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Him, in my eyes: Reading on a subtle KM moment (5. G.C.F. in Osaka, 30 April 2018, BangtanTV)

Disclaimer: my reading on some interactions between JK and JM. These are my own opinions, I do NOT claim that these are the truth, just how I personally read and feel about the situation. And as stated before, GCF in Tokyo convinced me that KM have romantic feelings for each other, and having gone back along the timeline to examine their prior interactions (and those of BTS in general), I have yet to be persuaded otherwise. Please do not read this post if you are likely to be triggers by the above supposition. Thanks to @noransaekk for always reminding me to write more often; I feel the existence of this series is in part owed to her constant encouragement, as I am usually too lazy to write about my thoughts.

Hi~ It’s been a while since I’ve written a new entry to my series of Readings on Subtle KM Moments. I’ve been lazy and uninspired. But since I have promised this piece long ago, here goes my reading G.C.F in Osaka. I will give my reading on:

the dynamics of KM and the dynamics of when KM are with other BTS members

JK’s storytelling, and how he creatively constructed the video to put emphasis on Jimin

JK’s choice of background music, the lyrics

It’ll be long, but I think you will enjoy it, so buckle up for the ride and here we go~~

Disclaimer 2: JK has done amazingly well in both filming and editing GCFo, especially the latter, it really shows how much he has improved and he is developing his own style. But as I am mostly looking to give my own reading on the KM dynamics shown in GCFo, I won’t go into details on JK’s film making skills, which though brilliant, is not the purpose of this post.

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G.C.F in Osaka, 30 April 2018, BangtanTV

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Before we start, it is necessary to say that this video is very different from those I have wrote about before. It is edited by Jungkook himself. So instead of being one of the main subjects of study, we are instead looking at his hyungs through JK’s own eyes. Essentially, I am giving an interpretation of what I feel JK is trying to say to his audience, his feelings.

1. The dynamics of KM and the dynamics of when KM are with other BTS members in GCFo

The video beings with a street view of what looks like a shopping district in Osaka (0:08). It then transitions to show the airport, and BTS’s plane leaving the airport. A close up solo shot of Hobi appears (0:13), followed by a solo shot of RM (0:14), then views outside the plane window, airplane food, seat control, Hobi’s wrist watch showing the time 2:27 pm. Then the video transitions to a small clock showing the time 3:47 pm—they have arrived at their hotel in Osaka, then food and snacks are shown, a view of Osaka’s skyline, a lift going down, street views, then inside a private room of a restaurant where we see RM, Hobi, Tae and Jimin already sitting at a table (0:45).

Standard story-telling so far. We learn that BTS flew to Osaka, arrived in the late afternoon, and five members (with managers) went out together to eat a meal.

We are then shown the food they ordered, and the members enjoying the food. We are given close ups of Hobi (0:51), Tae (0:55), Hobi again (0:57), and RM (1:01), and the group after the food has mostly been finished (1:02), and the group leaving the private room (1:04).

As the video is cut into too many clips, and there is not much to read into. Friendly and comfortable is basically the atmosphere within the group during the dinner.

What’s interesting to me, however, is that, up until this point, the only two members had NOT been given close up solo shots are—Jimin, and Jungkook himself. The latter we can say that he was behind the camera busy shooting the film, but what of the former? Why was Jimin not shown individually, when all the other three members, Hobi, Tae and RM are shown at least once in close ups?

Just as one is wondering about this, we are shown two of the boys’s feet (1:10), walking, the boys evidently walking very close and in-sync with each other. One is holding the camera, so it’s evidently JK. But what of the other?

And the video suddenly goes to static effect, the song stops (1:12); when the video resumes, we see a focus on Jimin (1:13). Jungkook is finally showing him to us, and he even interrupted both the storytelling and the music just to put emphasis on Jimin. The other members and the managers were walking in front, and KM were lagging behind the group, JK following JM, filming JM from behind, and we are at once given a direct call back to G.C.F in Tokyo.

What follows is simply so soft and amazing (1:13). Despite them essentially being with the group, KM were in their own world. JM seemingly walking unaffectedly in front of JK, knowing that JK will be following him, and he suddenly makes a dramatic stop and prepares to dance. JK also stops in his tracks to wait to film whatever it is Jimin intended to do. After waiting for a second, Jimin steals a glance back, and in a soft voice complained that JK was supposed to go around him. To me, his tone his look, seems to say: “But shouldn’t you know to do this without me saying it out loud?” And JK at once acknowledged, “ah, so I was suppose to go around?” his tone and voice also very soft. And the two decide to try the move again near the exit of the restaurant. He stops, he circles around him, filming; he laughs and dances, giggling, and he behind the camera joins in laughter, both overjoyed over what seems to be a very minor event, happiness pour out in full force from both in front and behind the camera. And the video goes back into statics (1:38), and the storytelling and the song are resumed.

Let us also pause for a second and digest what this says to us. Remember that this is JK’s work, his film, his edit, the hyungs and the world through his own eyes. He stopped both the storytelling and the song for Jimin, so we can focus on Jimin, see Jimin through JK’s own eyes, hear Jimin’s laugh through JK’s own ears… pure adoration and love simply pours forth—JK literally stopped his world for Jimin; or, he is telling us that when Jimin looks at him, when Jimin laughs, his world stops moving because of him.

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The story-telling and song resume at 1:39, they are inside a moving vehicle, we see the street view, then the window display of a shop. Then we are shown Jimin’s back (1:43), so JK is following JM, and Tae a little in front of Jimin as the maknae line entered a shop. JK then following and filming Tae (1:46), and suddenly, the statics again (1:50).

Before I dive into explaining the dynamics of the maknae line shown in this shopping trip, I’d like to draw your attention to the Eat Jin vlive reading [part 1] [part 2] I have done a little while back, and where I explained the natural expected dynamics shifts between Jinminkook, and how that gave hidden clues to KM very possibly being in a romantic relationship. Here, with the same methodology, we should expect, with Vminkook, that the dynamics be predominately Vmin vs. JK. This is simply because JK is the camera man, and Vmin the actors, so one would expect Vmin to interact a lot, and JK to be more of a bystander. However, if we see more of Kookmin vs Tae, same as we had seen a lot of Koomin vs. Jin in the Eat Jin, then we will have further support to our deduction that KM are likely involved romantically.

So, the story-telling and song are again stopped by JK, and we are shown a close up of Jimin (1:51), smiling at JK and goofing around in front of his camera, and Tae a little away from KM but now slowly approaching them. So the starting dynamics, surprisingly (or unsurprisingly) is Kookmin vs. Tae.

At 1:55, Tae dancing towards KM, now joins them, and Jimin turns to Tae. One very important thing to note here, Tae, while dancing to join KM, and while he knows JK is filming, actually has his attention fully on JM. He dances, then stops to look up at Jimin’s reaction, and he actually only very briefly turns to glance at JK when he hears JK’s laugh (1:58), and then at once turns back to JM (1:59) to examine JM’s reaction again.

Seeing that Jimin is not yet responding, Tae turns to dance a little more, his attention still NOT on JK or the camera, and Tae misses Jimin’s cute little dance as he resumes to dance more for Jimin. Jimin walks up and touches Tae’s arm and speaks a little (2:02), and at once gaining Tae’s full attention. Jimin shows Tae his cute little dance move, and Tae quickly follows him (2:07), the two in sync, only then does Tae turn to give some of his attention to JK and the camera. The static effects again (2:12), then the story-telling and resumes.

Let’s pause and examine the dynamics here, first, the clip started with Kookmin vs. Tae, and once Tae approached KM, the dynamics transitioned to Vmin vs. JK, but mainly by Tae’s choosing, as it was clear that he wanted Jimin to react to his dancing, and not the camera or JK. From the JK’s point of view, JK was at first in a world with Jimin, and as soon as Tae approaches, he becomes the camera man bystander and gives space to Vmin, to film and record how his two hyungs interact. JK found Tae’s dancing funny, but he did not try to get Tae’s attention for the camera even though Tae was completely focused on Jimin. Here, to me, JK is showing us that he is not the only one that loves seeing and making Jimin laugh.

JK clearly remembers this moment very well, as when later at a fan sign for comeback, when fans asked about the Vmin dance in GCFo and Airplane pt.2 dance, JK proudly said that no-one knew the move Jimin choreographed would be added into Airplane pt. 2, and Jimin confirmed too that even he himself did not know it would be added to the official choreography. It is clear from JK’s tone how fondly he recalls the moment, and how proud he is of Jimin to randomly come up with cute dance moves while simply goofing in front of his camera. Video to fan sign here, starts at 4:28.

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Returning to the storytelling (2:12), we are shown a close up of Tae exiting the shop, JK filming him from the front, Tae making a hand gesture at the camera lens then quickly pushing the camera away. Here, to me, it shows that Tae is very conscious of JK’s camera, and a bit shy and not at all used to being in front of it. Behind Tae, we can see Jimin and the mangers following closely. This is followed by another shot of Tae walking (2:16), Jimin and managers still following closely behind Tae.

At 2:20, we are shown Jimin entering a shop, JK following and filming again, while Tae is already inside the store, a little further away from KM; JM turns and dances the cute dance for the camera, Tae still further inside the shop examining the clothing. It seems like KM are goofing around as they waited for Tae to finish. We are then shown Jimin walking (2:24), looking directly at JK and the camera, smiling, then Jimin’s back (2:27), JK following Jimin, and Tae in a blur quite a bit further ahead of KM. It seems that, even when it’s only the maknae line by themselves, the natural dynamics also lean towards Kookmin vs. Tae, as Tae seems to prefer to wander off on his own a little further off and leave his two friends to entertain themselves.

They enter another shop, and we see JM looking around (2:28) and JK filming him closely behind. Tae later joins the again (2:30), and walking directly past JK, he joins Jimin, Vmin do the Vmin dance, both looking into the camera and smiling. Then Tae trying on glasses, looking to see Jimin’s reaction (2:34), then Vmin doing the Vmin dance in sync again, Jimin giving a smile to JK as Tae turned to take off his glasses. We then see Vmin walking side by side (2:41), dancing together again to the camera, and the streetlights are lit as night gradually falls. JK shows us a lot of his two hyungs and how they act with each other. The dynamics is Vmin vs. JK, as JK is chiefly the camera man and bystander.

We are then shown a pavement, and Tae suddenly jumping into frame (2:49), followed by JK walking along the pavement (2:51), followed by Tae walking into frame, turning to look directly at the camera as he comes into focus (2:56). A very good shoot imo. Then, suddenly a black screen transition (2:58), as if reminding the viewers to pay closer attention, and we are shown a view of Osaka’s street and buildings, and then, Jimin (3:00), his profile, slowly coming into focus as the city street lights suddenly shine brighter; I wonder how JK managed to have Jimin’s profile come into sharp focus at the exact moment that the lights shone brighter on Osaka’s streets. The effect is mesmerising.

The maknae line on the move again (3:03), this time walking in a triangle with Tae in front, Jimin in the middle and JK last, filming their feet. And we have confirmation that the one who was walking very closely and in sync with JK at 1:10 is indeed Jimin, by their shoes.

We see Vmin in conversation, Tae turning to look at Jimin, a bright smile on his face. Then the maknae line in the lift with their managers (3:08), Vmin walking side by side in a department store (3:15), Vmin riding on an escalator, side by side (3:16), Jimin looking to the side and Tae looking directly at the camera, and bops his head on the camera as a transition (3:23).

A black screen transition again (3:24), and the story-telling returns with JK showing us Jimin dancing the Vmin dance to the camera, soon Tae runs into frame (3:27), and also dances the Vmin dance to camera. Then TK walking down the street side by side towards the camera resting on the floor (3:29), Tae looking towards his left, and we soon learn that it was Jimin that Tae was looking at, as Jimin jumps from that direction into frame, showing us his cute butt, and JK again gives us the sound of Jimin’s laughter, mingled with the song this time at around 3:33 [a number we know to be well associated with Jimin].

At 3:34, we see Jimin dancing and smiling at the camera, while in the shop behind him (Tiffany and Co., I think), Tae is looking at jewellery accompanied by the manager. The dynamic is very evident again Koomin vs. Tae, with KM waiting for their friend while enjoying each other’s company. Then we have a shot of Tae (3:36), giving a V sign to the camera, a brief TK vs. JM dynamic, followed by a shot of Tae from across the road (3:38), Tae again accompanied by the manager, while KM waited on the other side of the road. JK was filming Tae of course, and we know that Jimin is by JK’s side at this moment also taking photos of Tae, as shown by his tweet [here], so Koomin vs. Tae again. Tae sees a bus coming, and quickly tries to pull off a disappearing act for his friends, and failing miserably. But imo, Tae no doubt succeeded in making KM laugh. Here, further proof that even when it’s only the maknae line by themselves, the natural dynamics lean towards Kookmin vs. Tae, with Tae preferring to give KM space.

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We approaching the ending: a scene of JK following JM (3:34), filming him from behind, another direct call back to G.C.F in Tokyo; we see JM through JK’s eyes as he follows him: JM turns and smiles at JK, and Jimin walking further off into a very familiar scene, and we realise that this was the place where this video, G.C.F in Osaka, started. But now, no longer only full of strangers as it were at the start of the video, Jimin walks forward in the scene, alone, the distance between him and JK gradually widening… we are at once reminded of the ending of G.C.F in Tokyo… I hold my breath… but this time, he turns, and he waits (3:50). “Around the world and back again, I hope you’re waiting at the end.” To me JK is clearly telling us this, that at the beginning and the end, Jimin is with him, that he will wait for him, wait with him.

The camera shifts (3:51), and we see Tae running to join KM, he comes closer and closer, JK shows us a very blurred Tae, but we can still see the smile on Tae’s face as he approaches and meets up with KM. And the video ends.

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TO SUM UP, in the case of the maknae line dynamics as shown in GCFo, we can see that, although the expected division should have been actors vs. camera man, i.e. Vmin vs. JK, we instead observe that, in more laid back situations, a natural division of Kookmin vs. Tae is the most comfortable for all three.

This is mostly per Tae’s choosing, as he is often the one who wanders off a little away from KM, unconsciously (or consciously) giving KM space. The three are so used to each other however, that Tae is free to rejoin KM at any moment, and when he does, Tae’s attention is almost always first and foremost centred on Jimin, and so we see Vmin vs. JK as the second most comfortable dynamics for them when the three are alone together.

This is further supported by the fact that Tae is evidently more camera shy in front of JK’s lens, while JM is unbothered and very natural in front of JK’s camera, showing that JK films JM much much more often. Also, if we remember the maknae line dynamics in JK’s graduation ceremony that I wrote about before [link here], we had already observed a comfortable Kookmin vs. Tae dynamic and Tae’s attention focusing mostly on Jimin even back then. It seems like this behaviour pattern is pretty much established in the maknae line.

Notice how, instead of acting like Jin, who tries to prevent a Kookmin vs. Jin division from occurring (which is also the pattern that the three naturally falls into whenever they are relaxed) in Eat Jin vlive as much as possible [my reading here], Tae prefers to give KM more space, and distances himself a little to do his own thing, then rejoins when he feels like it.

So the tendency of KM to naturally form their own world, so to speak, is very plain and evident, and exemplified very well in GCFo, both by the case of KM lagging behind the rest of BTS after their meal, and also by the maknae line shopping trip later in the day. Since the whole of BTS are close friends that had know each other for years, it’s only logical to conclude that KM is something more, so that all the members accept KM’s priority for each other’s attention and companionship.

2. JK’s storytelling, and how he creatively constructed the video to put emphasis on Jimin

One interesting thing to look at in GCFo is how the editing is done by JK, and especially how he chose to put the contents together. Here it is necessary to bring in GCFt again just as an example for comparison.

1). The title: G.C.F in Tokyo (정국&지민) compared to G.C.F in Osaka

I think here it is quite plain that JK included both his and Jimin’s name in the title of GCFt, but GCFo was simply a description. He could very easily add something to make it G.C.F in Osaka (JK & hyungs), for example, but he didn’t. Here, it’s not to far-fetched to say that an emphasis is given to the fact that he and JM were together in Tokyo for their trip alone, and that detail was important enough for him to stress in the title.

2). The credits

GCFt had credits, both in the actual video, and in the description box on youtube. Here he makes it very clear that he was the director, the director of photography, and the editor, while Jimin is his actor. While for GCFo, no credits were given, neither in the actual video or in the description box on youtube. Since it is also a Golden Closet Film production, and from their comments on it later, it does seem that JK is again the director, the director of photography and the editor, but the four other actors (not counting the managers) in GCFo were not mentioned. Again, here it seems that, to JK, it is important to stress when it is JM and him together, but when it is not just the two of them, it’s not necessary to bring attention to who took part in the project.

Another thing is the credits on GCFt might have been included and stressed because of the credits of JM’s travel log of their trip. And JK is simply saying that it’s not only JM who is happy and excited about their trip, he himself also looks upon it with found memories, and it’s not JM alone who values it a lot.

3). The breaks

A closer examination of GCFo yielded something very interesting. JK used two types of “breaks” to separate contents, one is statics; one is blackscreen

As I am writing this post on GCFo, I noticed that out of the 4 blackscreen breaks, except the first one (0:34), which is to separate BTS arriving at Osaka from OT5 going out, the remaining three (1:10, 2:58, 3:23), are all to break from previous narrative so he can have KM (their feet walking) or especially Jimin, to begin the next section of the storytelling. For the first blackscreen break, the first of BTS which is shown to us is his four hyungs (0:44); for the second, the first of BTS which is shown is KM’s feet, followed by a close up of JM (1:13); for the third, it’s again a close up of JM (3:03); for the forth, again, JM (3:25).

For the two statics break, which gave us the inserted two bits of narrative, those both begin with Jimin too. Not to mention that the two inserted narratives themselves are Jimin biased enough on their own, as already described in the first section of his post.

It’s like he is writing an essay, except for the introduction, for his main essay body, every topic sentence for every paragraph is Jimin, Jimin, Jimin… My feelings after noticing this fact… “nO mAIn AcTOr” my a**.

In my opinion, GCFo is all planned out too neatly to give precedence and emphasis on Jimin, and this can only be intentional on JK’s part as the director and editor.

3. JK’s choice of background music, the lyrics

A lot of KM blogs have already asked the question on JK’s choice of background music and the lyrics, like @noransaekk [here] and @closetgolden [here and here]. And below I offer my own interpretation; I agree with other KM blogs that the lyrics are not to be taken literally, hence this is just one possible interpretation.

I agree with others that the choice of background music for GCFo is most likely not as planned out as JK’s choice for GCFt. We know that from later information given by the members themselves that JK and JM had decided on a trip to Tokyo together a month in advance, and JK later in a vlive also gave the fans clues to the video tutorial he studied to make GCFt. So it’s safe to say that GCFt is likely planned by JK down to every detail well in advance. GCFo, on the other hand, looks more like that JK got enough nice footage on a rare BTS private outing in Osaka, and therefore wanted to make something to commentate the event, and all the footage was taken in that one outing too. So he might have simply settled for something he liked as the bgm in a short amount of time.

Having said as much, I do think he will not choose anything by random chance, so a message is likely still there. I personally take “I” in the lyrics to mean JK, the “you” to mean the viewers, i.e., the fandom, and the “he” to mean someone shown to us in the video that has now taken his heart. Hence the message is, before JK met “he”, his heart was the fans, he thinks of them, loves them, and his songs are for them. But now JK has a “he” which has taken the fan’s place in JK’s heart, hence “he’s getting all the songs you used to get, he’s getting all the words inside of my head, he’s sleeping on your side of the bed”… and JK still loves the fans so “but it’s still your side”, but he loves “him” more and is a bit guilty perhaps, and conflicted, hence “now I’m up all night”.

And the “he”, the someone shown to us in the video, can only be Jimin, in my opinion. The heavy bias and focus is hard to ignore in GCFo, as already stated above in this post, and I can see no other alternative candidate.

THE END. Thanks for reading this very long post, and I hope you’ve enjoyed it.

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