Wednesday, December 9, 2015

If I Were a Boy, I'd Make Logical Fallacies

 
If I were a boy, even just for a day, you would realize the statement highlighted in yellow is a fallacy of confusing cause and effect. Beyoncé states in the song "you don't care how it hurts until you lose the one you wanted 'cause you're taking her for granted" in which she assumes the statement in parenthesis is caused by this same statement. She assumes that the guy does not care about how much he is hurting the girl throughout the relationship until it is too late. Another statement, the one highlighted in red, is a sweeping generalization. She assumes that every guy acts in a similar manner in the relationship as this guy does in this highlighted section. This is done throughout the song. In an analysis on this song, one blogger writes "she also finds that most guys do not care whether or not their significant others are suffering because of their actions." This is yet another sweeping generalization as well as a harsh generalization.  Beyoncé is able to get this point across through the use of pathos, especially with the aid of her music video where you see images of the pain she and the guy are going through when they switch shoes. She also uses it through phrases of "I'd listen to her, because I know how it hurts." Here she relates to her audience understanding the pain they feeling and creating a bond. Beyoncé is able to create a very good argument with empowerment, even through her logical fallacies.

If I were a boy even just for a day
I'd roll out of bed in the morning
And throw on what I wanted and go
Drink beer with the guys
And chase after girls
I'd kick it with who I wanted
And I'd never get confronted for it
'Cause they stick up for me

If I were a boy
I think I could understand
How it feels to love a girl
I swear I'd be a better man
I'd listen to her
'Cause I know how it hurts
When you lose the one you wanted
'Cause he's taking you for granted
And everything you had got destroyed

If I were a boy
I would turn off my phone
Tell everyone it's broken
So they'd think that I was sleeping alone
I'd put myself first
And make the rules as I go
'Cause I know that she'd be faithful
Waiting for me to come home

To come home...

If I were a boy
I think I could understand
How it feels to love a girl
I swear I'd be a better man
I'd listen to her
'Cause I know how it hurts
When you lose the one you wanted (wanted)
'Cause he's taking you for granted (granted)
And everything you had got destroyed

It's a little too late for you to come back
Say it's just a mistake
Think I'd forgive you like that
If you thought I would wait for you
You thought wrong

But you're just a boy
You don't understand
Yeah you don't understand, oh
How it feels to love a girl
Someday you wish you were a better man
You don't listen to her
You don't care how it hurts
Until you lose the one you wanted
Cause you're taking her for granted
And everything you had got destroyed

But you're just a boy!

1 comment:

  1. Hmmm... trying to decide if this is a hasty generalization... (haha kidding - good work!)

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