I was watching the weekend edition of Showbiz Extra tonight, and it introduced the following song by Seeya, Davichi, and T-ARA (Eun Jung, Hyo Min) -- Wonder Woman.
Who wrote the lyrics?
I find the lyrics express girl power--an aggressive, brash, self-centered feminism that exudes a false confidence. But maybe that's the English translation. The dance and the consumerism that is present in the lyrics highlight the materialism that underlies feminism, and the song as a whole sends mixed messages. The song proclaims that women can keep themselves busy with activities (and realize they do not need a man to be happy?)--not work, but shopping, going out and having fun with their girlfriends, and so on. The song seems to acknowledge that women can live without a man temporarily, but it also seems to be saying that there are plenty of fish in the sea, so that a bad breakup isn't the end of the world. If women didn't need men, would the singers need to flaunt themselves through their dancing? The song's rather casual dismissal of the heartache of a breakup might be good-intentioned, but that might be true of everything else in the song. The pain that a woman experiences when a relationship is ended, and hints at what is wrong with the modern practice of dating. It also points to what is the calling for most women--to be united with a man in marriage (and to raise a family). Instead of criticizing contemporary notions of romantic love, the song celebrates an individualistic, consumerist lifestyle for women. The song may not go to the extreme of saying women are better off without a man, but it is difficult to see why one shouldn't accept this conclusion.
As for female solidarity and loyalty -- how can a friendship that is founded on opposition to the opposite sex be deep and meaningful? It rarely lasts, once women become competitive with one another for a male they value. And when the lyrics mention fashionable clothing and accessories, I think of how women buy such things more to impress other women than men, and to have the appearance of superiority to other women. There is much confusion in the song. (I would find it humorous if a man wrote it.)
"You'll live for yourself as you think and as your heart goes... Pretty sweet hot girl... Enjoy life pretty girl pretty girl."
I'll be the first to admit that as a male I enjoy watching the music video, but the lyrics are poisonous, and this is what the entertainment industry in South Korea is feeding the youth? How can this not have consequences for Korean society down the road?
If women do not respect the Natural Law, sex differences, and the limits of nature, more likely than not they will end up getting hurt (and used) in their "relationships" with men.
Seeyas, Davichi, and T-Ara collaborated last year on another song, "Women's Generation":
I didn't check out the lyrics until now -- this song too promotes consumerism and materialism. The song proclaims that confidence is born through making an object of one's self to others. American radical feminists will not like it because of its emphasis on appearance and beauty, instead of getting the right education and career ; people will sense will object that confidence should come from strength of character. Even though "Women's Generation" is more focused on a woman's appearance, it is still similar to "Wonder Woman" in its ideals--the narcissism present in both should be disturbing.
This all got me thinking about SNSD, Girls' Generation (소녀시대). Will they change their names to NSD, Women's Generation, when they finally consider themselves to be adults? Calling themselves girls might be cute and promotes a certain image which is appealing to their fanbase, and the marketing of young, innocent female idols isn't new in East Asia. Still, they seem to be walking that narrow line between naive teenager and sexy woman that Britney Spears once walked (as noted by many cultural observers). But this isn't new for the entertainment industry in Korea either, in our sexed up age. Young "innocent" women do not grow up into mature ladies -- they transform into sexy women who know about the power of their sexuality and use it to sell.
Korean dramas and movies are known for being sad and tragic -- one might think that after war and division, people would realize that what the important things in life are. The young might be excused for not having experienced the war and poverty, but what about their parents and grandparents? Materialism is not an answer to a spiritual vacuum, and perhaps the overemphasis on sad stories in Korean television and movies is a symptom of a disordered culture. Korean audiovisual entertainment may not yet be mawkish, but its sentimentalism, instead of being cathartic, may instead by self-indulgent.
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