Analysis: T*a*e*h*y*u*n*g (Part 1 of 3)
[Disclaimer: the following is pure speculation and a collection of observation. Do not take this as fact.]
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It seems like there are nine main phrases or words that are prominent in the image, namely:
1. To Die Would Be An Awfully Big Adventure
2. Spread Your Wings
3. Your Oldest Fear is the Worst One
4. Abraxas (inverted)
5. Youth Youth
6. The Wings
7. Lust for Life
8. Never Mind
9. XxX
I've tried to link each one to a particular song or concept but I'll need to break it up into 3 different sections to be able to add all the images and links.
Abraxes -BST (Korean vs. Japanese version)
I rewatched both versions of the song and only noticed now how jarring the contrast between Vee's character is from one version to the other. This contrast is also personified in the difference between his aesthetics i.e. almost platinum blonde vs. dark hair, blue contacts vs.natural brown eyes:
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It seems like a play on duality, light vs. dark. In the Japanese version, Ta3 also seems drugged (or dissociated) in the beginning, the camera effects emphasise the almost trance-like state he appears to be in. In the Korean BST, he seems much sharper, he has focus and direction and knows exactly what he is doing. The nature of the "betrayal" is also interesting. In the Korean version, it seems like Ta3 is "evil" from the start, he seems to lead J1n into temptation and eventual sin. In the Japanese version however, his interaction with J1n is far more direct, violent and impulsive. Where the BST Korean version seemed to be about the lust and allure of deals with the devils, the Japanese version shows the flipside to that -the harsh cruel reality. Ta3 also clearly takes on the role of Abraxas, the "tempter" and
"link to the second world", as seen when he "grows" his wings and reveals himself.
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This leads me to believe that the Vee in the Korean version is actually not Ta3, but an alter. It may be a personal observation and others may disagree, but there is something different about the boys when they don the contacts and light hair, something that makes me feel uncomfortable for reasons I can't explain really. It was this alter persona that is linked with the demon Abraxas, and it was this demonic persona that betrayed J1n. The only main consistancy between Vee from the two version is when he is covered by the veil.
The Veil of Separation
"Today a veil still separates us from the spirit realms. To most of us, this veil seems impenetrable. It seems to block us from direct, conscious contact with Spirit. So we often refer to it as “the veil of separation.” In fact, no actual curtain, wall, door, or mist exists between us and Spirit. The veil is a metaphor representing our belief that we are separate from Spirit. It is an illusion we created for various reasons. But even though it is an illusion, it holds our perception of physical reality in place. Most of us still believe the physical “reality” is the only reality that exists, because the veil blocks our view of the spirit realms that lie beyond it."
Source: www.spirit-quest.net/2011/09/veil-that-separates-us-from-spirit.html
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This goes with my theory that the Korean version of BST represents the spiritual component of temptation while the Japanese version represents the physical manifestation of consequence as many of the members seem lost, dissociated or distressed -and Ta3 is indeed the "link to the second [world]".
Spread Your Wings -Singularity
One of the most noticeable things about this music video is the use of colour. Again, there is a constant contrast between cutscenes of red and blue, black and white and light and shadow. The most telling aspect of this video is the dance with the masks. Ta3 seems to have full control over them, able to manpiulate them to move whichever way he likes. At one point, they take on the following formation behind him:
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They look like
spread wings behind him. It's already been mentioned that the masks most likely represent different alter personalities of which Ta3 seems to have many. It fits in with his personality profile, or at least what we can make of it. Someone did an amateur psychological evaluation of Ta3's personality. Here is a bit of what she said:
"He’s also called an alien for so many outrageous reasons, but I’ll never call him alien again because he himself told us that he doesn’t want to be called alien. Personally, I’ve never seen such interesting, eccentric, and unique person like our Taehyung. He has the body and looks of a 20 year old, a voice of a 50 year old, and a mind and behavior of a 5 year old. He’s like the most immature among the members and he acts more like the maknae of BTS than Jungkook."
Full blogpost: https://maryloveskorea.wordpress.com/2016/09/24/my-personality-analysis-for-bts-members/
The reason I added this is because it ties in to his BT*21 character of T@ta. Not only is the character an "alien", but the profile in the video
@ShiningCarat14 posted to the thread has the #supernatural word in T@ta's newspaper cut-out as he uses some kind of space gun to change random characters in front of him into other things. Again, Ta3 seems to have the ability to summon these alters at will. The video also says he "accidentally fell to Earth", which is an obvious reference to the fallen angel trope -another nod to Abraxas.
Definition of singularity:
plural singularities
Something that is singular such as
a) a separate unit
b) an unusual or distinctive manner or behaviour
Both meanings apply to the song, video and the character of T@ta. I think the Ta3 we see in the MV for Singularity is in fact the core alter, his singular and original unit of being. Ta3 was also mentioned to be somewhat distanced from the rest of the group on occassion, a singular persona. Likewise, T@ta is also usually separated from the rest of the characters:
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And for the second meaning, of course Ta3's personality is considered a singularity even within the group as he is commonly labelled "the weird one". The alien. Other things that further alienate Vee from the rest of the group is the fact that he was the hidden member. His name also stands as distinctive, the single letter "V".
“My stage name was chosen last. Six, Lex, V. Those three names were suggested but the members and PD all said that V fit me the best and so I picked V to stand for victory.”
"The letter V in a dream represents choice, options, or doing whatever you want. The two opposing directions symbolize your ability to choose exactly how you want something to be. V is the 22nd letter of the alphabet and in numerology 22 represents confidently confronting your problems. 22 is also a very powerful number because it's also reflects the 22 degree halo phenomenon where the sun looks like an angels halo."
Source: www.dreambible.com/dreamdictionary/v.html
Ta3's character throughout the overarching storyline is often linked to choices, conflicts and confrontations. And again, the link between an angel's halo and a fallen angel (or demon Abraxas).
XxX -Vow of Silence, V@N
Everyone already knows that the XXX stands for "666" or the mark of the beast. But there are other meanings as well for the symbol "X":
"X expresses the union of two things, as crossed swords or keys in heraldry, which testifies of alliances, and oaths and secrets kept between two people or a person and an organization or a god. It also has the connotation of sexual union, the crossing of bloodlines, or also the union of species or dimensions (the alien from another planet). X as the terminus - marked as to delete, cancel or blot - to close (dialog box or window) - marks the end of a conversation . To name oneself with an X or an ex- is to self-annihilate. It can be destruction for the purpose of creation. A phoenix rises out of the X's. A person reborn as an identity without limitation, without restrictions, without moral code. That's the transformation imagined by creators of comic-book and movie heroes."
" X's for eyes indicates death - skull and crossbones is an X and symbol of deadly poison like XXX - sign of a life-death oath “cross my heart and hope to die”
Source: http://theopenscroll.com/theEsotericLetterX.htm
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I believe
the V@n robot represents their handlers, their manager or even the industry as a whole.
