An Analysis of the Ups and Downs of BTS from the Perspective of Iranian Fans

In a brief summary of the discussed topics, it should be stated that considering the overall context (the capitalist system of Korea and the global capitalist system) in which Big Hit Entertainment operates, this context dictates specific political-economic, cultural-social, and ethical-ideological requirements to the company, which, in turn, seeks to meet the expectations of the capitalist world from its K-pop group, BTS.
In a brief overview conducted in this regard in the research field, interviewees mentioned economic-political goals of Big Hit Entertainment, such as "efforts to generate income for the company," "actions to practically support the capitalist system of South Korea," and "actions to practically support the global capitalist system."
The population studied regarding the cultural-social goals of Big Hit Entertainment and BTS expressed points such as: "showcasing Korea's cultural power," "efforts to promote liberal culture," "efforts to create cultural-social attractions for the capitalist system," and "efforts to divert criticisms from the capitalist system."
Finally, respondents in examining the ethical-ideological goals of Big Hit Entertainment and BTS stated the following: "BTS stars' indifference to religion," "emphasizing material aspects (while simultaneously diminishing spiritual aspects) in the eyes of fans," "stars' attention to relativistic ethics," "fueling some moral confusions," "possible influence of the company by Illuminati ideas," "creating dependency on the stars," "deluding fans," "indirectly promoting hedonistic policies," and "promoting sexual identitylessness."
Big Hit Entertainment, on one hand, aims to achieve its maximum profit objectives and, on the other hand, seeks to fulfill the dictated goals of the political system of Korea and, subsequently, the global capitalist political system. Therefore, it must rely on the creativity of its officials to form a group that not only surpasses K-pop competitors within Korea but is also competitive with Western pop and non-pop groups globally. Naturally, forming a group with the mentioned characteristics requires a group design that must possess many specific features, such as accurately identifying the turning points of teenage and young audiences, elevating the music industry to an entertainment industry, directing group stars towards lifestyle blogging—which is accompanied by a significant reduction in their privacy—showcasing the multidimensionality and multifaceted nature of the group stars, deepening the mutual relationships between stars and fans, adding emotional and romantic colors to the relationships between fans and stars, striving to present relatively different content by BTS, and attempting to provide a complete visual and auditory package within BTS, among others, to be able to stand out and surpass domestic and foreign competitors.
However, an important point in the process of creating a unique and unparalleled group is the immense pressures that are exerted on the members of the group in question during this processing. For example, the company's requirement to provide services to fans in the process of elevating the music industry to an entertainment industry, the obligation to avoid marriage and even dating the opposite sex to add emotional color to the relationships between stars and their fans, the requirement to reduce the stars' privacy as they transition from singers to lifestyle bloggers, the obligation to engage in various activities to showcase the multifaceted nature of the group members, acceptance of the company's instrumental treatment of the stars (such as adopting a specific political stance according to the views of the political rulers of Korea and the international capitalist system), the obligation to participate in certain social and political activities (such as collaborating with UNICEF, speaking at the United Nations, meeting with political officials inside or outside Korea) to display the multidimensionality of the stars, the obligation to refrain from expressing beliefs and even disclosing their sexual orientation (to satisfy the various factions among fans), the obligation not to protest against the contradictions between the company's slogans and its actions (such as denying racism while the company engages in racist practices, promoting self-love while adhering to strict dietary regimes for the stars, promoting a lack of material concerns while showcasing extreme consumerism among the stars, promoting environmental support while having anti-environmental practices, and similar issues).
The titles briefly mentioned are examples of serious problems that are observed in the path of creating a unique and unparalleled group. Therefore, before sending their group on stage, the company must train its trainees in such a way that they can withstand the multitude of contradictions between the slogans and actions of the company, the intense work pressures imposed on the stars, the neglect of the physical health of group members, the disregard for the mental health of the stars, the role-playing and acting of the stars in front of fans, the instrumental treatment of the stars by the company, and similar issues.
Field studies conducted in this regard have led to the emergence of the concept of robotic identity. Individuals who possess a robotic-like identity are merely executors of the goals that have been assigned to them. These directives can range from promoting this product or that product to adopting a specific political stance (such as condemning North Korean policies) and requiring stars to use feminine makeup and display homosexual behaviors.
By employing individuals who act like robots, the company can create a unique group, meaning that the stars of BTS, according to the company's commands, not only participate in events such as fan meetings, fan signs, grand birthday celebrations, live internet shows (lives), and similar activities, but also demonstrate their complete obedience to the company's officials for the realization of economic goals, actively engaging in modeling and commercial advertising, holding joint concerts with Western celebrities, and embarking on global tours. In pursuit of the company's political objectives, they engage in extensive social and political activities, directly and indirectly praising capitalism, the extreme individualism of capitalist systems, and similar ideologies.
On the other hand, the boys of BTS, with their robotic identity, also manifest the company's cultural goals, such as efforts to desexualization of makeup, clothing, and love, and strive to achieve the company's objectives in this regard.
In the chapter titled "Robotic Identity," the company's efforts to resolve the conflict between the unparalleled group processing on one hand and the capacity to endure the challenges facing this processing on the other will be addressed, and the various dimensions of the new identity that the company has relied upon to successfully advance its economic, social, cultural, political, ethical, ideological, and environmental goals will be examined and discussed.

Key Words of the book:
Korea, cultural power, Big Hit company, Big Hit Entertainment, music industry, entertainment industry, K-pop, BTS, fans, stars, teenage, young, services to fans, fan meetings, fan signs, grand birthday celebrations, lives, Economic goals, social goals, cultural goals, political goals, ethical goals, ideological goals, environmental goals, capitalist system. individualism, act like robots, robotic identity.