So, because I am a sucker for visual analysis, I thought I would put forward a theory of mine. As I watched the teaser, I noticed some key details that I wanted to bring forward - just because I think there is something important going on in this music video (from what we’ve seen). Note: I used stage names for the sake of ease and consistency.
I’ve got a theory about the rooms.
Each of the rooms seems to be significant to each of the members. Well duh, you might say, they’re trapped in them. But have you thought about the connections each room has to each member? It seems to me that each room represents a fear that each of the members of the band have. Let me show you what I mean.
(Images captured by jungjijel)
Admittedly, the first one that tipped me off was Hongbin’s room. Over the summer, Leo and Ravi mentioned that dear Hongbin can’t swim, meaning they would chose to rescue him if he fell in the water. If you look closely at the room, you’ll notice there’s a lot of water, enough so that it is possible more drastic flooding is elsewhere. Since Hongbin appears in his shot looking wet and exhausted, it seems entirely possible that he tried to escape and did not succeed in the attempt because water is so dangerous to him. I would imagine that he has a fear of drowning, since he cannot swim.
Hyuk was admittedly one that confused me - the others seemed to fit so well. But then I noticed something: It’s not just a staircase. Instead, we’re confronted with a staircase that leads to nowhere. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to realize that there are many paths in life that seem like a good idea at the time but ultimately are a waste - meaning all the effort, time, and tears put into them are pretty much for nothing. Here, Hyuk is collapsed on a staircase that ends at a platform, a place that pretty universally defeats the purpose of stairs. After all, where can he go once he’s reached the top? I suspect that Hyuk’s fear is related to fame: If he climbs to the very top of the ladder, will he actually have achieved anything?
Ravi’s room at first does not seem particularly threatening: It’s just curtains. But they serve to filter the light, making it hard to see anything. In fact, Ravi is very hard to distinguish: It’s as if he disappears. Based on things Ravi has said - especially on Show Me The Money 4 and about his role as a rapper - the meaning behind this room actually seems pretty clear. Ravi is difficult to see (particularly his features) meaning he is indistinguishable from anyone else. In the hip hop community, the place where Ravi would like to shine, he worries about being just another face in the crowd. I would imagine it is a particularly touchy subject after the Bobby incident, since he was pretty much accused of not being a “real” rapper. It’s also interesting in the context of the clue for Ravi’s teaser image, which specifically mentioned how many times Ravi says his own name before raps. His identity as a rapper seems inherently connected to this space.
Next up is our bling lord: Leo. This room is the opposite of Ravi’s; instead of soft filtered light, the light is extremely intense. Instead of having places to hide, Leo is literally forced into the spotlight. Now, Starlights know Leo is shy - it’s kind of his thing. He loves to hide when embarrassed and is frequently uncomfortable with being in the spotlight. Here, in this room, he is literally trapped in the spotlight, surrounded by gold, which should be a desirable material. But Leo wants nothing to do with it. He seems to be searching for a way out - a place to feel safe - but there is nowhere for him to go, no anonymity left to him. He is even dressed in white, which serves to make him stand out even more.
Ken’s room is the tightest, most restrictive space shown in the teaser. Based on the lower picture, you can actually see that he isn’t even able to stretch his arms fully. He is also surrounded by beautiful, exotic flowers - not to mention trapped behind glass. So first is the issue of being restricted. Ken is a very vivacious, active person who loves to grab life by the throat. I would imagine idol life can be difficult in the way it is so structured, leaving no real room for spontaneity, but also restrictive in what he can and can’t do. He always has to be mindful of his contract, his fans, and his image. But what is perhaps more striking is that he seems to be on display. Ken is extremely outgoing and talkative, but in this space he is shut off from everyone: He is meant to be seen and not heard. For an extreme extrovert, I would imagine this is what Hell would be - to be unable to communicate and interact with other people.
I feel like I could call this: All the ouch. So, the first detail that caught my attention was the glass - for obvious reasons. N is a dancer - it’s his role in the group and a great passion of his. I remember my dancer friends talking about how dangerous the floor could be: If there was an unexpected nail or a rough spot in the floor, they could severely injure themselves. Imagine N trying to dance across all that glass! It hurts just thinking about it. But here’s the thing, isn’t that what N does all of the time? As leader, he has to constantly walk across glass as he appears to promote the group and as he deals with both his company and bandmates. He’s constantly tip-toeing around, always in danger of cutting himself. But wait, there’s more. Is that just glass? To me, it also looks like it could be the shards of mirrors. N has been critiqued for his looks since, well, before he was our glorious Cha leader. He has a past of being insecure about his looks to the point where he tried bleaching his skin and always wore makeup. Nowadays you are more likely to see him tan and with minimal to no make up, but I would imagine those insecurities are still there. N’s greatest fear is tied up in mirrors and all that they can reflect - especially since a mirror shows only a fragment of the person.
So that’s my little theory on the rooms and their meaning. What do you think?
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