Cover A look at the fine art, classic novels and psychological texts integrated into BTS songs, from Renaissance oil paintings to surrealist literature (Photo: Hybe Labels/Youtube)
A look at the fine art, classic novels and psychological texts integrated into BTS songs, from Renaissance oil paintings to surrealist literature (Photo: Hybe Labels/Youtube)
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Discover how classic novels and fine art masterpieces inspired the hidden narratives inside famous BTS songs and videos
BTS have built a rich creative universe by drawing inspiration from classical literature, fine art and psychology. These references appear throughout their songs, music videos and album concepts, giving fans another way to explore the stories and ideas behind the group’s music. From Renaissance paintings and twentieth-century novels to theories of the human mind, BTS weave cultural and literary references into their creative work, often using them to explore identity, love, ambition and personal growth. Recognising these influences can reveal connections between different songs, albums and visual narratives, adding another layer to the experience of following BTS.
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‘Blood Sweat & Tears’ (2016)
Above ‘Blood, Sweat & Tears’ integrates Hermann Hesse’s ‘Demian’ alongside Renaissance and Baroque oil paintings to examine temptation, duality and the loss of innocence
Literary reference: Demian by Hermann Hesse
Fine art references: “The Fall of the Rebel Angels” by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, “Landscape with the Fall of Icarus” by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, “The Lament for Icarus” by Herbert James Draper, Michelangelo’s “Pietà”
The music video for “Blood Sweat & Tears” functions as an extensive study of duality, temptation, and the transition from youth to adulthood. Literature forms the narrative backbone, with spoken-word interludes recited by RM containing direct quotes from Hermann Hesse’s novel Demian: “He too was a tempter. He too was a link to the second, the evil world with which I no longer wanted to have anything to do.” Visually, member V embodies a fallen angel figure, mirroring the book’s exploration of internal conflict and Abraxas.
The visual setting is heavily populated by Renaissance and Mannerist masterpieces. Early in the video, Jin gazes at Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s 1562 painting “The Fall of the Rebel Angels”, setting the theme of spiritual warfare. Bruegel’s “Landscape with the Fall of Icarus” appears beside Jungkook as he hangs from a swing, while Herbert James Draper’s “The Lament for Icarus” is positioned near RM as he drinks absinthe. Both paintings cite the Greek myth of Icarus to highlight hubris and the inevitable fall from grace.
Additionally, J-Hope performs in front of a giant marble replica of Michelangelo’s “Pietà”. Unlike the original masterpiece housed in St Peter’s Basilica, the face of Mary in this recreation is left smooth, uncarved and featureless.
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‘Spring Day’ (2017)
Above References Ursula K. Le Guin’s short story ‘The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas’ to frame themes of grief, memory and collective survival
Literary reference: The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas by Ursula K. Le Guin
The music video for “Spring Day” incorporates the central premise of Ursula K. Le Guin’s 1973 short story The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas. The narrative depicts a utopian town whose sustained peace relies on the perpetual suffering of a single child kept in darkness.
In the video, a neon sign explicitly reads ‘Omelas’ on the exterior of a motel. The visual storytelling draws directly from Le Guin’s work, placing Jungkook in the position of the isolated child while the other members gather to board a train, symbolic of those who choose to leave the illusion of an ideal society behind.
‘Butterfly’ and ‘Sea’ (2015 / 2017)
Above Uses Haruki Murakami’s surrealist literature and desert imagery to contrast underground struggles with mainstream success
Literary references: Kafka on the Shore and 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
Surrealist motifs drawn from the works of Japanese author Haruki Murakami appear across several BTS songs. In “Butterfly”, RM explicitly references Murakami in his verse with the line, “I don’t know if this is reality or a dream, my Kafka on the shore.” The lyrical content relies on Murakami’s recurring themes of blurred boundaries between dreams and waking life.
In “Sea”, a hidden track on the album Love Yourself: Her, the group builds upon Murakami’s 1Q84, adopting the central thematic line: “Wherever there is hope, there is a trial.” The track uses desert and ocean imagery to contrast their initial struggles in the music industry with their current mainstream success.
‘Intro: Persona’ (2019)
Above Draws on Carl Jung’s psychological framework to explore the tension between public identity and the authentic self
Literary reference: Jung’s Map of the Soul: An Introduction by Murray Stein
The album series Map of the Soul takes its core structure directly from Murray Stein’s text explaining Carl Jung’s psychological theories. The track “Intro: Persona” focuses on the division between an individual’s public image and true internal identity.
The accompanying music video visually mirrors these psychological concepts. RM performs among giant mirrors, projection screens, and CGI clones of himself. The imagery illustrates the tension between the idol public identity, defined as the “Persona”, and the private self underneath, aligning directly with Jungian analytical psychology.
‘Magic Shop’ (2018)
Above Adapts Dr James R. Doty’s neurological memoir into a sanctuary concept focused on personal healing and inner reflection
Literary reference: Into the Magic Shop by James R. Doty
The track “Magic Shop” uses the premise of neurosurgeon James R. Doty’s memoir, Into the Magic Shop: A Neurosurgeon’s Quest to Discover the Mysteries of the Brain and the Secrets of the Heart. Doty’s book details mind-training techniques used to conquer personal trauma.
In the song, BTS construct a metaphorical sanctuary where listeners can trade their psychological anxiety for comfort. The lyrics use the book’s central concept as a therapeutic framework to address personal struggle.
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Chonx Tibajia is a senior editor at Tatler Asia’s T-Labs team, where she writes widely on lifestyle subjects including beauty, style, entertainment and travel. She has a long career in journalism, including roles as a columnist at The Philippine Star, and is the founder of the creative platform Pineappleversed. Beyond Tatler, her bylines appear in regional lifestyle and business publications, showcasing a broad portfolio that spans beauty trends, travel guides and culture pieces.
