Ouie, this one is dedicated to you!

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Kuwentong Bangtan: Happy Birthday Joon!

Dear Joon,

When I posted a video of Butter on my FB page, the one where you guys were dressed casually in hues of blue, cream, white and yellow, a friend asked who my bias is. My reply was, “the one who reads.” And she said, “of course!”

Your love for books and literature was my gateway to know you and Bangtan during the lockdown years – a frightening and beautiful time to be alive. What made it an amazing experience was when my daughter, who is ARMY since she was 15 years old, became my mentor in understanding the ecosystem of the fandom, its culture with the unspoken and spoken rules that exist between and among ARMYs from all over the world, as well as the mysterious but accessible appeal, charisma and authentic stories you and the members share with  each other and with ARMY. Needless to say, my daughter and I were able to see aspects of our conflicted relationship through BTS' art, music and genuine friendship.

When I was ready to go beyond Dynamite, she asked me “What do you want to know about BTS, because there are many ways of doing so. Like, their songs and discography; performance videos; their personalities since each one has his own admirable and funny characteristics.” 

I said, “For starters, what is one song you recommend I listen to?”   

I still remember the mischievous glint in her eyes when she replied, “Spring Day. Watch the music video!”

I did as was told. In no time, I found myself entering the purple rabbit hole in awe and with reckless joy at a traumatic time in human history.

Joon, your art and music allowed me to enter many doors while peering out and through so many windows since then. And always, I come out of these journeys inspired and rejuvenated despite the fact that I shed tears and dealt with my own regrets and heart aches. Joon, the manner in which you and the members tell your stories is unlike any Kpop group or boy band I knew from my teenage years and in recent years. 

Maybe, at this age, I am more cognizant of the layers of messages and the intertextuality that are crafted into your music. Who in his right mind would put Ursula Le Guin’s The Ones Who Walked Away from Omelas alongside visual metaphors taken from the Snow Piercer and begin a song with bogoshipda. You have created a queen that cannot be dethroned. 

You guys did not end there. You continued baring your souls that grappled with the lights and shadows of the Self. You gave us Map of the Soul 7, Persona and MOTS The Journey. Indeed, we walk in this journey of being and becoming together. ApoBangPo!

As you and the members navigate Chapter 2, you all endure by singing about paradoxes and opposites existing side by side in equal measure. Only this time, there is the resolve to finally embrace the darks and the lights. I came to realize that these contradictions must be accepted. A duality that has been around since the beginning of time. A universal truth that must be sought, unpacked and reflected upon constantly.

Thank you Joon. Thank you BTS. I can now comfortably stay in the gray areas and look at the non-binaries of this age and time with more kindness; keeping judgement at bay. Believing that love, when it is true will always find a way.

Should I fail in being a good human, I promise to always enter the Magic Shop to bask in the beauty of galaxies big and small reminding myself that we are all stars. I will do my best to come out from it an ARMY you will be proud of. Happy birthday Joon! Borahae!

😊 Tita Zee 😊 091123

The 4th BTS Global Interdisciplinary Conference

Yes. There is such a thing. The scholarship on BTS is called BTS studies.

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Another BTS Inspired Bulletin Board: Equal Sign

 Because our theme this academic year is breaking barriers.

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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).

 

The Learning Pit and BTS

A few years ago, while working with the Ayala Foundation on the writing of modules for teaching and learning strategies on skills building grounded on Philosophy for Children, I came upon resources sent and recommended by the team's subject consultant. One of them is the The Learning Pit.

The Learning Pit argues the necessity for learners to go through difficulties encountered when learning a new skill, concept or idea. These challenges in learning happen by choice or by chance; by design or arbitrarily. What an uncomfortable place to be in. The experience can be frightening -- even traumatic. To stay safe in one's comfort zone is tempting. Many prefer to cut corners and find an easy way out. But at what cost? Will the end justify the means?

This is where teaching, mentoring and coaching come into play. The strategies and techniques to accompany the learner trapped in the pit of despair are plenty. It is an interesting discussion on pedagogy and methods save for another day. For now, it is important to be reminded of the struggles learners of all ages go through in the classroom and in life in general.

Learning is lifelong. As I have been immersed in the BTS Memoir (I am reading the Filipino Edition), I am in awe at the tenacity of the BTS members as they go through one learning pit to the next. Bang PD and his core team of creatives have served as teachers, mentors and coaches to Bangtan. The agency that these adults gave the members of BTS is impressive too. In an industry where idols are told, the Big Hit team allowed their talents to lead themselves and to be leaders among the ranks. Rising above it when the situation calls for it.

RM and SUGA were the musicians, composers and hip-hop teachers. Jhope was the dance teacher. V and Jimin pushed themselves to learn how to sing. JK went abroad to learn how to dance. At 14 years old, he spent a month in the US with Mr. Son learning hip-hop. And Worldwide Handsome Jin had to learn it all in a short span of time. He also took the initiative to learn how to cook healthy food for his six maknae. What is endearing in their story of struggles and overcoming roadblocks is the fact that the seven members of Bangtan assumed a role they can perform well. Either by choice or chance, they filled in a gap and worked hard to contribute to the team.

If you are in a pit right now, think about the ways you can come out of the pit a better version of yourself. In that pit, know that you are not alone. You can ask help and find information to help you make an informed decision. If you see a friend or a loved one in a pit right now, be the teacher, mentor or coach he/she/they need you to be.

Ahjumma Reviews: BTS and Dr. Romantic Crossover

Because the final episode of Dr. Romantic Season 3 has been aired, I am going through a separation anxiety. This is one of many posts that I will be putting up here in the blog - a BTS X Dr. Romantic crossover.

One of the many popular songs of BTS is Silver Spoon. It has a scintillating choreography that leaves many ARMYs melting. However, the overall message and lyrics of the song are not to be taken lightly.

Here are lines of the song that speak to me of the unending struggle for equality, fairness and inclusion.

난 뱁새다리 넌 황새다리
I have crow-tit’s legs, you have stork’s legs

걔넨 말하지 ‘내 다린 백만 불짜리’
They say, “my legs are worth a million dollars”

내 게 짧은데 어찌 같은 종목 하니?
How can we compete in the same sport when mine are short?

They say ‘똑같은 초원이면 괜찮잖니!’
They say, “it’s fair if the field is the same!”

Never Never Never

The struggle for equal rights and opportunities will never end. However, a knowledge of oneself and staying focused to achieve one's dream are self efficacy tools that can bring about change. It requires grit and patience. Support and collaboration with trusted people are needed too. It may take a while but the journey is worth it. This has been the inspiring story of Bangtan.

ARMYs love them for being their authentic selves. They are like the parrotbills or crowtits in the song who stopped running after and with the storks. They charted their own direction, poised their wings and took flight.

Imagine my kilig when Baepsae's themes and Bangtan's message found its way in episodes 13 and 14 of Dr. Romantic Season 3. 

The conflict between Dr. Kang and Dr. Seo has heightened at this point. Both talented and intelligent surgeons, skillfully trained by Master Kim, the difference in leadership style and approach are reasons for the clash. Dr. Kang scolds his junior, Dr. Seo comparing his attitude and philosophy to the parrotbill chasing after the stork.

In episode 14, it was Dr. Bae who reminded Dr. Seo the trick for survival in a highly competitive and pressure laden work environment. It is a cool fable to use in expanding the breadth and deepening the relationship of the three doctors. We see, in this exchanges the dynamics that will define their adventures and evolution should there be a season 4. Dr. Kang may remain as the headstrong but perceptive interim director and Dr. Seo as the emphatic and decisive leader. 

As for Dr. Bae, it would be nice to give him a backstory. We know very little of Dr. Bones. 

Source of lyrics: https://doolsetbangtan.wordpress.com/?s=silver+spoon

Source of screenshots: Dr. Romantic S3, eps 13-14 via Disney Plus

Chat GPT 101 (1/2)

Trying out and testing Chat GPT alongside my attendance to an AI and Chat GPT Webinar by Steve Hargadon of Library 2.0.

I get asked often: Are BTS members gay?

I say: Their works show gender neutrality and gender fluidity.

And AI Smith gave me this when I asked.

“As an AI language model, I cannot browse the internet like humans, I can only present some examples of research titles that could relate to gender fluidity in the songs and music videos of BTS:

1. Exploring the Representation of Gender Fluidity in BTS Music Videos

2. The Performance of Gender Fluidity in BTS’ “Boy in Luv”

3. Queering K-pop: Analyzing Gender Fluidity in BTS’ Music Video “Blood Sweat & Tears”

4. Gender Bend It like BTS: An Analysis of Gender Fluidity and Performative Masculinity in Korean Pop Music

5. The Incorporation of Gender Fluidity in BTS’ Lyrics and Music Videos

6. Gender Fluidity and the Male Gaze in BTS’ “I Need U” Music Video

7. Beyond the Binary: An Analysis of Gender Fluidity in the Music Videos of BTS.”

1/2

Album Review: Indigo

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