Hi Finch!! I adored how happy and cuddly everyone was from the most recent concert (also: Jimin was *glowing*, my goodness), but I just wanted to hear your thoughts on the jikook hug? People thought it looked a bit weird/off on kook’s part bc he looked more carefree and less awkward when hugging namjoon. I’m personally not really stressed nor thinking too hard about it, but I know that some more unsavory types are doing the whole “jk hates jm” thing again so that is annoying to see 😓
2nd Anon asked:JK looking “uncomfortable” during the surprise hug today is being discussed widely. I’d say he looked caught of guard and maybe this ties into what you have said about restraint? KM are all about back hugs and mentioning each other anytime they can but this was a surprise frontal hug with an I love you attached to it.
This is another one of those times when I arrive to tumblr, see it ablaze, and I wonder what in the world happened while I was gone. Once again, I’m bewildered. It’s like fans have never seen Jungkook before. It’s like this is your first experience ever seeing Bangtan’s concert behavior.
I suppose I shouldn’t be very surprised because I’m now familiar with how different my interpretation of JK’s body language is to many. I referred to ‘baseline’ in my Jungkook’s Gaze post. I frequently see fans using the behavioral baseline of other people to read JK’s behavior instead of using JK’s own baseline to read him. This doesn’t work, my friends!
To me, Jungkook is not awkward in this hug.No matter how many times I watch it, I can’t see what others are seeing.
If anyone is awkward in this situation, it’s Jimin. I can’t be the only one seeing this, can I?
Context, as always, is important here. The context is that the affection is all directed at Namjoon. First of all, KM gives him cheeky dimple-pinches at the start of his ment. Then NJ’s little speech talks about how long and boring the summer has been, but the two days of concerts were the one good thing that came of it. Then he prompts BTS to hug, knowing that they’ll make fun of him or laugh at him for saying it. And they do, they start taking turns hugging him and being goofs (and I melted ^^). All focused on Namjoon, Namjoon, Namjoon. And then he beckons everyone in for a group-hug before it gets too out-of-hand, because they’re all very playful and messing with each other. It’s a hugging spree. YG and SJ were spazzing, TH gives SJ repeated butt-smacks. It’s a lot.
Then they’re breaking apart back to their positions naturally so NJ can finish his ment and they can move on.
But Jimin, being the extra extra love-kitten he is, wants more hugs out of it. So he goes to TH for a quick hug and to JK for a quick hug and might have even gone for Hobi, but I see NJ could be gesturing for him to go back and Jimin finally reels himself in to take his place because he’s drawing it out faaaar too much (I’m still melting ^^). At last, NJ can finish up and move onto the next speaker.
For me, JK’s body language at the impromptu hug is clearly patient amusement at how extra Jimin is being. It’s extremely cute. When JK is awkward about this kind of thing his typical baseline is to freeze, turn away, or flinch. That’s not happening here. He meets the hug, gives JM a comforting pat like ‘it’s okay you’re being extra for more hugs right now, but lets get back to NJ’s ment’ with a little smile on his face. They had also just had there arms around each other side-by-side in the group-hug, so JM was doubling up with the added hug.
Aside from this, darlings, when has JK ever been overtly affectionate onstage? The only times I can think of are when it’s planned~~like the 21st Century Girl moments or the heavy fanservice in Japan. Concerts are probably the most distinctly work-like thing BTS does. That and interview/variety show appearances. At work, JK is focused and pretty closed-off to affection. KM may be very attentive or satelliting around each other for concerts, but JK especially isn’t going to initiate or reciprocate anything loudly. He’ll throw a back-hug at hyung-line on occasion, or accommodate V/Min when they get handsy with him, but he’s otherwise subtle with his affections.
I’m a little alarmed how certain narratives take shape around here.I understand why it happens, but~~it alarms me.Everyone take a deep breath with me?
Aaaahhhhhh~~~
You may see this situation differently than I do. That’s perfectly fine.If you see awkward JK, you see awkward JK.But lets remember singular interpretations are rarely the whole story.Lets be more open to human behavior being awkward and messy sometimes~~and simultaneously not some deeply meaningful event to hyper-scrutinize. I’ve shared awkward hugs with siblings and relatives. That had nothing to do with not loving them or changed feelings. Sometimes that’s just how it goes and there’s nothing deeper about it.
Watching it again, I still don’t see it. *sigh*I need to get my Jungkook body language posts finished~~
