(Warning: This post is long and photo-heavy.)
My copy of Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Jimin — "ID: Chaos" arrived last week, which is the third of the BTS member photobook series. This series is called Special 8 Photo-Folio, so there will be a total of 8 photobooks — one for each member and one group edition. Though not confirmed by statement, I think this is BigHit's unofficial birthday project for the BTS members, as they've been releasing them by birthday order starting with Jungkook (September 1), then RM (September 12), and now Jimin (October 13). However, the next photo book that will be released will actually be the group one, which was just announced today with the release of the "We" Concept Film, though we should be resuming in birthday order with Jin (December 4) after that.
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Jimin — "ID: Chaos" Front with PET Overlay Cover
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Jimin — "ID: Chaos" Front and Back Covers
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Jimin — "ID: Chaos" Frontispiece
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Jimin — "ID: Chaos" Chapter 1: Lightness and Darkness; Chaos
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Jimin — "ID: Chaos" Chapter 1: Lightness and Darkness; Chaos
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Jimin — "ID: Chaos" Chapter 2: Color; Freedom
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Jimin — "ID: Chaos" Chapter 2: Color; Freedom
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Jimin — "ID: Chaos" Chapter 3: Black; Come face to face
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Jimin — "ID: Chaos" Chapter 3: Black; Come face to face
The third photoshoot is called, "Black; Come face to face." As the title implies, this chapter is shot entirely in black-and-white. Jimin is wearing a custom black suit with suspenders, a big fedora hat, and studded loafers that give off a very film noir vibe. He has slicked back hair and is wearing smoky eye makeup. About this chapter, Jimin has said, "I wanted to divide the parts of me that I think is tough and just show you a cooler side of myself."
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Jimin — "ID: Chaos" Chapter 4: White; Intactly
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Jimin — "ID: Chaos" Chapter 4: White; Intactly
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Jimin — "ID: Chaos" Jimin's Item: Folding Accordion Card
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Jimin — "ID: Chaos" Jimin's Item: Folding Accordion Card (Unfolded, Front + Back)
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Jimin — "ID: Chaos" Photocards
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Jimin — "ID: Chaos" "Postage Stamp" Sheet
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Jimin — "ID: Chaos" Mini Poster
Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Jimin — "ID: Chaos" Folded Poster
Finally, we get some extra items that come with the photobook. Each member has picked their own unique item to include in their photo books, and Jimin's is a folded accordion-style card that features pictures from all four of his photoshoots. As with all the photobooks, Jimin's also includes two photocards (one that comes with every single Jimin photo book and one that is randomized out of 3 options), a "postage stamp" sheet (honestly, I'm still not sure if these actually serve another purpose other than showcasing the members' photos in the style of postage stamps), a mini poster that features a photo from one of the member's photoshoots (the back side also features an image of the member, but is a puzzle piece to a bigger group photo), and a folded poster.
My copy of Special 8 Photo-Folio: Me, Myself, and Jimin — "ID: Chaos" arrived last week, which is the third of the BTS member photobook series. This series is called Special 8 Photo-Folio, so there will be a total of 8 photobooks — one for each member and one group edition. Though not confirmed by statement, I think this is BigHit's unofficial birthday project for the BTS members, as they've been releasing them by birthday order starting with Jungkook (September 1), then RM (September 12), and now Jimin (October 13). However, the next photo book that will be released will actually be the group one, which was just announced today with the release of the "We" Concept Film, though we should be resuming in birthday order with Jin (December 4) after that.
Jimin's photobook is called "ID: Chaos." The general concept of this book, as stated by Jimin, is his "personas," and includes four different photoshoots to reflect this concept. "ID: Chaos" has a total of 80 pages. It is a soft cover book with a removable PET overlay. Included with the photobook are several extra items: a sheet of "postage stamps," a folding accordion card (Jimin's item), two photocards (one that is included with every book and a second one that is randomized out of 3 options), a mini poster, and a folded poster. The photobook retails for ₩33,000 or $30.65 USD on Weverse Shop Global.
The first photoshoot is called "Lightness and Darkness; Chaos." About this chapter, Jimin has said in his Behind Film, "I wanted to show a side within me that is full of thoughts, worries, and is a bit lonely." He is barefoot in this shoot, and wearing a simple cream silk button-up shirt, loose-fitting black pants, and a mahogany crushed velvet robe, with soft makeup and a variety of tattoos adorning his body. It's shot in sepia tones, with Jimin in a dimly-lit room with a disheveled bed, broken mannequins, and a severed chandelier.
The second photoshoot is called "Color; Freedom." As the title of this chapter implies, it uses a lot of bright, saturated colours. Jimin is dressed very casually, in a simple graphic tee, jeans, and sneakers, but he's adorned with shiny jewelry and sparkling eye makeup, and surrounded by "fancy motifs" like angel wings, jeweled crowns, and statue busts filled with flowers. All Jimin has said about this chapter is that it's "an attempt [he hasn't] done in a while," though to me, it seems like he wants to show the dichotomy of his "unrefined" self and the "fairytale" world he finds himself in now — like he's contemplating how he ended up in a position where the public puts him on such a high pedestal when he sees himself as so pedestrian.
The fourth and final photoshoot is called, "White; Intactly." About this chapter, Jimin has stated that it "contains the most stories and is the one I worked on the most. I wanted to use mannequins to express my other personas in a simple and concise way. That's where it started and here we are now." This last chapter features two costumes of the same design, one in black and one in white. They're both form-fitting, featuring a turtleneck long-sleeved cut-out top over a tank top, patent leather pants, elbow-length gloves, heeled Chelsea boots, and metal accessories. His eye makeup is soft and diffused in warm tones and his lips have a subtle sheen, likely to contrast his complex outfits. This photoshoot heavily features the use of deer antler masks. Jimin hasn't mentioned what he wanted to convey with these, but if we look up the symbolism of deer antlers, it is said that, "Like a crown, the antlers grow beyond its body, bringing it closer to the sky and making it sacred. In many cultures, the deer is a symbol of spiritual authority. During a deer's life the antlers fall off and grow again and the animal is also a symbol of regeneration."
Finally, we get some extra items that come with the photobook. Each member has picked their own unique item to include in their photo books, and Jimin's is a folded accordion-style card that features pictures from all four of his photoshoots. As with all the photobooks, Jimin's also includes two photocards (one that comes with every single Jimin photo book and one that is randomized out of 3 options), a "postage stamp" sheet (honestly, I'm still not sure if these actually serve another purpose other than showcasing the members' photos in the style of postage stamps), a mini poster that features a photo from one of the member's photoshoots (the back side also features an image of the member, but is a puzzle piece to a bigger group photo), and a folded poster.
I absolutely adore this photobook series because the members have total creative control and we get to see them how they want us to see them. And I think, so far, Jimin has shown us the most about himself in the most raw, honest way possible across these four gorgeous photoshoots. "Persona," indeed.
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