MEST 4 - Text 1

The video, which was directed by Joseph Kahn.

Dominic Monaghan and Megan Fox personify the fiery relationship Eminem and Rihanna share in this song in it's video - displaying the never-ending cycle of love; starting with them both lying on the bed, then going through numerous fights and make-ups, before ending up in the same place they started at the beginning of the video: their bed. It can be misconstrued as promoting intimate partner violence.



While this is a narrative broadly about "domestic violence," it looks less like a classic domestic violence narrative in which there is one clear abuser and one clear victim of abuse, and more like an abuser's fantasy that reimagines the relationship as a mutually abusive relationship with passion that burns so hot there's a thin line between love/hate "Can't live with you; can't live without you." Which is not to say those relationships don't exist in the world, but I'm not sure they're as common as our media suggests they are. Marjorie Gilberg, executive director of Break the Cycle, which works to end teen violence. "The danger is that pop culture defines our social norms," Gilberg says.



Imagine watching this as a 15-year-old girl, long before you had the tools to critique it, and before you had any relevant experience to the subject matter. I imagine you would have found it less an admonishment against violence than a suggestion that this is what real love is like, because you was raised in a culture that constantly suggests that is so. And respect is boring.

Despite the controversy over the single, the song immediatley reached number one in most poplular music charts.

http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2010/08/discussion-thread-i-love-way-you-lie.html

Eminem raps while standing in a field of wheat, juxaposed to Rihanna standing in front of a fire. The connotations of a wheat field represents him to be innocent.

Rihanna stands in front of fire, instead of running away she stays, although rihanna has said she thinks Eminems lyrics are a masterpiece.

The music video stars Megan fox, actress and model, that in itself glamorises violence.

[Chorus - Rihanna]
Just gonna stand there and watch me burn
that’s alright because I like the way it hurts
just gonna stand there and hear me cry
that’s alright because 'i love the way you lie' (--> no one likes being lied to, a absurd idea is introduced: to accept bad treatment)
i love the way you lie

[chorus]

[Eminem - Verse 2]
'you ever love somebody so much you can barely breathe' (--> he is at times sweet)
when your with em you meet and neither one of you even know what hit em
got that warm fuzzy feeling
yeah them chills used to get em
now you’re getting fuckin’ sick of lookin’ at em
'you swore you’d never hit em, never do nothin’ to hurt em' (--> possible promises made by violent partners before)
now you’re in each other’s face spewin’ venom in your words when you spit em
you push pull each other’s hair
scratch, claw, hit em throw em down pin em
so lost in the moments when you’re in em
it’s the face that’s the culprit, controls you both
so they say it’s best to go your seperate ways
guess that they don’t know ya
cause today that was yesterday
yesterday is over, it’s a different day

' sound like broken records playin over ' (--> metaphor of the cycle : domestic violence)
but you promised her next time you’ll show restraint
'you don’t get another chance
life is no nintendo game,' (--> makes it clear that it is reality, real people, real lives) but you lied again
now you get to watch her leave out the window
guess that’s why they call it window pane

[Chorus]

[Eminem - Verse 3]
now I know we said things, did things, that we didn’t mean
and we fall back into the same patterns, same routine
'but your temper’s just as bad as mine is, you’re the same as me ' (--> they're both mutual on the level of physical violence)
when it comes to love you’re just as blinded
baby please come back, it wasn’t you, baby it was me
'maybe our relationship isn’t as crazy as it seems
maybe that’s what happens when a tornado meets a volcano' (--> suggests this kind of relationship is acceptable, although the song is a powerful reality of what women go through)
all i know is i love you too much to walk away though
come inside, pick up the bags off the sidewalk
don’t you hear sincerity in my voice when i talk?
told you this is my fault, look me in the eyeball
next time i’m pissed I’ll lay my fist at the drywall
next time there won’t be no next time
'i apologize even though i know its lies ' (--> even he knows his in the wrong because he apologises but his lying ; he won't change)

i’m tired of the games i just want her back
i know i’m a liar 'if she ever tries to fuckin’ leave again
i’ma tie her to the bed and set this house on fire'
(--> a violent expression of love)
[chorus]
[End]





Comments
(http://top40.about.com/b/2010/08/09/eminems-love-the-way-you-lie-video-stirs-controversy-over-depiction-of-domestic-violence.htm)

As a survivor of domestic abuse, I love the video. Music is meant to capture and express emotions and the video definitely does justice to emotions involved in domestic abuse. There is no “responsible way” to portray it. The video is an honest depiction of what it looks like on the inside. As far as Rihanna’s part in the song and her past with domestic violence, I don’t agree that she’s glorifying it. It makes the hook more honest. That’s why she was chosen for the song. To express the honest emotion. The video is a masterpiece.

August 17, 2010 at 12:48 pm


Cara
I found it kind of disturbing. Particularly the fact the girl would start the violence, the guy would retaliate and then they’d make passionate love. To me it was making it seem like their turbulent, violent relationship was one of passion and not of the terrifying reality of domestic violence. If they’d portrayed the girl (or even the guy) being beaten and humiliated, the victims suffering as a result and them leaving their violent partner and moving on with life, then it would have had a more positive message. As it is, this just made it look like they like it rough.

August 29, 2010 at 9:41 am

I personally disagree. Yes the words are really intense and disturbing but I think that was the point. It’s supposed to highlight the severity of abusive relationships. Mentally unstable people may hear this song and do what you think but “Well, Eminem and Rihanna said it in a song” is not going to stand up in court. People make their own decisions in the end and if they were going to hurt or kill their significant other they were likely already going to do it which is tragic.

July 2, 2010 at 10:43 pm

( http://justjared.buzznet.com/2010/08/05/eminem-rihanna-love-the-way-you-lie-music-video-premiere/ )

jdub @ 08/05/2010 at 9:21 pm +1

So I was sitting down about to watch it and right when Megan and Dominic started fighting, I jumped right up to get closer to the tv! Sooooo damn good!!! Ahhhh I’m a huge eminem and Megan Fox fan. I seriously love this video…

(Despite of the emotional and brutal clips of the relationship, this person/fan loves the video because who starts in it. )