In 2015, during the I Need U promotional period, Namjoon was spotted reading "Demian" by Hermann Hesse backstage at KBS Music Bank! 📖
"Demian" was later revealed to be the inspiration for the WINGS era in late 2016, over a year later!
#RM #NAMJOON #방탄소년단알엠 @BTS_twt
"Demian" was later revealed to be the inspiration for the WINGS era in late 2016, over a year later!
#RM #NAMJOON #방탄소년단알엠 @BTS_twt
"Demian" by Hermann Hesse follows the story of Emil Sinclair, a young man who feels like he doesn't quite belong. Accompanied by his mysterious friend Max Demian, Emil seeks to understand himself and to learn what it means to exist and to grow up. 📖
The book "Demian" had a surge of popularity during the WINGS era, and this even featured in a news segment on KBS. They talk about the overseas popularity of BTS, J-Hope introduces the meaning of 'BTS' and Namjoon explains why the book was an inspiration. 📖
In the story that runs through BTS' discography, the School trilogy deals with finding a path in the rigid Korean school system, while D&W deals with rebellion, and the HYYH series with youth and feeling lost. WINGS is the transition from youth to adulthood, finding oneself.
In a KBS interview in the LY:Her era, Namjoon was asked about book inspirations for their music, and he named "Demian" by Hermann Hesse as a good example because of how familiar it is to the general public, and therefore multiplies the strength of the message they convey. 📖
"Demian" is often connected to the philosophies of Friedrich Nietzsche. One of Nietzsche's quotes is used in the WINGS concept photos and features in the Blood Sweat and Tears MV. Namjoon also talked about it on vlive in late 2016 as an impactful quote embodying growing up. 📖
The journey of Emil Sinclair in "Demian" to find his true self is also reminiscent of Jungian archetypes and symbolism, as Hesse himself was very interested in Jungian analysis. Karl Jung's archetypes Persona, Shadow and Ego form the pillars of BTS's Map Of The Soul series. 📖
Suggested critical reading: this piece was very interesting to understand why "Demian" is such a common read in Korea 📖
blog.lareviewofbooks.org/the-korea-blog…
blog.lareviewofbooks.org/the-korea-blog…
Additional critical reading:
newyorker.com/magazine/2018/…
newyorker.com/magazine/2018/…
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