It takes guts to shake the status quo and protest against an exploitive system at a career point where most would simply play it safe. Taemin, after his almost 18-year-long industry ordeal, decides to bring up the heavy topic of systemic child exploitation, which in his case started as early as 12 years old, tucking it inside a “sexy player” trope. Why? My collection explores this exact journey from innocence loss to the regaining of one’s sexuality. What one can’t say with words, one shows with actions. They defy shame, embrace taboo, channel their rage through passion, all gestures of an erotic rebellion just so they can get to a stand point of self-love and self-redefinition. In the narrative, guilt becomes the sole mechanism of control, a tool used to keep the individual obedient, ashamed, and easily shaped, which is why I’m also looking into the possibility of cognitive dissonance, where the self experiences a disconnect between their actions and their values, resulting in contrasting and inexplicable behaviour.