'War of Hormone by BTS' from a satire point of view
It’s important to understand that I’m not minimizing the controversy around the song back in 2015-2016 when it was considered very sexist, misogynist and a poor representation of female population.
I do believe these opinions are valid considering the lyrics can be interpreted in so many ways, however, this post main focus is giving the song a different side and seeing the lyrics as a satire.
the quotes in the introduction are from interviews, all credits are theirs.
the quotes from the analysis of the lyrics came from the song, all credits are theirs.
words that can be sensitive are overline.
In 2015, BTS released the song called 'War of Hormone' for their second album 'Dark & Wild'.
The song created a big controversy around the listeners and critics because the lyric was misogynist (some of the verses portrayed the female as guilty of males' sexist actions and hormonal imbalances and also, mention the beauty and female standards), considering the bts’ song as a problematic representation.
BTS has apologized for the lyrics and even in 2021, Kim Namjoon (leader of the group) recognized their mistake again and addressed the situation saying:
— “Personally, I received a lot of criticism about misogyny in 2015 and 2016; that led me to have my compositions reviewed by a professor of women's studies.”
— “That experience was an opportunity for me to reflect and question whether I had been insensitive regarding gender equality. I want to do my best to learn from the issue and improve. That is my perspective now.”
It’s important that people have accountability of their actions and try to improve them, the truth is that 'War of Hormone' wasn’t the only song that bts received criticism because of misogyny, 'Converse High' and 'Joke' were in the eyes too (even though, I will be talking about the one mention at the title).
Nowadays, the bts army is showing other way of interpreted the lyrics using the term known as satire.
And what ’s a satire? It’s a way of using exaggeration, irony and humor to criticize certain topics or people’s actions that can be represented as an issue.
𓍯 Defragmenting the lyrics
The song begins with a view that blames women for hormonal imbalances and therefore, the analysis of the lyrics will first address this misconception.
i. hormonal imbalances, male growth and female body.
— Because of who? Because of women. Because of who? Because of hormones.
— This female that drives me crazy, provokes me every day.
Few years ago, it was very common to think that hormonal imbalances in the male teenagers and sexist thoughts were because of the female gender, the reality is that hormonal imbalances are related to male growth and the sexist thoughts are fed by a depraved society.
— My eyes keep going to girls' tummies (Yup).
— Oh, I can't control myself every day. Your front view is the best, your back view is the best.
— Girl, every night, I guard my computer spot because of your temptations.
Address the depravity that society has instilled in people regarding the female body. And in reality, female bodies are similar to male bodies and should not be sexualized, nor are hormonal imbalances should be the cause of their sexualization.
Later in the lyrics, the female gender is blame again because of testosterone being altered and elevated. The truth is the testosterone appears because of sexual desire and the physical growth of men.
— But looking at you, I'm learning body architecture. The rise in my testosterone is getting heavy.
In other hand, the male mindset instilled from generation to generation leads them to believe that their bodily alterations are caused by "female provocation" because of certain clothes they are wearing, or certain way they speak or certain body expressions they are making.
— Girls' clothes that make me cough, cough, they're see-through, see-through.
— Her head, body, waist, legs, even the parts I can't say.
Reading all these lyrics makes it clear that back in 2015 there was a misconception about female bodies, provocation, and even the existence of women, associating it with the false belief that bodily and hormonal changes in men, inappropriate thoughts, and their ways of acting could be excused by "female provocation."
The reality is: society misconception and depravation. In the lyrics, this can be show using mocking sing and gestures.
ii. misconception of females
— Girls are equations, and we solve them.
— I study you, your existence is cheating,
The female stereotype imposed by the society says that during the teenage "women are difficult to understand due to emotional changes", therefore, it's men "work" to understand or make them feel better. Basically, it's like they are solving the female gender the same way we solve a mathematical equation.
We understand that a mathematical equation is known as very complex, complicated and difficult to solve, especially when you're learning about it for the first time. In these lyrics, BTS used the term of the equation to explain the complex of female's actions, thoughts and beliefs.
And through all the lyrics, it's mentioned very often this perspective of the female gender, such examples as:
— I'm not interested in girls who just want to play around and break up.
— Girls that are frozen icebergs? Let it go.
— If beauty standards are the ocean, you're an extreme. You're a cultural treasure of beauty that should be preserved by the nation.
The reality it's that the human being is very complex, but it is not exclusive of a specific gender. Society have made us believe that females are the ones complicated, they often don't know what to wear, what they want to eat, what they like, what they mean by saying "yes" or "no" or that they should be seeing like pearls and diamonds or a "unique creature".
It is exhausting for females keep fighting with this misconception when the truth is every gender is like this, and we all should be appreciate just because we are beings.
— Women are the best, Gifts, gifts.
It was very common to visualized women as an accompaniment to man, therefore, terms like "gifts" are used and focused on the visual perspective of a female: they are "gifts" to men, they give them company and make their life better.
Reality is society (again) implied to men since their youth that women are the "weak gender" and because of this, they aren't stronger or better. Even society implied the idea to men that women can be a "collection".
iii. male standards by society
In the song, it can be shown that society implied men the standard of "be THE man" and more, these can be represented in the ways a men should like women bodies, what they should like of women or how they should treat them.
— Please call me, I'll buy you dinner.
The truth is in nowadays women are very independent, they can buy their own dinner, clothes and more. Human being doesn't need another human being for living except a baby or someone with mental disabilities or sickness.
— And I'll be a man of you, you, you, babe.
— As a man, saying I'm not interested would be beyond ridiculous.
And being a man doesn't men exactly liking women or confused "giving/buying things" to be worth it. Society can teach the term of "be a gentleman" in the correct way, it's not an obligation but a manners situation.
And personally, women can be a "gentleman" too if we stick to the term, the reality is all of these concepts inside that term are general manners.
Considering the mimics and the way the song is being sang, it can be interpreted by as a social critic for misconception of females, males, hormones in society.
Even the next lyric can be interpreted as a way of mocking hormones and what they truly cause (not misogyny or sexist acts).
— Tonight again, after fighting with my hormones, I pop my pimples.
Maybe in 2015-2016 it could have been seen as a satire; however, the lyrics were not correctly used or express the idea in the best way.
By understanding and analyzing the lyrics better, relating them to a patriarchal society forged over many years, we can now consider the song as a satire, full of lyrics about men's perspectives on women, high hormone levels, and the patriarchal opinions instilled in children until adulthood.
