BTS: rise of idol — rise of persona
Previously in this series, An Introduction to Idol Limerence and BTS, the experience of limerence was defined and explored with the added context of Jungian psychology, and Giddens’ self-reflexive identity.
If you’re thinking tl;dr, don’t worry, this is what you need to know so far.
Limerence is a cognitive and emotional state of loving adoration and attachment felt towards another person, the limerent focus. Limerence is not reciprocated and is experienced as ruminative thinking and fantasising which one cannot control. There are many positive feelings, limerence is in many ways the feeling of first falling in love. However, limerence is characterised by experiences of depression and anxiety.
It is the argument of this series that limerence can be reframed as a potentially transformative experience and language for social movement.
Future articles will represent BTS’s Kim Namjoon, also known as RM, as an exemplar for this. RM is using his immense social and cultural influence to create positive social change; harnessing limerence experienced towards him and his idol group. However, before we get to RM, we must first come to understand the concept of idol which this article aims to do.
