Chameleon Park Jimin: Your Filter - Afterthoughts
Chameleon Park Jimin: Your Filter - Afterthoughts
~ Written after seeing & reflecting on new & old information ~
I had written a previous post where I stated that, for any topic, as new information comes out, people should reconsider their previous thoughts or conclusions and update their views, if needed. [See my As Information Unfolds… post.] I also feel people might reflect on already known information, and as new experiences or new levels of thinking develop, they might also update their views on a subject. Although I had nothing planned to write at the moment, both of those situations occurred, which led to my wanting to organize some thoughts today. This post also follows up on another post where I wrote about the transitions and contortions Jimin was put through during his BTS experience. [See my 4-part Chameleon Park Jimin posts.] I explained how his convoluted journey had its price, which Jimin paid for with mental and physical currency.
Recently Big Hits put out a documentary, Beyond The Star, that showed a collection of memories and interviews from BTS’s debut to their efforts and achievements to the Covid-19 quarantine to living separately into the solo era. In this current documentary series, Jimin stated (according to translation), “There were times I worked hard because I wanted our team to be successful together, times when I was forced to do it by someone else, and times when I did it out of arrogance. I went through a lot of processes to come this far. I believe that now is the time to try a lot of different things. I want to do something that’s more fun than laborious.” (Boy, I love his reflective thoughtfulness.) In support of my previous posts, I take that to mean he worked hard and sacrificed a lot to assist BTS in getting where they are, but he is now ready to use the privilege of freedom & choice that his blood, sweat, & tears earned.
Anyway, as I was considering all of this, Jimin’s song Filter came on my music streaming service. FILTER. Yes, this song fits right in with this topic and goes right along with my Chameleon Park Jimin series! I recall Jimin saying (I think in a Live) that he contributed a great deal to this song Filter so that it said exactly what he wanted it to say. To me, the song was saying he was good at becoming whatever you want him to be. He already has and continues to prove that to the world. He has been manly, sexy, pretty, sassy, and cute, and he did it all so well that the public was convinced that each version was actually him.
In Filter, he states (in translation), “You'll be wanting only me. Yeah, because you are the one who made me.” Whatever the company wanted, the fans reacted to, the band needed, he became that thing. Perfectionist & talented Jimin could pull off any of it convincingly, regardless of whether it is possibly nothing he really is or nothing he is actually comfortable displaying. In Filter, he boldly assures you that he “can thrill you”, and we already know he can do it so well that he’ll “take you to a whole new world” [translated lyrics]. If he didn’t already know before his experience as Chameleon Park Jimin in BTS, he has since proven it even to himself that he is capable of transforming into almost anything. Re: He’s. your. fil.ter. 😉
In addition to being your filter, Park Jimin is also a work in progress (as are we all). In viewing more currently released content that include more interviews and revelations, we are learning more and more that in actuality, without a costume and a stage, Jimin is truly a quieter, sillier, almost awkwardly shy person. [ASIDE: When my sister first introduced me to BTS, she described Jimin as a “giggle box” and based on what I had seen up to that point, which were mostly performances, I dismissed her description as ridiculous. I eventually went back to her and apologized, since I later saw that she was totally right. 😃] Which one or which part is the real Jimin? Are all of them or none of them Park Jimin of Busan? In his song Like Crazy (Korean version translation), the lyrics say, “Did I come too far to find the me you used to know?” Was he talking to fans? To himself? Or to both? Did he get so lost in the lights that he even got confused by all the versions he had morphed into and out of over time?
If you have ever watched Jimin watch himself on video, he is often not as proud of himself and his work as it seems he should be for the amount of success he has achieved. He often cringes, sometimes hollers, and often looks away when seeing his younger actions. (Look for footage of BTS reacting to their own work.) We all could feel that way if we were forced to watch better-forgotten moments from our youth, but Jimin’s is a bit more extreme than even the other members’. He certainly did the most eye-catching performances or actions on stage (re: flipping, dancing, high notes, sassing, etc.), but still his reaction at times comes across as more self-judgmental than shyness.
Even if you watch him as he watches his current Production Diary documentary that he watched live along with the fans- (Yes, you know the one. He had his orangish, pre-blonde hair again and JK stopped in for a quick visit.) -you saw that presently he’s gotten far better at not reacting as loudly and as obviously disdainfully toward himself, but you still see the more mature, more guarded version of the cringe reaction. If you observe closely, you will see his expression slightly change, see him strategically look away to view the comments online, and other mild reactions.
I think that is part of the revelation as to why Jimin recently decided to start from the ground up and relearn his skills. He said he was actually “embarrassed” by things he viewed during his promotions. What things? In my view, the promotion period was short but went well. There are always things anyone could have done differently or better during every performance. That is true for all performers. So he may not yet have fully learned to just accept what he is capable of doing at that moment and to continue forward from there. He seems to feel he needs to change his performance more than to accept his best efforts & abilities at that time. He saw a need to change, regardless of the positive feedback he has gotten from those viewing the products and performances.
I am not saying there is anything wrong with wanting to improve; however, his reflection seemed a bit more harsh than needed, based on what we know of the situation anyway. Remember: Jimin is known as a perfectionist. That means he views himself through a self-critical lens and is hardly satisfied with what he sees in or from himself. Sadly. It must be a tortuous way to exist. He is able to appreciate and compliment the efforts of others, but for himself, he lacks that same degree of objective empathy.
I will add, though, that Jimin seems to have become more relaxed and happier in more recent times. He has shared with us that he truly enjoyed the production experience in creating his solo album. We recently saw behind-the-scenes moments of him creating his "ThisIsJimin" dance segments, where he seemed more at ease and positive than I think I've ever seen him, especially toward his own work and output. We definitely are viewing a new transformation for our Chameleon Park Jimin, and this change is a very productive and welcome evolution to see.
I won’t be writing about this here because: 1) I have not sorted out my thoughts on it yet, and 2) I don’t have enough information to form a valuable opinion about it at this time, but it makes me wonder about Jimin’s family dynamics, pre-BTS experiences, and his unknown BTS circumstances that helped to form the Jimin we “know” today. I feel that Jimin has a very interesting story, and perspective of his story, that I would love to hear. I doubt I will ever hear it, but I do get mixed feelings that Jimin both wants to keep the secrets for a variety of reasons, but also that he really wants to share his story, the fuller truth - mainly to help others who might relate to it more than to expose others.
In his recent song Closer Than This, Jimin said, “On the spring day we meet again, I’ll tell you everything I couldn’t before.” Really?🤔 Maybe the possibility of my hearing his story is looking up. Another good reason to look forward to 2025 and beyond. 🙂
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to ARMY
ARMYs have you been doing well healthily?
tomorrow is the day i will complete my training <have my graduation ceremony>.
about a little over a month has passed
sometimes it feels long but because jungkook is beside me, i feel like it goes by fast too.
it hasn't been a long time but i already miss you all seriously so much. i've been saying hello while using the public phone to call the members
jungkookie is also working hard with his military life.
he's doing extremely well with his military life that everyone else is like "as expected, jungkookie hyung."
while being beside him, i feel like i can depend on him lots <saying he feels supported> and he has been giving me strength.
i will be going to <my assigned> military base but i will adjust well and try to be well. our ARMYs, be careful to not catch a cold and don't be sick and eat your meals well and only think of good thoughts hehe.
anyways once i go to the base, i will write a letter too. i love you💜
- JIMIN
This is Jimin...
#ThisIsJimin Dance Shorts
*** Consider visiting official sites to give clicks too. (@j.m Jimin Instagram, BangtanTV channel YouTube, BTS_Official_BigHit TicTok, BTS.BigHitOfficial Instragram)
Happy New Year! --- 2024!!
Jimin would want you to take care and not catch a cold.🙂 I hope everyone's year is happy, healthy, and bountiful. 💜
This is a very nice article about Jimin, his talent, and his efforts. The writer complimented and appreciated Jimin's career up until now, including his creation and performance of his album FACE. Although I am happy they acknowledge and give him credit for surmounting his difficulties, I look forward to the day where people only remark on his achievements and no longer mention his difficulties and struggles within his descriptions. It's a good read. Enjoy!