BTS’s fourth album, Map of the Soul: 7, is just around the corner. It’ll be released on February 21, 2020, and it explores themes of self-discovery, identity, and embracing your true self. They’ve released four sets of concept photos for the album that capture different stages of that journey. Here’s a closer look at what each version represents and the stories these images are trying to tell us.
Version 1: Striving for Perfection
The members are dressed in white, symbolizing purity, beauty, and perfection. The room they’re in is in a state of disrepair, with the members standing or sitting near a jagged black hole in the floor.
This version represents the persona: a Jungian concept referring to the idealized self you present to the world. It’s a nod to how BTS are seen as the “white swans” of K-pop. The perfect idols who’ve risen to the top of the idol food chain. They’ve become a high standard everyone strives to achieve. The dilapidated setting hints that everything is not what it seems and that the pressure of being perfect is beginning to take its toll.
Version 2: The Shadow
In the second set of photos, BTS is styled in all-black outfits with large, dark angel wings. Their styling is more dramatic, almost gothic, while the members still manage to look vulnerable.
This version reflects their shadow selves: the darker aspects of their personalities, their hidden fears, and desires. The black swan imagery contrasts with the white swan persona from the first set of concept photos. Instead of striving for perfection, BTS has an unquenchable thirst for meaning and self-realization, which can only be achieved once you confront your inner demons.
Version 3: Dionysian Feast
For the third set of concept photos, all the members are seated at a lavish feast. Dressed in formal suits and surrounded by wine, seafood, and grapes, the images reference classic European paintings like Da Vinci’s The Last Supper and Greek mythology.
Specifically, BTS draws inspiration from Dionysus, the god of wine, festivity, pleasure, theater, and chaos. The Greek god embodies joy and ecstasy but also rage and destruction. This feast isn’t about celebrating, it’s BTS accepting their status as idols. Their fame comes with sacrifices (no privacy, constant criticism, dealing with a toxic fandom, etc.), but it also brings opportunities that only come once in a lifetime.
Version 4: Yearbook Portraits
The final version of concept photos is very bright and simple, just like the featured image. All the members are dressed in casual clothes, their poses relaxed and playful. The group photo has all the members huddled together, smiling with yellow doodles drawn around them. It’s the most light-hearted and silly photoshoot that’s been released for Map of the Soul: 7.
This version is about authenticity and self-acceptance. The members have stripped themselves of their personas, faced their shadow selves, and reconciled the different aspects of their personalities. Their journey to become whole is now complete.
The Bigger Picture
When you put them together, the four sets of concept photos mirror the theme of Map of the Soul: 7. Each one represents a chapter in the story of selfhood: presenting an idealized image of yourself (persona), confronting inner darkness and hidden aspects of yourself (shadow), and finally accepting your authentic self (ego). It’s also a reminder that in order to become whole, both the light and the shadow need to be acknowledged.
Ultimately, BTS’s concept photos invite us to reflect on our own journeys of self-discovery. True growth comes from embracing every part of ourselves, both the beautiful and the broken
📌 Changelog
- June 5, 2025: Rewrote the article to merge all four articles into one with additional information added. Changed image.
- February 12, 2020: Originally published this as one of four different articles.
