BTS : By the Book

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A weekly podcast focused on BTS, through the lens of books about the group...one chapter at a time. Hosted by a university librarian (aka, BTS Bookworm) whose appreciation for BTS was born, not through the group's music, choreo, or all-around good looks, but through books. If you love BTS & love books too, this is the podcast for you! Email: BTSbythebook@gmail.com Also on Facebook!

BTS Bookworm


    • Sep 22, 2021 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 42m AVG DURATION
    • 19 EPISODES


    Latest episodes from BTS : By the Book

    18. BTS: Icons of K-Pop (Chapters 7 & 9)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2021 54:04


    In this episode, we consider two smaller chapters from Adrian Besley's 'Fully Revised & Updated' book from 2020. We pick up (more or less) where we left off in episode 6, looking at the next ‘chapters' in BTS's early history (from 2014 to 2015).

    17. BTS and ARMY Culture (Chapter 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2021 62:38


    This episode features another chapter from the 2019 book by Jeeheng Lee (BTS & ARMY Culture). Dr. Lee's chapter on ‘Voting Culture' provides a behind-the-scenes look at ARMY's involvement with votes-based awards in the music industry.

    16. The Soft Power of the Korean Wave (BTS Chapter 10)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2021 52:29


    The episode focuses on one of the 5 chapters/essays devoted to BTS in this brand new book from Routledge. The three pop culture aspects explored in the edited work are: the 2019 movie Parasite, K-Drama, and BTS.

    15. Philosophizing About BTS (Section 4, Part 1)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2021 44:33


    This week, the 'BTS Bookworm' considers Section 4 of Cha Minju's book, Philosophizing About BTS. The section focuses on BTS + Art + Philosophy.

    14. BTS: One (Chapters 6 & 7)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2021 39:16


    The chapter-length focus of this episode is from Katy Sprinkel's 2021 book, BTS: One. The two back-to-back chapters highlight the group's success in business terms & their use of that success to support important causes & make the world a better place.

    13. Blood, Sweat & Tears (Chapter 14)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2021 39:00


    The focus of this episode is chapter 14 from Tamar Herman's 2020 book, BTS: Blood, Sweat & Tears. It's a chapter that explores BTS's social media efforts (e.g., Twitter, YouTube, V Live) & how those efforts have helped the group become the global sensation they are today.

    12. The Unofficial BTS Bible (Chapters 5 & 6)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2021 54:56


    In this episode, we look at two back-to-back chapters from Dianne Pineda-Kim's 2020 'BTS Bible.' The chapters provide a wonderful look at the pop/cultural context out of which BTS was born & gives credit (where credit is due) to Big Hit's Bang Si-hyuk for his unique vision.

    11. Burn the Stage (Chapters 3 & 4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2021 30:35


    The focus of the episode is on Marc Shapiro's 2018 book, Burn the Stage: BTS and the Rise of Korean Boy Bands. Since the chapters are short, we're looking at two...both of which focus on BTS before they were officially a group.

    10. Jimin By the Book (3 Chapters on Jimin)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2021 36:09


    To celebrate the 10th episode, the 'BTS Bookworm' looks at one member of the group (Jimin) through the lens of 3 different book chapters. The books include Cara Stevens' BTS: Rise of Bangtan (2018), Katy Sprinkel's The Big Book of BTS (2019), and Adrian Besley's BTS: Icons of K-Pop (2020).

    9. The Big Book of BTS (chapter 5)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2021 34:49


    This episode focuses on Katy Sprinkel's 2019 book, specifically her chapter all about ARMY!

    8. BTS, Art Revolution: BTS Meets Deleuze (Part 1, Chapter 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2021 55:05


    In this episode, the 'BTS Bookworm' explores a chapter from Dr. Jiyoung Lee's 2019 book. Lee provides many examples of how BTS has helped deconstruct a variety of long-standing social hierarchies...yet another thing that makes BTS so unique!

    7. BTS The Review: A Comprehensive Look at the Music of BTS (Column 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2021 32:41


    In this episode, the BTS Bookworm considers a chapter (referred to as a 'column') from Youngdae Kim's 2020 book. The chapter/column focuses on the 'Evolution of K-pop Idols.'

    6. BTS: Icons of K-Pop (Chapters 3 & 5)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2021 33:47


    The 'BTS Bookworm' considers two smaller chapters in Adrian Besley's 'Fully Revised & Updated' book from 2020.

    5. Map of the Soul 7: Persona, Shadow & Ego in the World of BTS (Chapter 2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2021 61:00


    In this episode, I look at Dr. Murray Stein's book that focuses on the Map of the Soul: 7 album through the lens of Jungian psychology, doing so in a very accessible, readable way. Chapter 2 of Stein's book considers each of the tracks on the album, plus two bonus tracks.

    4. Philosophizing About BTS (Section 1)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2021 36:12


    This week, the BTS Bookworm considers Section/Part 1 of Cha Minju's book, Philosophizing About BTS.

    3. BTS and ARMY Culture (Chapter 5)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2021 50:47


    This episode features a chapter from the 2019 book by Jeeheng Lee (BTS & Army Culture). Dr. Lee's chapter on the 'Language Barrier' provides a close-up look at the language aspects of ARMY's relationship with BTS.

    2. Entertainment Weekly's Ultimate Guide to BTS

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2021 45:57


    This episode considers the entirety (i.e., not just a chapter) of this book-let, published by EW in early 2021. It's a light treatment of BTS, but still has enough substance to warrant our attention, especially if you're new to the group.

    1. Blood, Sweat & Tears (Chapter 1)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2021 40:04


    The focus of this episode is chapter 1 from Tamar Herman's 2020 book, BTS: Blood, Sweat, & Tears. It's a chapter that provides a lot of substance & helpful perspectives about the group's early years.

    BTS : By the Book Intro

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2021 2:20


    A brief intro to this book-by-book, chapter-by-chapter look at the global music phenomenon: BTS. Weekly episodes will explore one-chapter-at-a-time from a book about BTS. Equal parts Overview & Review.

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