The music video for Eminem’s Love The Way You Lie is a conceptional video as it portrays conventions from both a Performance and Narrative video. Within just the first couple of seconds in the music video the first artist is introduced (Rihanna) by an extreme close up and she is stood singing in front of a house on fire. As she is stood lip syncing to the camera, we can instantly tell that this has aspects of a performance video. Within the next few seconds, we are introduced to two characters by a wide angle shot, a boy (Dominic Monaghan) and a girl (Megan Fox) who are lying in a bed. We can now establish as an audience that Megan and Dominic are the two main protagonists portraying the narrative conventions of the video. The lyrics sang by Rihanna in the first section of the music video reflect massively with what is being shown in Megan and Dominic's relationship. Then Eminem is introduced with a medium long shot and starts to sing his verse. Just as with Rihanna and Megan, the lyrics that Eminem start to sing correspond with what Dominic is feeling in the relationship. After just the first few seconds within the video we can again establish that Eminem and Rihanna present the performance conventions of the video.
As the video progresses, we learn about the relationship between both characters and as you can see in the image on the top, is abusive and unhealthy. This is illustrated by the wide angle shot of Megan on top of Dominic. Throughout the rest of the music video the story of their relationship is developing, and we learn about the continuous abuse that they face. The front shot of Rihanna singing and directly looking in the camera shows the audience her emotions and it could be a message about how she isn’t cared for in her relationship as she sings to the lyrics. This can also be known as a hybrid video as the lyrics tell a story as well as the actions and pictures presented. However, these factors also portray conventions of a performative music video which it is but is also a narrative music video. The factors of a narrative music video are illustrated by Dominic and Megan as they tell the story of their relationship. In the next clip with Dominic and Megan we can see Dominic push Megan up against the wall and then furiously punch a hole into the wall which conveys the male dominance in this relationship and the female vulnerability which is shown in her positioning.
The videos key message revolves around the toxic and destructive nature of a dysfunctional relationship. It highlights the cycle of abuse, the intense emotions involved, and the consequences of staying in such a relationship. This video also shed light on the impact of domestic violence and the struggles faced by those caught in its grip. Another message in the music video is the portrayal of the power dynamics within a toxic relationship. It shows how one person can exert control and manipulate the other, leading to a cycle of violence. The video also emphasizes the importance of breaking free from this cycle and finding the strength to leave an abusive relationship. It serves as a reminder that love should never be associated with pain and that everyone deserves to be treated with respect and kindness.
This music video could also be a self referential video as Rihanna could be talking about a more personal topic on her relationship with Chris Brown. In February 2009 it was found out that Chris Brown was arrested for physically abusing Rihanna. In a new film documentary, Chris Brown: Welcome to My Life, he goes into detail about the abusive relationship, saying he “felt like a f***ing monster”. He said that he had intended to marry Rihanna, but that he lost her trust after he lied about a sexual encounter with someone who worked with him, that happened prior to their relationship. “She hated me after that. I tried everything, she didn’t care. She just didn’t trust me after that,” he said. “From there, it just went downhill because there were too many verbal fights, physical fights as well. Mutual sides... We would fight each other. She would hit me, I would hit her and it never was OK. After all this was out and Eminem approached Rihanna to be apart of his song she said that she felt deeply connected with the lyrics because of her abusive relationship with pop-star Chris Brown.
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