1. Unit 29 – Music Video Production
Music Video Analysis Worksheets
Music Video Analysis - Violence
Song Title: Love the way you lie
Artist: Eminem ft Rihanna
Directions: As you closely watch the music video, answer the following questions with
as much detail as possible.
1. Describe any violent lyrics in the song:
There are numerous violent lyrics throughout this song for example “You push, pull each others
hair, scratch, claw, bit 'em, Throw 'em down, pin 'em, so lost in the moments when you're in 'em”
therefore anchoring the narrative of this particular music video which is about a heterosexual
couple trapped in a love/hate relationship consisting of domestic violence.
2. Describe any violent body language:
Throughout the narrative of video there are a number of aggressive body languages such as
facial expressions displayed from both the male and female characters, therefore creating
aggressive representations of both genders therefore breaking the stereotype of venerable
women and going against the ideology that men are more aggressive than women. Throughout
the video it cuts from the narrative to the artist Eminem who also displays aggressive body
languages such as his facial expressions and throwing his fists in the air whilst rapping, which not
only emphasizes the themes of hate, anger and violence throughout this video, but also is
stereotypical of the rap genre which often portrays angry and aggressive representations of
men.
3. Describe any violent actions or weapons that are shown:
Although there are not any weapons shown throughout this music video, there is a lot of
fighting between the two characters within the narrative. For example in the beginning scene
the female character punches the male and spits in his face therefore he reacts by pulling her
hair and pinning her on the bed, hitting her. The aggressive and violent representation of the
female breaks away from the stereotypical venerable and naïve representations of women in
abusive relationships, and also portrays both the male and female in this relationship as victims,
therefore going against the stereotypical abusive relationship, in which men are usually seen to
be the aggressors and the female seen to be the victim. There is also a scene where the female
speaks to another man in a bar and as a result the male in the relationship hits the man over the
head with a glass, therefore creating a controlling and jealous representation, creating the
ideology that women belong to men.
4. Describe any self-mutilation or violence:
5. What’s the message of the song?
The message of this song is about an abusive relationship consisting of violence and in spite of
all the physical and emotional pain, the two still love each other and therefore stay together.
6. What type of music is the song?
Rap/Hip-Hop