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Beyond the Story Chapter 2: Why We Exist

While the first chapter of Beyond the Story: A 10 Year Record of BTS focuses on the members’ personalities and how they first came together as a group, the second chapter talks about the beginning of their actual career. Preceding the chapter is a series of poster photos, one from each of the group’s first four albums. These images come as a bit of a surprise after the aesthetic opening, as BTS’s early style was drastically grungier than it is today. These photos are placed sparsely enough that they enhance the reading experience and bring visuals to the story without distracting from the main point or taking up too much space. This contributes to the book’s beautiful format, as does the use of purple coloring within parts of the text, and the Spotify-esque image shown for each album explained in the narrative. 
This chapter, “Why We Exist”, goes into detail on how BTS shared their genuine personality with fans after debut, how they experienced doubts and struggles, and the harsh reality of idol life. According to the text, these first four albums were in a cycle of sweet, bitter, sweet, bitter, in terms of commercial success and the general climate of the band at the time. Going through phases of light and dark, BTS continued to sing their experiences, feelings, and stories. They also began looking beyond just themselves in their lyrics, expanding to include the stories of other people their age. It was in this era that they showed realistic optimism about their circumstances, acknowledging the struggles but still heading for the future. This is still their theme to this day, and is actually one of the leading factors characterizing BTS. 
It’s pointed out that the k-pop group didn’t stick to just one genre of music. Instead, it was as if the boys themselves were the genre, and everything else was just a tool. The same is true even in Beyond the Story, as it’s completely unique in style and structure. BTS gained popularity in part by putting their own twist on the current trends, and they continued to grow as a group.
All of this is told in a straightforward tone, with added quotes from the members. The end of each section leaves readers eager to see the next one. The subchapter, “Someone’s Strength” concludes this way: “Though it wasn’t always easy, it was clear that BTS was making headway, little by little. That is, until something unexpected happened.” The next section, “‘Bitter’ Again”, ends with a similarly intriguing line by Suga: “We suffered so much for it, so why…?”
One final aspect of the storytelling to mention is the detailed descriptions of the music industry. Technical facts about the strategy behind each song are included in the text, as well as explanations about charts and sales–the business side of music. This shows that the book was well-researched, and it also introduces readers to a deeper dynamic of what exactly the band was facing at the time.
Chapter 2: “Why We Exist” begins with a series of photos that serve as a throwback to Bangtan’s grunge days, strategically placed to heighten the emotional impact of the chapter. It goes on to explore periods of hardship and success during BTS’s first four albums, using dramatic hooks to end each subsection and providing useful information about the music industry throughout. Overall, the chapter is informative, emotional, interesting, and wonderfully constructed.

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