Dionysus : A Greek Mythology | Analysis + Edits :fallen_leaf:

Tysm for second place and feature. I can't believe this, now imma go and cry in corner :sob: :purple_heart:

Date of feature - 4.06.2021

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INTRODUCTION

Welcome Ara to yet an another blog of mine. This time I am doing something very new that I have never ever done before. This is my first time to take part in #SOTW and for it I tried to analyze one of the most famous song of our boys which is Dionysus and also edits as a bonus cuz why not. :hand: :relieved:

So without wasting an further time let's dive into it. :fist:

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#SotwDionysusChallenge

#BTSDionysusChallenge

#SotwChallenge

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:warning: Trigger warning :warning: : There is mention of violence and alcohol which could be mentally disturbing to some of the people so read at your own risk.

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General information about Dionysus

➳ It is a song by South Korean boy band BTS.

➳ It was released digitally on April 12, 2019, as part of the extended play Map of the Soul: Persona.

➳ The song was announced to be on their album track list Map of the Soul: Persona a few days before the scheduled release.

➳ The track was also hinted at when teaser pictures of the holding grapes were released.

➳ The genre of this song is rap rock and hip-hop type.

➳ This song was written by SUGA, RM, J-HOPE, SUPREME BOI, PDOGG, ROMAN CAMPOLO.

➳ It is produced by PDOGG.

➳ It is 4:08 long.

➳ Lyrically, the song talks about their stardom, legacy, and artistic integrity.

➳ In a press release RM described the song as, "the joy and pain of creating something” and “an honest track". It is named after the Greek god of the same name.

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Ancient Mythology on Dionysus

So according to my research Dionysus was the son of Zeus and Semele, a daughter of Cus (king of Thebes).Hera, the wife of Zeus tries to kill him twice but in both versions he was saved by Zeus by sewing it to his thigh because of which the god is called “Dionysus” which means twice born.

Dionysus was a greek god, who was the god of agriculture and vegetation. His role as a greek god was mostly involved with nature and thats why he had a close link to wine, grape-harvest, orchards and vegetation displays and because he is the god of viticulture and grapes, therefore he's connected to growth and harvest of the fruit. In myth, he teaches the art of growing and cultivating the plant. Dionysus was an important figure in Greek mythology and a bit of an outsider.

How he was an outsider? 🤔

Well, he was the only one of the twelve major deities, called the Olympians who had a mortal parent. He was one of the twelve Olympians, although he was the last to arrive, and his unusual birth and upbringing marked him as an outsider.

His thyrsus,(was a wand or staff of giant fennel covered with ivy vines and leaves, sometimes wound with taeniae and topped with a pine cone or by a bunch of vine-leaves and grapes or ivy-leaves and berries.) is both a beneficent wand and a weapon used to destroy those who oppose his cult and the freedoms he represents. As Eleutherius ("the liberator"), his wine, music and ecstatic dance free his followers from self-conscious fear and care, and subvert the oppressive restraints of the powerful. Those who partake of his mysteries are believed to become possessed and empowered by the god himself.

With this description we can say that he was portrayed as a mature male But in later images he is showed as beardless and little feminine with delicate features.

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Mystery About Concept Pictures

As we all know that before every album release BTS give us hints with their concept pictures, that time also they gave us hints with their awestruck poses and props. As we can clearly see that the are holding grapes and wine glasses in their hand, it was a major hint as Dionysus is the god of wine and grape harvest.

These are used as major props to explain Dionysus. One thing is also to be noticed is that they are wearing very feminine jewelleries, this connect us to the point that even though Dionysus is portrayed as strong and mature male but with very soft features. This shows us that even though our boys use makeup and dye their hairs and people call these girly things, nothing could change that fact that these people dominate our today’s generation.

We have another picture that is taken in front of a mirror which can signify about your true self since Dionysus cult is all about intoxicating themselves and letting their true side free, this can be what they show to the world and what they really are. Since I think mirror is the thing which can tell what we really are, there is nothing to fake when we stand in front of mirror, we can show are true selves without being judged by the society. Suga has also mentioned the same in his verse ‘The new record is the fight against oneself’ means every day they fight with their public identity and private identity.

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Lyrics Analysis

[Intro: V, J-Hope]

Drink it up

Shot glasses (sippin’) Link arms (tippin’)

One shot

Thyrsus (grippin’) Grape (eatin’)

Drink it up

Vibes (Keep it) D style (rip it)

One shot

Here (Kill it) let’s steal it

The illest

'Drink it up' can be a reference to having a celebration and generally you drink wine for a celebration and to free yourself from society. Also the wine could link to the Greek mythology because the ancient Greek god, Dionysus was the god of wine and grape harvest. Furthermore, here the alcohol can represent art because the art and alcohol are very similar in Korean, so maybe the boys want to "drink it up" and get drunk their art, which is their music.

Here, we know that RM is gripping thyrsus by which makes him and rest of the the representative of Dionysus since in ancient myth Dionysus and his followers which are called maenads used to have thyrsus with them. However, in here 'thyrsus' can also be a reference to the staff made of ivy and reed that Dionysus used to carry and that staff symbolises prosperity and enjoyment.

Furthermore, the mention of 'grape' could be referring back to Dionysus being the god of wine and grape harvest or it can also be a metaphor for empty seats at a concert since that’s what the Korean word for grape can also mean, so they can be saying that in their concerts they have no empty seats, which links back to the idea of prosperity as well as enjoyment because BTS are now successful and they are enjoying that success.

The boys are enjoying and vibing to themselves getting drunk in art, linking arms to arms. the illest is slang word thats frequently used in hip-hop culture which can mean to be best among something in a very unique manner by which we can say that they want to prove that are the best, coolest among the masses of people.

[Verse 1: RM]

Just get drunk like Dionysus

Drink in one hand, Thyrsus on the other

Art splashing inside this clear crystal cup

Art is alcohol too, if you can drink it, you'll get drunk fool

You dunno you dunno

You dunno what to do with

I'll show you I recommend you something different

From my mic made of ivy and rough wood

There is never a sound that comes out in one breath

Since Dionysus is god of wine, pleasure but also religious madness and theatre. This all leads to the final process of Dionysian cult which is to free yourself from society. When you drink you lose all your senses and become mad and with this madness you get closer to Dionysus. This enlightens you and you are born once again but as a free person. Maybe here RM is saying that by consuming the alcohol (their art) they have been reborn and become a better version of themselves.

Here RM is comparing art with alcohol but here it can mean in a conflicting way since alcohol is destructive and addictive unlike Dionysus which means free yourself through madness. RM says that art is splashing inside clear crystal cup. Since crystal is a sign of wealth and richness but also in the next line shows a clear warning against it that alcohol can make you drunk like a fool. It can also mean that art is a type of alcohol to which they are becoming addicted to.

Furthermore, the repetition of you dunno you dunno can suggest that RM is saying that you don't know what this feels like or it can also mean that RM is encouraging you to take the alcohol that you don't know about and consume it well to see the art so that you can be free.

Next RM says from my mic made of ivy and rough wood, now from what i have previously mentioned, here RM is making references to the thyrsus which was a staff also made of ivy and RM does that to show that he has power too with his mic to entertain the world. It also shows that RM is saying that he has a lot of success and prosperity since the thyrsus symbolises prosperity and enjoyment.

[Refrain: Jungkook, J-Hope]

Until the sun comes up, where the party at

Until we fall asleep, where the party at

Sing it, sing it again

Drink it, drink it again

We’re born again

Here, they are telling that when the sun comes up meaning when the day begins and when the sun goes down and it’s time to sleep they are still in party which can mean their studio where they make music for their fans which are Armys.

Additionally, this can mean that because their love or "greed" for music and success is a lot, so it can show that they blame themselves in a way for wanting these things but now they are dedicated and intoxicated with art, therefore even through exhaustion they will give their best for music and army.

Also linking this to Dionysus as i have mentioned before that he is the Greek god known for parties and associated with ecstasy and madness although parties are a celebration and are good here it shows the chaos and the dark side of it.

The repetition of sing it and drink it can probably mean they are trying to encourage themselves for making best music. The last line ‘we are born again’ just goes with the name Dionysus since he was also born twice and BTS has also born again in spite of all hate and problems they have gone through even before they became famous just like Dionysus born even after Hera, the wife of Zeus tried to kill him before he was even born. Also referring back to the point of BTS being born again even though they got a lot of hate, Dionysus was once considered an outcast in Olympus similar to how BTS were considered an outcast in K-pop, maybe here there is a parallel to show that no matter if people think they are an outcast, they will still do their best and prove them wrong, they will show them the true beauty of BTS

[Pre-Chorus: Jin, J-Hope]

Drink it up (the pain of creation)

One shot (the scolding of this era)

Drink it up (Talking with myself)

One shot (Okay now l’m ready fo the sho)

Writing music is not easy. Whenever they write music they have to listen to world’s demand, their inner voice, all this makes them so pressurized and it becomes so painful and frustrating. So, in this verse it can even mean that they want to get drunk to forgot all this even if it will for few moments. They just want to free themselves all the hassle going in their head and go in the moment of bliss that alcohol gives. However, the pain of creation could also mean the negative effects of alcohol. It also can mean that after taking the alcohol ( the art ) and becoming intoxicated with it you automatically become bolder and confident since when you drink alcohol you become you forget your self-conscious and do the things confidently that you wanted to do.

As in Dionysus we saw that people get drunk to unleash their madness and become free. That was one way to get closer to the god that is Dionysus. The boys also want to get drunk and free so that they can also get close to happiness and freedom.

[Chorus: V, Jimin, J-Hope]

Drink, drink, drink, drink up my glass ay

Everyone all, fall, fall into this crazy artist

One drink (one shot), two drinks (two shots)

Get drunk on art and say onghaeya

In this verse they are saying that to drink and to drink until they become mad and loose all the senses after drinking. They want to just get lost by drinking which is art for them and become like crazy artist and say onghaeya. As you all know getting drunk will actually make you crazy whether you want to get drunk in alcohol or whether it is art or it can be love as well. Getting drunk will make you out of your mind. And for artist we all know that BTS is born twice first as Korean singers which people hated and second, they rebirth as global artists.

The word onghaeya actually doesn’t have a particular meaning but can be translated into oh yeah but you can say this word when you happy. If you will listen to old Korean folk songs you will notice that this word is quite popular in those type of songs. This can also mean that through their art they feel happiness because of which that expression comes out.

[Verse 2: V, Jungkook]

I'm now in front of the door to the world

The cheers I hear when I get up on stage

Can’t you see my stacked

Broken thyrsus

At last I’m reborn

In this verse they are saying that to drink and to drink until they become mad and lose all the senses after drinking. They want to just get lost by drinking which is art for them and become like crazy artist and say onghaeya. As you all know getting drunk will actually make you crazy whether you want to get drunk in alcohol or whether it is art or it can be love as well. Getting drunk will make you out of your mind. And for artist we all know that BTS is born twice first as Korean singers which people hated and second, they rebirth as global artists.

They mention fall into artistry and I think that means to be creative and free with what they do, they want to be confident and free with music, so it's trying to tell you to get rid of that persona, as the Jungian philosophy states that a person is a mask a person puts on to try and create a certain image of themselves and portray themselves in certain ways, here BTS want you to break that persona and let it fall because it’s not your true self, it’s not who you are.

[Verse 3: J-Hope]

When the night comes

Mumble mumble mumble

When the night comes

Tumble tumble tumble

The bass, bass, bass filling the studio

Bass drum goes like dum dum dum (Yeah)

This verse tells us about their artistic process which is inspired by Dionysian festival. The Dionysus cult was related to drunkenness and confusion. Since the followers of Dionysian intoxicated with drunkenness the main aim was to make their true side and come out. And with this verse the same thing happens when the night comes their studio is full of mumbling and confusion. There is lot haziness in the atmosphere since this process is full of confusion as the artists are drunk in their art.

Also, they mentioned about when the night comes the bass of the drum goes dum dum dum which we can relate to Dionysian cult as the worshippers used percussion instruments which were scared to gods. However, it also means that they are comparing being drunk to their lives and how they entertain all, they lose them self in the music and become almost like Dionysus. The drum can represent their heart beating fast for the excitement or being nervous for a performance.

Furthermore, BTS creative process is Dionysian cult since the followers of Dionysus used to get drunk on wine but BTS gets drunk on art but the final result is same which is to get freedom and unleash your true self to society by taking birth twice.

[Bridge: Suga]

If we pop up

Anywhere in the world, stadium party ay

Born as a K-pop idol

Reborn as an artist

Reborn as an artist, reborn as an artist

What does it matter if I’m an idol or an artist, cheers

Art at this level is over-drinking, over-drinking yeah

The new record is the fight against oneself, a fight yeah

Toast to this, one shot

But I‘m still thirsty

What

In this Suga says now they can go anywhere because of their power and success which they have got. They have born twice just like Dionysus first as an idol and second as artist. Now they have become the global artist this artistic process is becoming addictive to them.

Also, here the verse is a parallel to RM's part in idol that starts with "can call me artist, can call me idol" which means that the audience sees them in many ways, they see them with many persona's but the thing that keeps them going is how they see their own self.

The power and success which they have got has become an addiction where they just want to get drowned. They are breaking new records every day, they are becoming more popular day by day but they still want more. Here Suga talks about the addiction of success and art which is freeing them. But the new record is they are fighting against themselves which probably means their inner voice which is wanting for more and more power. Even if they already have so much it still wants more to quench his thirst which we can also relate how addictive the alcohol is. Even if you had enough you been still wanting more of it.

In the end he mentions how he's thirsty which could mean that he is thirsty for that success, for that achievement. However, it could also mean that he feels that he can do much better and is therefore thirsty for more.

[Break: RM]

You ready for this?

Are you ready to get hyped up?

Come on

Here RM is trying to encourage everyone to in and in the madness. He wants people to be intoxicated in the music and to lose themselves and just be themselves.

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Opinion On Lyrics

So, with this we can say that BTS and Dionysus are very much similar in many ways since BTS says they are twice born, first as an singer and second as an artist and his followers which are called maenads are similar to us Armys.

BTS wants to get drunk which means they want to get drunk in their art which is music to unleash their souls towards freedom. They want to drink so that they can go through all the difficulties of making music and also listen to their fans and their inner voice. By getting drunk they can express themselves truly just how an alcohol helps the person to unleash their true side.

Here, Armys can also be related to worshippers of Dionysus because when they get drunk they are happy and pleasured to get that freedom to madness just like we feel to just go and enjoying their music in the sense of drinking. After being drunk we can feel the music truly without any restrictions and feel blissed and they showed the overall with the comparison of art and alcohol linguistically and figuratively.

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Choreography Analysis

As we already know that Dionysus was a Greek God and the lyrics of song tells us their struggles behind the close doors and how they are twice born just like how Dionysus was born twice.

Now if we talk about choreography it is somewhat choreographed in a way like Dionysian festival just like people who used to dance in gatherings under the influence of heavy alcohol. The choreography is very energetic and is organised very beautifully.

The other topic is to talk about RM’s thyrsus which he has with him during the live performance of Dionysus which makes him and other the representative of Dionysus since the worshippers of Dionysus use to have a thyrsus with them.

You will also notice that this song has backup dancers since the starting of the song which is quite rare in BTS songs and even if they appear they appear almost at break dance. But here we have a significance of them. The backup dancers are the followers and worshippers of Dionysus who will celebrate around the people who are said to be the messenger of Dionysus.

Now one more thing is to be noticed is that in concerts of BTS during the opening of song there were two giant inflated panthers. Before my research I thought that it is normal for BTS since they use many types of props to make their performance look more attractive but here there was a story behind that inflated panthers. When I researched I found out Dionysus has sacred animals which are panther. In ancient Greece, the panther was a symbol of Dionysus and their priests all wore panther skins. The Greek word for panther translated to 'all-beast' and referred to the Dionysus as 'The All’. Since BTS used them in their concerts it could mean the arrival of god since Panther was a sacred animal to Dionysus.

Furthermore, at the end BTS end up sitting high up on chairs which could represent them as the Greek gods that have a high status or it could represent them as Dionysus.

In conclusion I can only say that the rap line, Pdogg, Supreme Boi and Roman Campolo are geniuses and we are proud to stan these genius people.

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Overall Opinion

Overall you can say that Dionysus and BTS are very much similar in many ways. Firstly, Dionysus is portrayed as matured adult man but he is beardless man with delicate features which is very similar to BTS situation since they are manly but they use makeup and dye their hairs which some people think of it too girly things but in spite of that they proved all of them their worth and carry the half of the music industry on their shoulders.

They proved that men who use makeup can also reach at the top of the world.

Another thing which matches is that he was one of the twelve Olympians, although he was the last to arrive, and his unusual birth and upbringing marked him as an outsider similar to the situation to BTS since they come from a very small company which has no proper financial , people hated them because of their name but at last they proved everyone with their talent that nothing is impossible and people who think of them as an outcast can sur anyone, money doesn’t matters if the person has and talent.

Even though their company was on the verge of bankrupt they never gave up on BTS. And now this was worth for. With this I can conclude that BTS are Dionysus of modern era.

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Links to other Songs

Boy with Luv, means a poem for small things, it's about finding joy and love out of the little things in life. In the first verse, Jimin wants to know how's your day and what makes you happy and this links to Dionysus because it talks about being intoxicated with art so there the clear theme of love. Also, it could mean that they want you to find love in everything that you do in life, even if it’s a job. When you truly love the small things in life then only will you be prosperous.

However, it could also link with Halsey being bisexual and Dionysus was manly but also had feminine qualities because he was a said to be a transvestite by Roberto C. Ferrari being part of the LGBTQ+ and Suga had a line that said a verse about fighting against oneself so maybe It can mean they are fighting with what they show and what they really are.

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MMA Performance Special

In the MMA the first performance was V, which could represent the Greek god Apollo because Apollo has been recognized as a god of archery, music and dance, truth and prophecy, healing and diseases, the Sun and light and poetry. If you take a closer look at the performance the stage is an orange colour which could mean the light. Also, the backup ariel dancers could symbolise the sun.

The next performance is Jin's and Jin could represent Athena. She is the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, law and justice, strategic warfare, mathematics, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, and skill. If you look at Jin's performance then Jin's stage colour blue which is commonly associated with the traits Athena has. Also, he rides on a horse, although Athena is not the goddess that associated much with horses but perhaps since Athena was the goddess war as well so she could have helped train horses for battle.

Afterwards was Jimin’s performance and he could be representing Artemis because Artemis in Greek mythology was the goddess of wild animals, the hunt, and vegetation and of chastity and childbirth. Notice that Jimin was wearing white and his main stage colour was white as well and since white is the colour that means purity, link to Artemis's purity and her chastity.

With the stage representing fire, Suga enters next. Now Suga could represent Hephaestus, the smiting god, who made all the weapons of the gods in Olympus. He served as the blacksmith of the gods, and was worshipped in the manufacturing and industrial centres of Greece, particularly Athens, but mainly he was the god of fire and since the stage was reflecting fire, therefore Suga is Hephaestus.

The fire reflected by the stage is then watered-down transitioning to Jungkook. Now he represents Poseidon, the god of water, earthquakes and horses because as you look at the stage Jungkook was performing with water and Poseidon is the god of water.

Then came J-Hope's performance and J-Hope is representing Zeus, the god of the sky and he was mainly known for his lightning bolt and the eagle. Looking at J-Hope's stage he had moving lights that were shining down on him and that could symbolise the thunder from the lightning bolt.

Last but not least, RM's performance. He represented Dionysus who as we said before is known as a god of wine, ecstasy and celebrations. Here the focus was at the start on RM's staff which symbolises the thyrsus and when RM walked towards the centre of the stage and hit his staff down, lights sparkled which could represent fireworks showing that he is Dionysus the god of celebrations.

These were part of main Greek god and goddesses in Greek mythology and this links to Dionysus the BTS song because at the end when they all sit high up on chairs it shows that these were the most important goddesses and gods in Greek mythology.

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Edits

Short introduction

So, I also did some solo edits of each member, I didn't thought that I would make it but since as I said I wanted to try something unique I chose this combination. I didn't plan to make them related to Dionysus instead I just wanted to present something extra from my side for those people who love my work. So thank you for always reading and appreciating my hard work :two_hearts: :flushed: .

If we talk about my inspiration to make these edits then I just want to say that my biggest inspiration is my friend because of whom I agreed to do this, she is my biggest er and I am very honoured to have her as my friend :blossom: :sparkling_heart: .

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This edit is very simple and I tried to make something related to Greek Mythology and you can see the painting at the back lmao- this is the simplest edit I have ever done.

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I personally didn't liked this edit very much but still I decided to post it lol- :relieved:

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This edit is the one I am so proud at I don't know why but this totally turned out good in my opinion ofc- :flushed: :hand:

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This turned out to be all blue too much blue that now I can all see is blue only :joy:

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This is the most different edit if we compare but still I love it :heart: :hand:

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This one is little dark type since I love black I decided to do something with it. But since I increased the brightness level it's not looking that dark now sksk :skull:

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This one is good but I had to some changes and thank God it didn't got ruined :skull: :hand:

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Note:

➳ Don't forget to click on the pictures cuz amino hates quality :skull: :hand:

➳ All the pictures are taken from Google and Pinterest so credit to rightful owners.

➳ The edits and colouring is done by me.

:warning: So don't repost or claim them as yours :warning:

➳ The blog cover is by me as well.

➳ All the information regarding Greek Mythology is taken from Wikipedia and Books related to Greek Mythology.

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Materials Required

➳ PicsArt

➳ ibisPaint X

➳ VSCO

➳ Phonto

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Proofs

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OUTRODUCTION

And by this we have reached to the end of the blog. I hope you all liked my analysis and edits since it is my first time analyzing a song so I hope you can forgive my mistakes. So see you all in the next blog till then take care and stay safe :two_hearts: :smiley: .

A big thank you to my :two_hearts: for being my greatest system.

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