BTS, also known as Bangtan Sonyeondan or Beyond the Scene, is a global phenomenon that has taken the music industry by storm. A significant part of their popularity can be credited to their passionate and devoted fan base commonly known as ARMY. A way that fans express their love and support for the band is through fan-fiction, stories featuring the members that are written and shared by their fans. The world of fan fiction offers a realm of imagination where fans can create and elaborate storylines using BTS members as the central characters. But how does BTS feel about this? Here's an attempt to delve into it.

1. Understanding Fan-fiction

Fan-fiction is a literary genre that stems from a fan's love and appreciation for a particular celebrity, book, movie, or TV show. In the case of BTS, it revolves around the seven members - RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook. Some stories feature the members' personas based on the insights given by them through interviews, shows, and music, while others prefer alternate universe scenarios. Fan-fiction can range from light-hearted comedy to intense dramas, romantic narratives, fantasy, and much more.

2. BTS’s Stance on Fan-fiction

While BTS has not openly addressed their thoughts on fan-fiction, the group maintains a respectful relationship with their fans, acknowledging the support and admiration they receive. The band members are aware of the fan-fiction and the alternated universes that the ARMY creates. But they have refrained from making any official statement regarding their sentiments about fan-fiction.

3. Privacy

Given the immense popularity and public attention they receive, privacy is a significant concern for the members. BTS maintains a clear boundary between their personal and professional lives. Some fan-fictions that delve into intimate aspects of the members' lives or fantasize about real-life romantic relationships between the members might violate this boundary. It is essential for fans to respect their idols' privacy and personal space while writing fan-fiction.

4. Legal and Ethical Aspects

Most fans write and share their fan-fiction on platforms like Wattpad and AO3 (Archive of Our Own), where legal issues are minimized as long as the stories don't defame the band members or infringe upon their rights. Ethically, any content that doesn't cross the boundaries of respect and privacy should be acceptable.

5. Fan-fiction as a Creative Outlet

Fan-fiction provides a creative outlet for fans to express their admiration and love for BTS. Many ARMY members find solace in writing and sharing these stories as they feel connected to the band on a more intimate level. It is a way for fans to channel their creativity and improve their writing skills. In that aspect, fan-fiction is an excellent way for fans to relate to the band and express their admiration creatively.

Conclusion

It's clear that fan-fiction is a huge part of the BTS fandom. The BTS members understand that fan-fiction is a form of fan art and an expression of admiration. However, they have yet to express their feelings about it officially.

Common questions and answers

Q: Do BTS read fan-fiction about themselves?

A: It is not publicly known whether BTS members read fan-fiction about themselves. They haven't publicly addressed it.

Q: Is writing fan-fiction legal?

A: Yes, writing fan-fiction is typically legal, as long as it doesn't defame the character or infringe on their rights. They are considered "transformative works".

Q: How can I share my BTS fan-fiction?

A: There are many platforms to share fan-fictions legally, such as Wattpad and AO3 (Archive of Our Own).

References

1. Cuddy, L. (2017). K-Pop, K-Fans: Aesthetics and Experience in Transcultural Fandom. Journal of Fandom Studies.

2. Hellekson, K. and Busse, K. (2014). The Fan Fiction Studies Reader. University of Iowa Press.

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