Unpacking Blood, Sweat, and Tears MV: Bruegel, Abraxas, and Vestal Virgins

Happy 6th birthday to the Blood, Sweat and Tears (2016). Join Lia and our favorite International Correspondent, Lexi, in unpacking the symbolism and Easter eggs found in BTS's iconic music video. Do people in your life ever dismiss your BTS love as supporting "some stupid boy band?" First, ew. You get to enjoy and celebrate WHATEVER brings you joy, friend. But secondly, while we love a surface-level banger like Butter...when the guys go deep, they tunnel into the depths of human duality and draw on influences from folks like Nobel-Prize winner Herman Hesse and the gnostic mystical concept of Abraxas. So if you ever want to "well, actually," a BTS naysayer, tune in and bulk up your argument.

Show notes:

The Music Videos

BTS (방탄소년단) '피 땀 눈물 (Blood Sweat & Tears)' Official MV

BTS (防弾少年団) '血、汗、涙 -Japanese Ver.-' Official MV

BTS (방탄소년단) 'ON' Official MV

BTS (방탄소년단) 'ON' Kinetic Manifesto Film : Come Prima

BTS (방탄소년단) 'IDOL' Official MV

BTS (방탄소년단) 'Butter' Official MV

Agust D '대취타' MV (Daechwita)

The Art:

The Fall of the Rebel Angels

Pieter Bruegel the Elder (1562)