ESSAYS
Personal stories, analyses, and explorations.
2.0 by BTS: ‘Oldboy’ and the Art of Longevity
As the video features their tightest choreography to date alongside biting lyrics calling attention to their status as an irreplaceable powerhouse, the imitation begs the question: How does Park’s film factor into BTS’ long-awaited comeback?
25 Years of Gorillaz: Cycles and Rebirth
Between the blue-haired singer Stuart “2D” Pot, the satanist bassist Murdoc Niccals, the martial arts expert guitarist Noodle, and Russel Hobbs, the drummer haunted by the ghost of his friend, Gorillaz are designed to mark the spirit.
The Visual Narrative in Twenty One Pilots’ Storytelling
It might seem paradoxical to talk about the visual aspect of a band’s music, but if Twenty One Pilots are famous for one thing, it’s being an exception to the norm.
D-Day in Concert: A Breakdown of the Artist
One of the most intriguing things about Min Yoongi’s discography has always been his thorough exploration of different concepts of identity. Both his songs as SUGA of BTS and his robust solo career as Agust D are full of reflections that hit with a gut-punching earnestness. And out of all of his forays into the topic, the 2023 Agust D D-Day concert tour was the most revelatory into his views on art and its relation to the self.
Yes, I Really Flew to Europe for a Concert
You’ll often hear K-pop fans say that their favorite groups or idols saved and healed them. A lot of people outside of the genre roll their eyes and call that childish or dramatic. But it’s so very true.
Right Place, Wrong Person: Seeing What a Life is About
Namjoon presents his uncensored feelings through an eclectic mix of genres and an exploration of whether he’s been living the right way as both Namjoon, a guy in his 20s, and RM, leader of world-renowned K-pop group BTS.