BTS’s music video “Black Swan” is not only a musical adventure, but also a profound reflection on social issues and personal growth. In the trend of media evolution, the rise of MTV provides a broader stage for music videos, and also encourages artists to bravely challenge traditional models and inject new possibilities into media development.

With the rise of MTV, music videos have transcended the traditional role of mere musical companions and become an important platform for artists to express their independent views. With its unique musical expression and imaginative visuals, BTS’s “Black Swan” gives music videos a profound meaning in the evolution of the medium. The development of MTV has enabled music videos to transcend mere entertainment and become a comprehensive and socially reflective art form.

“Black Swan” boldly challenges traditional music standards and provides a profound reflection on the artistic process through complex lyrics and charming melodies. This kind of musical exploration not only marks the pace of pop music innovation, but also embodies the pursuit of creative freedom. MTV has broadened the expression of music videos and provided artists with a broader field of creative expression.

( Image credit: YouTube/Big Hit Labels)

At the same time, “Black Swan” transcends the limitations of music, explores themes such as stress and self-awareness, and transforms into a profound reflection on social issues. MTV’s strengths pushed music videos in socially conscious directions, making them an important way to express social concerns. In a powerful response to the challenges of contemporary society, BTS uses symbolic means such as the “black swan” to express the psychological pressure that the younger generation faces in a fiercely competitive society.

Through the seamless fusion of music and video, Black Swan becomes a powerful voice addressing social issues. The multi-faceted expression method makes the music video more intuitive and emotionally resonant when expressing social issues, arousing a profound response from the audience. The development of MTV liberated music videos from mere musical performances and became a channel for artists to express profound insights. This critical examination provides a nuanced understanding of contemporary music videos as channels for political expression.

(Image credit: wikipedia/ black swan(song) )

Reference

• Vernallis, C. (2013). Unruly Media: YouTube, Music Video, and the New Digital Cinema. Oxford University Press.
• Rose, T. (2018). The End of Television?: Its Impact on the World. Routledge.
• Harrington, D. (2022) The stunning artistry of BTS’s ‘Black swan’, Tor.com. Available at: https://www.tor.com/2022/04/12/bts-black-swan-art-film-and-videos-analysis/ (Accessed: 21 November 2023). 
• Low, L. (2020) BTS’ ‘Black swan’ aptly addresses the fear of losing sight of what we love, Medium. Available at: https://medium.com/bulletproof/bts-black-swan-aptly-addresses-the-fear-of-losing-sight-of-what-we-love-af8a5539515f (Accessed: 22 November 2023). 
• lianawrites350 (2023) Into the shadows: An analysis of BTS’s ‘Black swan’ Music video, Tumblr. Available at: https://lianawrites350.tumblr.com/post/716071862423191552/into-the-shadows-an-analysis-of-btss-black (Accessed: 22 November 2023). 

By Qing Sun ｜ BA media and communications