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infantilization of max VS demonization of chloe is honestly a little interesting because. consider. how people treat autism/adhd/anxiety VS personality disorders
I hope that by now, after Hobi’s collaboration with J. Cole, Joon’s El Pais interview, and now Jimin’s Set Me Free Pt. 2, it’s obvious a lot of the criticism around BTS, much of what counts for ‘discourse’, is completely pointless.
Something I noticed after BTS released Fake Love in 2018, is that ‘Discourse’ around the mediums they choose to make music, the kind of music they put out, and how they communicate their ideas, all frankly just boils down to people dissatisfied that BTS didn’t express an idea the exact way those people would prefer, at exactly the time they’d prefer it. That’s it. It’s not a criticism that tackles the substance of their ideas or elevates the conversation around BTS, but one about personal preferences that people with inflated egos courtesy of the internet, mistake to be synonymous with meaningful appraisals of their skill, competency, and their characters.
BTS has always made music in a variety of styles and they’ve shown they’re more than capable of making some of the best hard-hitting and unconventional music there is, not just in Korea, but globally. But then they release a handful of pop tunes that while not my favourite, generated a whole multitude of k-pop stans circle-jerking to ‘discourse’ about how ‘BTS has lost their roots’ when all those people are actually saying is that “BTS didn’t make the exact sort of music I prefer or say something exactly the way I prefer, this time around, on my schedule.”
Take for example discourse around Joon’s latest interview:
Joon has shown similar candour as in the El Pais interview, in their 2022 Weverse interview, in their 2021 Billboard interview, and in honestly more Vlives and interviews than I can count. The primary difference between the El Pais interview and the others is in the sort of questions asked by interviewer/publication. That is what was refreshing because Western media outlets often do not take their music seriously enough to not venture beyond the obligatory ‘dark side of k-pop’ asks before grilling BTS on their potential romantic partners. The interviewer in El Pais was notably more informed about BTS and Namjoon in particular, and that carried through in the interview. Joon is older, more mature, and more comfortable (especially now that they’ve announced their intentions to enlist), but if you were paying attention, you’d realize he’s said a lot of what he said in that interview, long before. He’s not significantly more eloquent and more candid than he was a year ago, he simply responded to the interviewer based on the questions posed and the tone used.
Another example is in Jimin’s latest release, SMF Pt 2, which brought to mind criticism of Jimin I’ve seen from solos, multis, antis and general k-pop stans every fortnight or so, for the last eight years. We can all see references in the lyrics, in the choreography, in the stylistic musical choices, in the medium: rap vs vocals, to many BTS songs and even Jimin’s solo work put out long before. In SMF Pt 2:
For lyrics and message, Jimin references narratives expressed in Lie, Promise, ON, among others;
For sonic expression, Jimin references Friends and ON, seen in his preference for choral effects; Tony Montana and Black Swan for autotune as a tool and rap music as a medium;
For dance/choreography, Jimin references Butterfly, Lie, and ON.
Set Me Free Pt 2 is a combination of various expressions we’ve already seen Jimin do, sharpened to the extreme to drive home the point that this is his time and everyone should get the fuck out of his way.
It’s effective.
Like JITB and Indigo before now, I’m already seeing people lament that Jimin is talking about how their fame affects him, the reference to his haters, or that he is too proud and egotistical. And some Anons are already starting to fret about it in my inbox. I don’t know what to tell y’all besides that I don’t care. I’m not sure how many times I can show that none of those people know what they’re talking about. I’m not confident enough to express how little I think about some random’s opinion about music and how I listen to it, without rudely telling them off in two syllables.
All I’ve got to say about the discourse around this song is ‘fuck off.’
I’m enjoying myself too much. I’m loving Jimin’s vocals and self expression too much. I’m too happy to give a flying fuck what anyone else thinks on the matter.
Aside, Jimin has inspired some of the best fanart I’ve seen in ages:
Credit: @/5813_99
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Credit: @/5duelle
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Credit: @/0901mg_
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Credit: @/glassrtz
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Credit: @/emmysuga
HIS BEEF?
I can’t be the only one
Delicious Time Telling Tea🧚🏽♀️🫖