Karrissa Sealey

The sources I chose are ones meant to show BTS’ influence and their impact. In society,
there’s a lot for us to unlearn and BTS does a good job at helping people do that by touching on
topics such as loss, depression, self-love, and toxic masculinity, etc. They use their music and
actions to let people know that it’s okay to be different, that it’s okay to show your emotions and
let them know that it won’t make them any weaker. Most of all, they let people know they aren’t
alone, and to so many people around the world, it’s the best thing they could ask for.

After being dragged to a BTS concert by his daughter and niece, David Mitchell reflected on
his experience with BTS which led to the creation of his article “More than a boyband”. This
article can be seen as credible as it’s written by someone who’s experienced the BTS
phenomenon in person. It’s also credible because Mitchell is a music critic and is also an
established writer of multiple novels. The audience that he was trying to reach could be BTS’s
fanbase known as the “army” or just someone who might’ve been curious about BTS and what
it’s like to experience their performances. “So here I am, on a muggy June evening at Wembley
Stadium, a 50-year-old dad in a predominantly female and teenage crowd of 60,000 fans
shrieking and roaring — “shroaring”? — at Beatlemaniac levels as seven young South Korean
men appear onstage, their images flashing up on to the giant stage-side screens.” Mitchell
himself talks about his age and the people he’s surrounded by, which shows that he wants people
to know that regardless of their age, sex, or background, they can enjoy BTS too.

Mitchell’s tone comes off as humorous and blithe as he makes jokes but then proceeds to
counter them. Mitchell claims”Yes, the fanbase’s X chromosomes massively outnumber its Ys.
Yes, the band wear foundation and lip-gloss and are exquisitely tailored. But the “greater band”
includes producers and songwriters (the line is blurry), choreographers, set and costume
designers, video directors, social-media handlers, and comprise a formidable, world-class
creative and business organism. Songs are credited to several authors. ” Then he follows up by
listing all the good things that he’s witnessed and gives a bit of a background regarding BTS and
their accomplishments. For example, he introduces BTS and their many names and then follows
up with their achievements. Then nearing the end of the article he talks about how “love is in the
air” and criticizes “cynics” as the concert came off as truly sincere as the members really did give
it their all. He also mentions how the members took 20 minutes to just stop and talk to everyone
that came to the concert, expressing their thanks in words, through their actions, and even in
tears.

The main purpose of this article was to describe the author’s experience with BTS. Mitchell
uses a lot of senses and details to talk about his experience at the concert, further proving that the
purpose of his writing was to describe. The genre of this article is a narrative as Mitchell is
speaking in first person and it recounts every moment he was there. Usually, in narratives, a
series of connected events are told step by step and this article is a perfect example of that. In the
beginning, the author gives off the impression of not really wanting to be there. Granted, he was
dragged to the concert by his family, but as he sat through the concert, he had a change of heart
and even started advocating for BTS. Mitchell’s stance on BTS went from uninterested to
intrigued and then he finally reached an understanding/sense of respect. He mentions how many
fans of BTS have told stories about the way BTS has helped them learn to love themselves and
talks about how hard it is to do that, especially within this society. Mitchell then realized why
BTS was so popular and the influence they had on so many people around the world.

BTS has become a great source of comfort to so many people around the world. In his
critical essay “7 men: The members of BTS have ascended to the peak of pop, redefined fame,
and challenged traditional masculinity. Who are the twenty-somethings behind this movement,
and what do they want now? “, Dave Holmes further elaborates on their influence. Holmes is
credible as he is a writer for Esquire and has personally interviewed BTS. The audience of this
essay could be anyone who is a fan of BTS, those who want to learn more about them as stated
in the previous source, anyone who may want to challenge what society has forced them to
believe, or even those who don’t exactly like BTS. Holmes talks about seeing/interviewing BTS
and witnessing the type of people they really are. “And their affection with one another, their
vulnerability and emotional openness in their lives and in their lyrics, strikes me as more
grown-up and masculine than all the frantic and perpetual box-checking and tone-policing that
American boys force themselves and their peers to do. It looks like the future.”

The tone of this article is serious as it touches on heavy topics like mental health, toxic
masculinity, and death. Suga (Min Yoongi) of BTS states, “There is this culture where
masculinity is defined by certain emotions, characteristics. I’m not fond of these expressions.
What does being masculine mean? People’s conditions vary day by day. Sometimes you’re in a
good condition; sometimes you aren’t. Based on that, you get an idea of your physical health.
And that same thing applies mentally. Some days you’re in a good state; sometimes you’re not.
Many pretend to be okay, saying that they’re not ‘weak,’ as if that would make you a weak
person. I don’t think that’s right. People won’t say you’re a weak person if your physical condition
is not that good. It should be the same for the mental condition as well. Society should be more
understanding.” The main purpose of this essay was to provide insight into BTS and what they
stand for, while also providing reasons as to why they are so successful. It’s normal to go along
with what society has said as it’s all we’ve known our whole entire lives. Society has forced
people to conform and has placed them in a box. Being in a box can be and is restrictive, which
leads to people suppressing their emotions.BTS is trying to break out of it, which is why they
continuously influence others and are a huge comfort to those who are trying to change. The
genre of this essay is an interview as an interviewer is speaking with BTS face to face and asking
questions. Holmes’ stance on BTS is one of admirability. Since the beginning of his essay, he’s
been praising BTS and saying that they “look like the future”

That brings us to the article “BTS’s big break” by Izzy Angus. Angus is credible as the
newspaper was established at University Wire, for which she is a writer. “BTS’s big break”
discusses the impact BTS has had on the world. Again, the audience is “army” (BTS’ fanbase) or
anyone curious about what BTS has done. The tone of this article is solemn as it touches on
topics established within our society. Angus states, “Since their conception, BTS have
championed the voices of youth, writing music that makes social commentary on suffocating
education systems, political and social injustices and mental health.”

The main purpose of the article was to touch on those topics as well as dive deeper into the
reason why BTS has become successful. “BTS gained traction because of how they excelled
within their constraints of the industry, while still challenging it. Without the privileges of a large
company, they grinded their way up, from “nothing to something,” consistently cranking out
immaculate performances and high quality albums, whilst, above all, championing their artistry
and their deeper social values throughout.”The genre of this article is a newspaper as it is issued
daily by news outlets. Angus’ stance on BTS is one that shows appreciation. Angus states
“Unlike many other idol groups, the members participate in the songwriting, production and/or
composition of every single track. Writing autobiographically about loss, depression and
insecurity in their more reflective tracks as well as determination and self-love in their
electrifying, empowering stadium anthems- they imbue their own narrative into their songs. This
kind of critical engagement with the highs and lows of personal development is rare in an
industry that notoriously restricts the individuality of idols and propagates idealized pictures of
what joy, masculinity, femininity, beauty and love should look like. BTS wields genre and
conceptual shifts as artistic tools to illustrate their growth from teenagers to adults. ” Through
this statement, it’s easy to see that Angus is appreciative that BTS is removing themselves from
the box they were placed in and setting an example for teens and adults everywhere.

Finally, the last article, “the UNSTOPPABLE BTS.” was written by Jung, E. Alex. Jung
is credible because they were a writer for Billboard, and after some research, they were found to
be a senior writer at Vulture and NY magazine. As previously mentioned, the target audience for
this article is “army” (BTS fanbase) or anyone curious about BTS. The tone of this article is as
candid as it is straightforward. Jung states “BTS has connected with millennials around the globe
even though — or really, because — the act seems to challenge boy-band and K-pop orthodoxies.
Sure, it’s got love songs and dance moves. But BTS’ music, which the members have helped
write since the beginning, has regularly leveled criticism against a myopic educational system,
materialism and the media, venting about a structure seemingly gamed against the younger
generation.” The main purpose of this article is to describe the ways BTS use their platform to
connect to other “youths”. RM (Kim Namjoon) from BTS states, “Honestly, from our standpoint,
every day is stressful for our generation. It’s hard to get a job, it’s harder to attend college now
more than ever”.Suga (Min Yoongi) then states “Adults need to create policies that can facilitate
that overall social change. Right now, the privileged class, the upper class needs to change the
way they think. And this isn’t just Korea, but the rest of the world. The reason why our music
resonates with people around the world who are in their teens, 20s and 30s is because of these
issues.” BTS uses their platform to speak up for those who don’t necessarily have a “voice”, for
those who don’t have the resources or confidence to do the same, and for those who resonate
with those issues. The genre of this article is informational as it is nonfiction and provides
information on a certain topic, in this case, BTS.

Lastly, Jung’s stance on BTS is one of understanding. Jung understands that BTS has gotten
to where they are because of their hard work and who they are as people. Jung states, “BTS is the
K-pop group of the moment because it balances the contradictions inherent to the genre on a
genuinely global scale: The act is breaking through in America singing and rapping in Korean,
creating intimacy through wide exposure on social media, expressing political ideas without
stirring up controversy and inspiring fervent obsession with mild-mannered wholesomeness. It is
the underdog that has arrived.”

In each of these articles, the impact of BTS has been made clear. Whether it was through
seeing them in concert, interviewing them, or just researching them. In the first article, someone
who never believed that they’d be at a BTS concert ended up enjoying it and because he enjoyed
it so much he wrote about it. In the second article, an interview took place and the readers were
able to learn more about who BTS are as people. In the third, the readers were introduced to the
issues BTS speaks upon. Then in the last article, the readers were given reasons as to why BTS
has such a huge impact on so many people around the world. Each article in a sense were
building blocks for each other. The first gave a little background and became the foundation
while the rest built on it.