Name: orwyn's review of I Am ARMY by Wallea Eaglehawk
Item: I Am ARMY
Rating: 5
Author: orwyn

Wallea Eaglehawk

Courtney Lazore

The identity of ARMY, the dynamic global fanbase of Korean music group BTS, is complex and nuanced. I Am ARMY locates, documents and celebrates just some of the unique identities within the diverse fandom. A collection of autoethnographic essays, each chapter in this book contains an ARMY experience which transcends the personal entirely. As such they sit as part of a broader socio-political examination and critique of the world we live in today. I Am ARMY gives the reader a chance to immerse themselves in the world of an ARMY living an entirely different life, and the opportunity to understand just how socially constructed and influenced our lived-experiences truly are. Co-editor Eaglehawk frames the socio-political stories in I Am ARMY as accounts of 'practicing revolutionaries' and introduces BTS as 'participatory revolutionaries'. Drawing upon universal truths detailed throughout the book, Eaglehawk develops a set of components for what she calls the 'Love Yourself, Speak Yourself Revolution' which is currently underway. Within this book, you will find the answers to questions such as: "why are fandoms devalued?", "how can I learn to love myself?" and "how can I be a feminist and an ARMY?" Above all else, you will find a little piece of yourself written on the page; for each of us are ARMY, each of us are human. I Am ARMY serves as a reminder that despite how disconnected we may feel from the world, how disheartened or downtrodden, we are not alone; ARMY or not. Essays ﻿Emerging victorious by Naazneen and Tagseen Samsodien The day that didn't break me by Anna Shaffer From fake love to self-love by Manilyn Gumapas How BTS contributes towards an awareness of myself by Lily Low I am ARMY, I am revolutionary by Wallea Eaglehawk Finding BTS gave me back myself by Courtney Lazore Speaking myself by Sharon Chen ARMY as a feminist identity by Keryn Ibrahim

It's Time to Begin

I Am ARMY

sobe hollis

orwyn

Wow. 
This may be the first time I've voluntarily read an anthology of essays like this, and I'm very glad I did. With its release on September 13, I Am ARMY will join a select number of BTS-related publications that I feel could be described as 'serious'- in that the content is of a certain level of quality often missing in other coverage of BTS or ARMY. Many of its literary peers are cited in the essays themselves, and I highly recommend seeking them out afterwards if any strike your interest! 

At this stage I would not describe myself as a very articulate reviewer, and rather than critique the actual content of this book I feel I am better suited to attesting to the emotions I felt before and after reading. Prior to receiving this advance copy I was extremely excited to learn of this anthology's impending publication, especially as it offered an opportunity to learn more of the story behind 
  Idol Limerence: The Art of Loving BTS as Phenomena
. Although it was sent out shortly before a chaotic series of events unfolded in life, I still found the chance to race through it and devour the stories that lie within. I think that this context certainly intensified the emotions I felt whilst reading.

The eight essays published in this book are all extremely compelling and well-written, each describing the unique stories of various ARMY that help to illustrate the complexity and depth of this fandom. As a reader who is easily immersed in a story, each of the perspectives depicted in these essays were able to stir my empathy in different ways, as well as providing a means of catharsis at several points. It feels slightly embarrassing to say that there were a few times where it brought tears to my eyes, but that perhaps speaks to the power and depth of the writing more than anything else. 

I wish I could give a (virtual) hug to each of the ARMY that were involved in the creation of this book, including the three that were unable to finish writing before publication. Thank you for sharing your stories in such an articulate and expressive manner; it is heartwarming to see the common elements that can be found in the ARMY experience, and moreso to see them framed and collated in this way. Additionally, thank you for opening my eyes to the many sources cited throughout your essays - I hope I'll have the time to add them to my academic repertoire.

I already have plans to revisit this in the near future to fully appreciate the stories within and take the time to absorb the messages in Chapter 1 and 10 bookending the eight essays. Wallea Eaglehawk neatly wraps up the eight snapshots of the ARMY experience and uses them to sketch out the scope of the Love Yourself, Speak Yourself Revolution in an extremely inspiring manner. 

To finish this review, I think I can only say that I recommend this book to any ARMY, and perhaps moreso recommend it to any non-ARMY interested in learning more about this fandom's diversity. I feel that one of the best ways to understand and empathise with something unfamiliar is to gain access to an insider's perspective, which gives the outside the tools to find commonalities in their experiences and humanise the unknown. I Am ARMY truly demonstrates that ARMY is a microcosm of humankind.

B Sai Sushma

I am an ARMY, albeit a baby ARMY. But reading through all these chapters of people, people, reliving their fandom experiences, people breaking stereotypes, people feeling the emotions, I seem to have felt merely moths ago, was a roller coaster of chills and goosebumps. It puts into my focus once again, just how big BTS is, and how genuine. The books also bring into life different perspectives from different parts of the world and are able to put to a paper substance I am sure people have found it hard to put into words. It's a glorious record of love, love, love, and a refreshing reminder to how music heals us, how ARMY is deliciously unique as a fandom and how beautiful the experience of being an ARMY is. From organising charity projects to finding ways to love ourselves, from mere existing to real living, I related to various little bits from each chapter. The way we learn from them, the way they seem to understand us and the way pain seems to be universal. It's not just BTS who must be credited, but it is also ARMY because we have found something worth fighting for, just as they found something so sublime. Our love brings us together, though it's something so much greater than love. This book was able to capture all of that, putting through technicolour lenses through the lives of everyone who was in it. I hope I get to write a chapter someday. My chapter of being an ARMY soon.

sobe hollis &
I Am ARMY by Wallea Eaglehawk

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sobe hollis &I Am ARMY by Wallea Eaglehawk

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Join the club

sobe hollis &
I Am ARMY by Wallea Eaglehawk