"it was obvious that Jimin was unabashedly different"

February 3, 2021 11:22 AM

How Park Jimin of BTS Helped Me Feel Seen in My Brown, Queer Body. One nonbinary Bangladeshi American writer explains why it was so revolutionary to witness the K-pop superstar embrace both the feminine and the masculine on stage.

Jimin’s “Filter” performance, which I interpreted as a representation of gender fluidity and experimentation, assured me it was okay not to know which box I fit into, to constantly question, and to try new things. I felt affirmed in lacking the perfect word to pinpoint my gender identity. My struggles with my body, impacted by my strict upbringing, had made me feel isolated in sharing my ideal presentation with others. But Jimin had proudly displayed his moves on a global stage that was live streamed by more than 10 million people. In his rejection of gender norms, in wearing whatever he wanted, he’d reminded me that my body was more than the object of ridicule.

Jimin's performance of "Filter" (video has English subtitles).

posted by Lexica (10 comments total)

Thanks for this. It's a powerful performance.
posted by umbú at 12:16 PM on February 3, 2021

This is awesome. I recently started learning more about BTS and I was pleasantly surprised to find they are way more interesting than my generation's Backstreet Boys or NSync. They encourage their fans to love themselves, to study hard, to help out in their communities, they let their fans know that the depression and malaise they feel is totally normal... and just like this example, a lot of their lyrics are really poignant. They even have a song/video about The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas for crying out loud.
posted by thebots at 12:18 PM on February 3, 2021 [6 favorites]

thebots, I can think of a few that song could be, but can't pin it down to one. Could you (or anyone else) enlighten me?
posted by HypotheticalWoman at 12:21 PM on February 3, 2021

@HypotheticalWoman - Spring Day! Some pretty explicit references to it in the video. Here's an article that details the fan theories about the video. I guess the song itself is not really a reference, my bad!
posted by thebots at 12:25 PM on February 3, 2021 [4 favorites]

@Lexica: A friend asked "What's a good entry point for BTS?" Having recently fallen down that rabbit hole, I was delighted to put together an introduction. Here's the whole playlist (commentary about individual videos to follow)...
posted by Pirate-Bartender-Zombie-Monkey at 2:24 PM on February 3, 2021 [2 favorites]

Here's yet another awesome thing I wouldn't know about if it wasn't for great posts. Thanks, Lexica!
posted by mightshould at 2:31 PM on February 3, 2021 [2 favorites]

Jimin in the Black Swan video (and on the “Papa Mochi” show) is just something you have to see. I mean the whole thing is an experience.

One of the things that I really love about BTSis how hard they lean into modern and contemporary dance, using the whole body and the floor in a way that... it’s easy to crack jokes about until you see someone who has mastered the craft and their body fully commit to the moment.

And while we’re on the subject of Jimin, this particular comic crossing BTS with lang belta from The Expanse won me a t-shirt.
posted by Pirate-Bartender-Zombie-Monkey at 3:02 PM on February 3, 2021 [6 favorites]

I'm no BTS stan but that t-shirt brouhaha was like three years ago and Jimin later sorta-kinda apologized, at least to fans at a concert in Japan if I recall correctly. Considering the message BTS has been expressing as a group and individually before that and since, I'm willing to give him a pass for a one-off fashion faux pas that really had more to do with Japan-South Korea relations and loud "neto-uyo" voices online who hate anything Korea, not just the group itself. I'm Japanese, BTW, for what it's worth.

I like BTS and Jimin is my fave and that t-shirt being brought up time and again kind of gets old.

On preview, I see the comment has been nixed. I'm posting this but please remove if it's not appropriate. Thanks for the post, it's always nice to see Jimin performing.
posted by misozaki at 9:58 PM on February 3, 2021 [3 favorites]

Here's the whole playlist

This playlist contains DNA. Therefore, it is a good playlist.
posted by suetanvil at 8:41 AM on February 4, 2021 [3 favorites]

I'm super glad the writer has connected with Jimin as an artist and a dancer. I don't read the dance performance in the same way they do though. Watching the video, I felt like the choreography is at least 93% homage to Michael Jackson -- the hat, the moves with the jacket, the crotch grab.
posted by spamandkimchi at 6:46 PM on February 4, 2021