One of the downfalls of sharing a house with your family is that you don’t always get control of what television show is on the TV, what food is for breakfast, lunch or dinner and even the genre of music that is blaring from the computer speakers what seems like 24/7. Yet recently my brothers’ obsession for r’n’b and rap music has meant i have been listening to a lot of songs i generally don’t get much exposure to and so very hard hitting messages when you reach past all the swearing. One song in particular that has interested me is Eminem’s latest single featuring Rhianna “Love the Way You Lie”.
It has become more of a trend in the past few years for artists and musicians to incorporate ideas and and issues that are seen as taboo into the media. From Lady Gaga and Christina Aguliera’s open portrayal of BDSM in their film clips to a blatant advocacy of alcohol and drug misuse – as in the case of Ke$ha – but definitely one issue that is time and time again swept under the rug is the issue of domestic violence. That domestic violence has become a widely untalked about issue makes Eminem’s latest single even more powerful in its honesty and powerfully set out lyrics.
I guess one thing that depicts the honesty of this song is that the two collaborating artists, Eminem and Rhianna, have both been the centre of domestic violence incidents in the recent past and for that their words speak much louder than a simple listing of stats. The film clip for this song stars Megan Gale and Dominic Monaghan as a couple caught up in a cycle of aggressive domestic violence and intense romance. The clip favours neither one as being the aggressor but reflect a clash of two tempers that create disharmony but also intensity.
It is interesting to point out that this song doesn’t set itself up to prevent or promote domestic violence, but rather it recounts from the perspective of a person caught up in a relationship that does have its periods of violence, but also includes times of great love and romance. While domestic violence is something society abhors, not much effort has ever gone into how people in these relationships feel. While in no way am i advocating a domestic violence relationship, it is interesting to use the lyrics to empathise with a couple that feel so intensely about each other that their lives spiral out of control. The lyrics
“Cause when it’s going good
It’s going great
I’m Superman
With the wind in his bag
She’s Lois Lane
But when it’s bad
It’s awful
I feel so ashamed
I snap
Who’s that dude
I don’t even know his name
I laid hands on her
I’ll never stoop so low again
I guess I don’t know my own strength”
reflect the extremes of emotion. It is something to consider the message portrayed here is the same expression society uses when it comes to change and decision, “as long as the good out weigh the bad”. Yet again society is challenged to examine the way it views itself when it comes to an actual understanding of a domestic violence situation.
Another thing that struck me while listening to the lyrics was the tone of the verses where the persona is so disgusted with his actions and swears he doesn’t want to do it at all. This depiction of an inner battle reflects and image of humanity and personality to what society would condemn as a monster yet also reflects the brutality and vicious nature of the beast within.
The film clip complements the lyrics perfectly in a display of inner confusion and extremes between romance and violence with some moving scenes like the image of peace and love as the couple trace “I love you’s” in the sunlight contrasted with images of punch holes in the wall and black eyes.
All in all i find that this song has much to say to today’s society about domestic violence and its repetitive cycle and challenges us to examine how we look and condemn people who refuse to leave abusive relationships and deny any ability to love beyond abusive treatment. If you haven’t seen the video for this song i recommend you check it out and think about your opinion of domestic violence and whether today’s society has taken a strong enough stand to care for those people ho are suffering and work at stamping it out all together and not just sweeping it under the rug.
Thats all from me, sorry if it ran round in circles several times there, i apologise, im still getting used to this blogging thing.
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Macanuts
Macanuts's Miscellaneous Musings 