BTS and Their Androgynous Fluidity!

Being young is hard. Life throws a lot at you at once! Between school, work, sexuality, and identity, it can feel like we have to decide on so many things, life-changing things, with which we have live on for the rest of our lives! Those who go against the path society has laid out for us are the outliners, and the artists; the dreamers and the queers.

Talking about outliners! RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook are the seven that make up the global phenomenon BTS, who became the first K-Pop group to be nominated for a Grammy! In my opinion, K-Pop isn't taking over the world; BTS is. Period.

Why? Because, BTS takes a different approach to music and life: fluidity.

BTS’s body of work focuses on the fluidity of self. They exist in their own joyful world, beyond the trappings of society and gender. They wear non-gender specific clothing, blurring the hems between skirts and pants, women’s and men’s clothes. Each member has a style that is unique to them, and breathes confidence and creativity. They might shave their legs, or they might not. They wear make-up, and change their hair colours often. Masculinity, femininity, androgyny: they can take on all of these guises without missing a beat. More than anything, there’s the sense that they don’t even think about it; they’ve evolved beyond society’s definitions of them.

I want to be all honest here, I also used to scrunch my nose at someone who said they loved BTS! I was a lil' judgy, there I admit it! Handsdown! I had an affinity for men with beard! But, now, I foolishly long for the flawless clear skin BTS's men have!

To describe BTS as being queer or androgynous is not to assign special sexuality or identity to any of the member or the band itself - instead, its about describing the fluid nature of their aesthetic! I mean, who doesn't love a good pair of pantsuit be it a female or a male! It is the perfect example of comfort and oozes power out of the person wearing it. I am a big of androgynous clothing myself! Feminine yet manly!

The fluidity of BTS’s identity especially comes through in their intricately written lyrics. Their songs are gender-neutral. They use “her”, “she”, “he”, “him”, “they”, and “them” as interchangeable pronouns, and switch tenses often, which leads to a sense of fluidity in meaning. They never trap themselves into a single concept as a band; instead, they adapt every few months with the release of a new album. The chords that bridge their seven voices flow uninterrupted.

"They pulsate as one heartbeat in seven bodies, singular but bound together!"

In the canon of BTS, all forms of love and its many dualities are explored. They sing, rap, and speak of love openly in ways that go beyond traditional, monogamous, sexual ideas of romance. They suggest that love for yourself and others goes so much further than physical attraction. It is refreshing to see a pop band that writes songs and produces music videos that don’t objectify people.

SUGA, RM, and j-hope – were criticsed by the other members of the underground rap community in Korea for their ‘girly’ style and winged eyeliner. They were considered cowards who caved to the temptation of becoming idols; they were looked down on for their effeminate style and leaving the ‘true’ hip-hop life behind. “I will prove it to you,” RM said then. There is no doubt that BTS has proven that hip-hop can be more than its strictly defined parameters. “Hip-hop may not allow cute concepts, but I do,” SUGA said then.

Of all the meaningful things they’ve said over their career, the quote that encapsulates them perfectly is the statement of simple acceptance that opens each of their concerts. RM always says a variation on this: “Please be mindful of each other; your neighbours, your friends, your lovers, or whoever.” 

Breaking all the stereotypes of 'how a man should be', it is them who is trying to change the course of the world's thinking! Giving all the guys out there a breather and smashing the patriarchy!

That's BTS: fluid, loving, accepting and kind.