9 thinkers, books, and ideas connected to this field.
BTS's 2020 album recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic — their most self-produced and personal album, written and produced largely by the members themselves — exploring pandemic isolation, longing for live performance, and questions of meaning and connection.
BTS track from Map of the Soul: 7 that addresses the fear an artist feels when their art no longer moves them — 'What if the music no longer makes my heart beat?' — exploring the shadow of artistic identity: the terror of losing the passion that defines you.
BTS's lead single from Map of the Soul: Persona featuring Halsey — a bright, upbeat pop song about simple love and appreciation for a partner — which became one of the most viewed YouTube videos in history within 24 hours of release.
SUGA's solo track from Map of the Soul: 7 that directly addresses the Jungian shadow — the dark side of success, fame, and ambition — with SUGA confronting his own shadow (the fear, insecurity, and darkness beneath his success) in visceral, confessional rap.
RM's solo track from Map of the Soul: Persona that opens with the question 'Who am I?' and explores the tension between the public persona (stage name RM) and the private person (Kim Namjoon) — directly referencing Jungian persona theory.
BTS's 2020 album — their fourth Korean-language studio album — that continues the Map of the Soul concept, incorporating the Shadow (Interlude: Shadow, Black Swan) and the Ego (Outro: Ego) from Jung's Map of the Soul — addressing the seven years of BTS's career and the seven members' individual and collective identities.
BTS's 2019 mini-album that sold over 3.4 million copies in pre-orders alone — built around the Jungian concept of the Persona (the social mask) from Murray Stein's Jung's Map of the Soul — with the title track Boy With Luv and Intro: Persona directly addressing questions of identity and the gap between public persona and private self.
J-Hope's solo track from Map of the Soul: 7 that addresses the Jungian ego — the conscious self that integrates persona and shadow — with J-Hope affirming his identity and purpose after the persona and shadow have been confronted.
BTS compilation album released during their military hiatus — collecting key tracks from their discography to maintain connection with the fanbase while members fulfill mandatory South Korean military service.