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Yeah I kinda figured that with the amount of times they portray Lesserafim as angels basically, but there are still lots of religious and greek mythology references I missed lol. (Besides with Eve, Psyche & the Bluebeard’s wife)
For whomever it may concern, I would like to add: The second eye (non-electric one) in the church is clearly designed to resemble an ichthys (an ancient Christian symbol supposedly representing Jesus or the Christians themselves). Another obvious symbol is the one called "the sacred heart" in the video, which is actually a take on the "seven swords of sorrow" - another Christian symbol, this time representing Mary's (Jesus's mother) suffering. I'd sugest the vines aren't necessarily meant to represent prosperity, but rather the same suffering and its denial which are refered to in the song and clip over and over again. I think so due to the strong connection wine (which is made out of grapes) has to Christianity: representing Jesus's blood in the last supper, and drank in the mass every Sundy, the wine is a representation of both Jesus's suffering and his resurrection. Staying within the context of the art world inspirations, I think the hair brushing could be more of a symbol of femininity, and maybe invation of privacy (as it is how it's usually presented in paintings, mostly made by men). I do think a stronger case could be made though on it being a representation of a "princess-like" archetype, related mostly to hair brushing as a symbol of femininity, and commenting on the K-pop industry unrealistic beauty stardards. Also, there's a clever use of composition in this scene: when the girls are placed with the circular bed frame around their head, clearly acting as their halo. Also, this one might just be me but the swing is reminding me of the painting "The Swing" by Jean Honore Fragonard. The original painting is basically a hinted yet obvious depiction of lust and sexuality, which could point to the way idols are sexualized in hinted yet obvious ways, and to how they're looked upon as no more than pretty objects at times. I do find this interpetation lacking though, because it isn't taking into account the roses cutting Eunchae's hand. Finally, about the pearls scene, I would like to add a note about how the hands taking away the pearls are uncovering Sakura's face (which has fangs), creating yet another representation of the facade which is the idol persona/fame in general (i.e the pearls which represent wealth and/or beauty are taken away to reveal the flaws in the face hiding behind them). I rest my case, if you read this comment you're the goat.🥂
I've been predicting a lot of their concepts in the music videos and stuff, but I haven't been up to date with Le Sserafim or TXT. There's a lot more to come. Thank you for doing a breakdown on this.
Great analysis! Also, to add to that: people that think that the mv is disrespectful for shooting in a church are completely ridiculous. Once a church is deconsecrated it’s just a building. I’ve been to fashion shows hosted in deconsecrated churches, I’ve seen literal clubs being opened in these buildings. People yapping about blasphemy should learn about the rules of their own religion before grabbing the pitchforks. I guess common sense is not that common
yeah as a christian I don't mind the church part, but I don't think we should get mad at the people thinking i'ts disrespectful. I'm only upset about them wearing Jesus' crown of thorns as decoration and essentially mocking His death for us.
@@Blackswaniee_it is ridiculous because that church is no church anymore and they're not using religious themes in a literal sense. but most religious ppl tend to have room temperature iq so it's not surprising they can't grasp basic literary devices/concepts.
Easy has grown on me so much so quickly, i LOVE fantasy concepts, and this MV is stunning and the shot where one girl bares fangs and says "im already halfway seraphim" SO COOL
big brain math incoming: the analysis of the electricity only making the group stronger is actually happening right now with their recent "backlash" of filming in a church setting being the electricity but that hasn't stopped them from only becoming stronger as a group and as fellow members :O
Great video as always! At first I found the MV magnificent but I didn't understand any of the symbols you explained, so thank you so much once again for allowing me to appreciate art even better! I can't wait to see if you will do a video on IU's latest MV for "Shopper" and "Shh" too. I loved both of them so much but again I feel like I didn't understand the meaning very well. You really have beautiful MVs to work with this 2024! ♥
Wow thank you so much for this amazing deep dive. Finally, someone with full of knowledge speak up and stand up for LE SSERAFIM without even bias. I'm so happy and thankful for your honest thoughts and educational review, appreciated a lot all your efforts. Honestly its not EASY, but you make it look EASIER for us to understand. So again, thank you so much. People nowadays are idiots for not educating themselves and just jump on their conclusion without even thinking twice. How pathetic right?! Feels like they know everything and just so you know, easily to judge and gives their own opinion. I remember someone said, humans are the scariest living creatures in this damn world.
honestly… the whole “church thingy” had me truly wondering if people actually cared abt all those religious stuff or just use it to hate on kpop groups. I’m Christian myself and love how they use Christian angelology to express all the deep meanings behind their concept. It’s just so majestically done. I rarely have seen a group do it this way 🥺
Haters or those people who bashed them clearly show how narrow-minded they are. Like, how could they not realize that symbolism and icons can not only be interpreted in a religious sense but in many other ways?
i’m always gonna bring this videos when ppl hate le sserafim for this fake church set bfr it’s made to record in it And ur video really makes so much sense,,!!
@@gyarufangirl2680 rather than being disrespectful, as a christian, i do think its more on appreciation rather than disrespectful. All the references they used were all from Catholic art, even the church set is considered art since architecture is also part of it. if this was really such a big of a deal in the catholic community. The vatican should've said something by now.
@@Sam-ol5mx what i thought was disrespectful was the way they dressed in the church... the way they used paintings and statues in the music video was very creative, and i can tell that they did a lot of reaserch. But for me, their outfits in the church were pretty provacative for no particular reason when you're supposed to dress modestly in auch a place. Yeah maybe im overreacting but for me that's something that they couldve put more thought into. Maybe they couldve been all dressed in the same outfits as certain statues instead of booty shorts with their underwear showing and crop tops...
I didn't really have a problem with the church as a Christian bc I knew it's not an actual church but bc of the symbols in the mv it made it seem a little like they were trying to mock the religion which made no sense to me but I finally understand now thanks u explained it really well!!
I’m a Christian myself but I find it silly that people jumped to conclusions when it came to the video. Nothing present was "demonic" from what I could see. Symbolism does not equal demonic. Then again I have to keep in mind that a good portion of K-pop fans are also children. Anyways this comeback was amazing and I hope they keep thriving.
They mocked marry, nuns and jesus crufiction and replaced the corss with there symbol and used werid demonic eyes symbols and dressed like that in a church yeah werid
I won’t lie, I was a bit skeptical of them filming in a church, which is supposed to be a sacred place, but now that you explained the “why”, it makes so much more sense! EDIT: if they were using these religious motifs just for the “aesthetic” or something, it’s absolutely wrong, but there was clear thought that went into this.
You should not be worry about the so called Church, the place called MAIN SANCTUARY a room common used for events n concerts , take note also. The place owned by Presbyterian relig ion not a catho lic.
@@lxttlcrow_1293 I think to make them standout? Y'know Kpop is very saturated with a lots of concept being done already, I'm so glad that this is year 2024. Imagine this the Victorian era. 💀
@@lurica5566 yeah, I watched some other videos about it, and it turns out that the church isn’t even a real church; it’s basically a film set, John Wick and other artists’ filmed MVs in there; Sabrina Carpenter and My Chemical Romance.
@@Currentlyprocrastinating37 The Sabrina Carpenter? you mean the MV feather? Girl stop mentioning that. That was a CATHO LIC , Our Lady of Mount Carmel-Annunciation Churc h is a Cat holic. Thats why the backlash is so huge, even the priest got re-consecrated. Also observed why the Los Angeles people r so chill about the LEsserafim MV, bcoz its not a Catho lic chur ch.
honestly wish people would realize the religious theme is being used as a metaphorical way to deliver a message and not as anything to disrespect the religion or their god. it's not meant to be taken literal, it's being used the same way any other mythology is used.
Great video, makes sense to me. Can't believe there's such a big uproar about the church lol I feel like people use churches as filming locations all the time.
They didn't break anything in church or says negative about the church. They just want to represent it cause no one has integrated church in kpop mv. The co director explain this on Billboard channel.
hi! im just new here and i really love your interpretation of the song and mv. im a fearnot so this means a lot to me. respect for all the hardwork of lesserafim and the people behind the camera. p.s very unrelated but i love your voice.
You guys stop mentioning church, The place is called MAIN SANCTUARY, a common used for events and concerts. The place has Sanctuary room, parlor room, 2 chapl (Westminster n Chichester chapel), gym , A rooftop basketball court and a parsh hall. The place name called EMMANUEL PRESBYTERIAN CHUR CH, not a CAT HOLIC . It's is a Presbyterian religion y'all.
Also the crying scene is lifted straight from madonnas ‘Secret’ video. Which is not a bad reference point considering that Madonna has been working with the sacred and profane themes since the 80s.
Sooo ... using religious thematic and "mocking" it is fine as long as it's christianity??? I just don't get why you have to use so much christian culture and change it for pop culture when any artist will get way more backlash for usually different religions ... Idk it was kinda too much i feel that christianity is disrespected so much... why they have to use that specific thematic religion and not just renaissance theme to express concepts... whole MV with that unconnected symbolism was uncomfortable to watch...
@@bookishtheories I think they're building a bigger theory... We theorists will be busy. Def. BTS, TXT, Enhypen, Le Sserafim will be in there. Probably all the new groups, too. Japanese &Team as opponents could be politically risky? Any idea on the villain (+ burn it) concept? It seems to run through all of it. Love your ideas! 💪 💜
@@bookishtheories I mean, Sakura has fangs, Niki teleports, horns = cat ears? = trees? BTS had guns and were villains just when the pandemic started... I think they were trying to start smth. 💜 The basketball is the moon.
@@Sherluck93 I think the basketball part was because they like the sport. But ENHYPEN does have a sport in their storyline, Nightball. Niki is a vampire and he's part of a court of knights. It's in their Webtoon. And aren't Le Sserafim hunters of some kind, they're looking for something in the Crimson Heart storyline. There are so many references to tarot. There's also a shaman, the first vampire and wolf character in ENHYPEN's storyline. It's the girl they hang out with.
@@AwakeningWings I might not have expressed myself that well. I know all that. I don't think that's it. The basketball is the moon is the golden egg, for sure. 💜
And still they'll do just about ANYTHING to keep up their god-like image and status. Oh poor girls, it's so hard to be divine! Thanks for this thorough and quick breakdown!
Heyyyyyyyyy!!! Realmente gracias por el gran análisis de las escenas en general, que lo has explicado muy detalladamente, con muy buenas respuestas que muchos se hacían preguntas .
i’ve been thinking about what is drawn on chaewon’s legs during the bathtub scene. i’m pretty sure it says “shit happens” over and over, but I don’t have any idea as to what this might symbolise. any thoughts?
Wow, I just saw the music video this morning. When I say morning I mean like 4am lol I was wondering if you would do a video analysis on it as I was watching the music video.
Some people think christians shouldn't be offended by this but ask yourself this:- how would this mv been received if they filmed it in any other religious site? Like a mosque or a hindu temple or in a buddhist temple? Would y'all still think it's not that big of a deal?
Your take on this is quite interesting. I see where you're coming from but here's my question. Why did they need to use a church? All of this symbolism could have been done without the use of a religion. Had this been another religion, would it be okay? Would the disappointment some fans feel be acknowledged?
People are very quick to dismiss the emotions of Christians because it is Christianity. People say the fans are being too sensitive. Since when did my way of life become an aesthetic for kpop companies trying to make money? As much as people love to theorize and make interesting breakdowns on videos, the idols themselves did not state that it is what the video represents. The reality is that the ones to blame in this are not the idols or the company really, but Christians. Christians who are willing to watch videos disregarding how sacred their religion is for the sake of stanning a group. Le Sserafim are not the first musical artists to do this, and they will not be the last.
They only used a church to represent a place of worship for their symbolism. That’s it. What does a generic place of worship even look like? I’m sure SOMEONE will attribute it to a religion and get offended. So no matter what they do, people will get offended. Christianity is the most followed religion in the world, so I’m sure it will be okay.
What are their other options? Mosques are out of option as dressing like this will be considered Haram there. There aren’t many usable Hindu temples in South Korea. Buddhist Monasteries and Convents are places of meditation so they can’t utilise those. So the only option which can be used symbolically is a church.
@@quarkoloca5832 true but Christianity is practiced differently around the world. It originally came from middle east and was changed many times while it was spreading. If we take race into consideration some races like brown and black people living in their respective regions are generally more religious and orthodox Christian than the white and in general western christians due to immense secularity, Hollywood's influence and mainstream media being ok with using religion in media however they want.(which is why islamophobia is so bad and religious imagery for mainstream media is just creatives doing whatever they want with religion in Hollywood rather than actually putting in the work to use good imagery from religion to get a point across) People in the western countries and other countries that are highly influence by America tend to be less religious in comparison to others from Africa and middleeast and some parts of Asia. People who consume Hollywood media and mainstream media in general are used to their religion being used however with barely any criticism. Yes there's been propaganda movies as well but that's a specific demographic to breed a more extremist and patriotic christian in the country who will enable any sh!t their president will do. Keep in mind, Christianity has some same scene in Korea as well due to heavy influence of American culture. Atheism is pretty big in Korea. Christians in Korea are not as religious. Few of them care as an orthodox Christians. So yeah this situation also exists. In general, if you take a temple in India and film a music video or a temple in Japan etc. just for a specific message that could have been filmed or directed differently (idk maybe something like that soyeon scene from nxde or rosè scene from duddududu where people are literally worshipping these half angels lesserafim would have done an excellent job but yeah) so what I'm saying is that it's offensive using religions as an aesthetics because mainstream art media like kpop has aesthetics as it's big part. Plus kpop companies are generally unethical corporations with less care about marginalized groups. All they want is consumer. They can easily upset their fans by doing something offensive but will barely change something unless it threatens their image. Since christians from multiethnic western countries themselves don't care much about religion then it doesn't the rest of the world is same. Its not and it's never been. Their director did not well with this imagery and it only feels weird knowing that place in general is sold by some corrupt priest to Hollywood for money and power. This shit happens destroying something that's meant for betterment and spirituality ending up in hands of bad religious people. So this was like a nuance that needs to be considered before jumping people who are criticizing lesserafim. If you remember a statue of a Hindu god that was placed in how you like that by blackpink. The Lisa's rap scene was filmed as if she was an Egyptian queen but their set designers team being idiots literally put a Hindu god's statue for aesthetics as it belonged with the theme. They literally didn't even bothered to research or just recheck the set and went with it. It was absolutely embarrassing. Similarly mosque design sets in NCT's make a wish mv was offensive as well as Holybook cover design for a group named Kingdom's comeback album. We as a consumers must be able to see and scrutinize the art we consume from these corporations that target our pockets skillfully. We must be able to distinguish between good and bad art because that literally the reason intricacies, technicality and such stuff exists in art exists. Art has also been deep as it's always been political, social and cultural. Anything beyond this is simply a product of capitalism, materialism and consumerism. Kpop is no exception to that.
Great interpretation. I want to point out that this looks more like the eye of Horus to me 1:55. At the beginning of the video you can see Chaewon wearing a hat with the number 777 on it and Sakura wearing 38 (both powerful spiritual numbers but also used by occultist like Aliester Crowley etc). Also you can see that they stamped LSF on the sacred heart of Jesus at 5:46. I am a Le Sserafim fan and i enjoyed the song but i can't help but to feel like there is something sinister behind all the symbolism.
777 is a double meaning: It's both a symbol of divine perfection associated with the holy trinity but also a positive sign meant as a message of encouragement, reassurance and divine support. A more modern-day interpretation could just mean she's super lucky. 7-7-7 Jackpot! 38 doesn't really have any real meaning that I could find but in Korean culture, 38 can be a good or bad thing. "38" usually references a person, usually a woman, who is considered cunning or sly. Usually used in a playful way but it could also be used in a negative way to imply that the person is manipulative. Or it's just a random number on a shirt! The Sacred Heart, a devotional symbol in Christianity, signifies the love and compassion of Jesus Christ. Depicted with flames, a cross, and sometimes surrounded by thorns, it holds deep spiritual meaning, especially within Catholicism. In this context, the inclusion of LSf inside repurposes the symbol to convey Le Sserafim's boundless love for their fans. It serves as a reminder of sacrifices and suffering, prompting their fans and audience to reflect and for their desire of atonement of mistakes they make along the way through love and mercy. Remember, they aren't perfect beings, they're human, too! The Eye of Providence, or the All-Seeing Eye, traditionally features a triangular shape symbolizing the Trinity and rays of light implying God's constant vigilance. In this stylized version, the trinity is omitted, and rays of light are within the eye itself. This adaptation suggests a message of uncertainty, urging individuals to be fearless and trust in themselves to overcome life's challenges, hence, the lack of protective light rays around the eye. The red color choice may imply judgment and potential adversity, shifting the meaning from protection to a warning.
@@II-nb6ko@II-nb6ko I already wrote a very lengthy comment including what I'm about to say but: I think the second eye isn't the all seeing eye (as I can't seem to find a triangle supporting this), but an ichthys (an ancient christian symbol of Jesus/the Church). I also think the heart could be a representation of the seven swords of sorrow which represent Mary's suffering (due to the flame and the thorn like shapes on the outside). The 777 point is strong though, I haven't noticed it until you two pointed it out.
You sound like a broken recorder. Stop being so boring and annoying. But since you're soooo disappointed, stay away from le sserafim and never come back.
I like the girls. They are very sympathic and talented. I know some of you don 't want to read this, I think it s important. This "Easy" era is something I don't like honestly. Only because of the religious aspects, because I think the producers goes to far this time: To put the girls in such a situation to film and dance in a church no matter if it's fake or not - it looks like a church or synagoge. This is disrespectful for people who believe and worship the Lord Almighty. At first I thought their concept will be "supergirls" or something like this because of the trailer. The other meanings of this mv are making sense. I think another setting fits better. I was really shocked. No matter if they don t believe in a Lord (because they re atheism or have another religion) it s very disrespectful for Christians and Jews. Let me do an example: Imagine western musicians would take a video in a buddhist temple or another religious place which is maybe important for a lot of South Korean netiziens besides Christians and Muslims ( I know there live aswell people who believe in one Lord). For me the girls personally are human beigns which I like because the way they are (I know they are not perfect but they have their " good parts" all of them the way they are- they don t have to be a villian or super special.....) and they are no idols, no godess, no angels I need to worship- they are humanbeigns and talented girls which I like. Nobody says to be perfect in the monotheism religions. So we are neither angels nor devils. If I see the girls I am laughing in a good way- they are so funny and sympathic too. But I don t need to pray to them or bow down or something. I can pray for them. And there are borders of respect. For me I don't like to break the border of other people. If you don't believe - so it s your own decision but please let other people do what they want aswell , if they believe and don't provocate them like that. The problems are not caused from the religion it s more from our egos.
I do think the same too! I dont know about the other members but one person (Eunchae) is a Christian! Mind you that K-pop is really strict and Eunchae may not have chances to speak up her opinion. or maybe they just found out about this concept after the management discuss this concept? I have lots of questions about this matter
honestly wish people would realize the religious theme is being used as a metaphorical way to deliver a message and not as anything to disrespect the religion or their god. it's not meant to be taken literal, it's being used the same way any other mythology is used.