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Definitely. The director said his original intention was to show metaphorically how society treats "disabled" people (a statement which itself stirred controversy) -- but he said other interpretations are possible.I see there's a lot there
It could easily be generalized to apply to any marginalized or "different" individuals or groups, with the cubes representing the various "boxes" in which an unforgiving society forces them.
Or it could be narrowed, to apply to the Korean entertainment industry, with its strict rules and formulas. In fact, it could be narrowed even further, to an autobiographical story about IU herself: her character is mute, symbolized by her lip-ring, which disappears when seen through the camcorder. When she made her live stage debut at age 15, there were audience members yelling things like "Fat pig! Get off the stage!". If you look closely at the scene where she's singing, you can see that the masked and hooded figures in black are actually pointing and mocking. On this interpretation, they become symbols of the infamous Knetizen trolls that spew toxic hate anonymously -- and not just at IU. However, in an earlier scene, we see her and V grabbing food and drink from the tables, knocking the trolls aside, and on the stage, she's defying the attempts to "mute" her.
I'm not sure about the videotapes, but all the tech in the music video is old, as in everything shown in the "Horizon Portal" store they enter at the beginning. One idea that occurred to me was that the videotapes -- along with cassettes and vinyl records -- represent the products of having been forced into "boxes" in the past, a situation from which they're breaking free, if only in their dreams.
This would relate directly to IU's own career; after a somewhat disastrous debut, she was forced by her company into what's called the "cute concept" idol role for several years, to the point where she was dubbed "Korea's Little Sister". This was not what she wanted for herself, but she suffered it until she gained enough popularity and power to finally get control over her music and persona with her "Chatshire" album. She's since grown powerful enough that she was able to buy her company, and now produces what she wants (including this music video).
An interesting idea that I don't recall seeing in the many comments I've so far read. It wouldn't surprise me though; people have pointed to the digital effects and glitches when V strikes the cube as deliberate, indicating that the cubes represent social media -- and sometimes, social media is "us". It wouldn't be the first time IU has confronted this "us" directly; a few years ago she did it in the mv for "Eight":I noticed that the point of view when he attacks the cube shifts as though we are now inside the cube watching him beat us, I think.
Repeatedly throughout the video, she looks directly into the camera, as if addressing an absent friend, and asking "Are you happy now? Finally happy now?" But at the end, when she rises from the table where she'd been "downloading memories" as the tape machine has it, she shows three expressions in quick succession: tearful sorrow about lost friends, a little smile of hope for their happiness, but then, finally, a cold look into the camera, while "Are you happy now" echoes in the background. The suicide of her best friend has been widely attributed in part directly to the unrelenting online hate she was subjected to, and it's as if IU is asking "she's dead -- are you happy now? Finally happy now?". I have to say this is the saddest "happy" song I know.
IU's acting abilities are well-established, so it should come as no surprise that she can pull something like this off. In fact, getting back to "Love Wins All", I was impressed with how she managed to combine fear, sadness, defiance, and resignation in one shot at the end:
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