Comments for Jessica Lawrence's Blog

Comment on Does Eminem’s “Love the Way You Lie” Send the Wrong Message? by PKSS

PKSS — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:36:28 +0000

Thank you for writing this! I heard this song today and it made me very sad and worried that domestic violence was being condoned and/or sensationalized. But I didn’t know how to put it into words -you and your bloggers really helped me work through this. With children of my own, it’s getting harder to listen to music of a younger generation with out worrying how it will affect them. I have to keep going back to the songs I listened to as a teen and ask myself if I heard them for the first time now as an adult would I worry about the messages.

Comment on The Crap-O-Meter by jessicahlawrence

jessicahlawrence — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:58:09 +0000

Thanks Taryn! I’m glad you like it!

Comment on The Crap-O-Meter by Taryn

Taryn — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:45:13 +0000

Congrats on un-crapping your blog. The new look is great! I enjoy reading what you have to say. Keep it up!

Comment on Pop Music Done Right: Just the Way You Are by Catina Mount

Catina Mount — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 15:18:18 +0000

If we were FB friends you would get a big fat “LIKE” on this post! Love the song …reminds me of the old school hip-hop, pop and R&B that I used to adore…..

Comment on Does Eminem’s “Love the Way You Lie” Send the Wrong Message? by Brett

Brett — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 06:35:50 +0000

Also to my understanding both Eminem and Rihanna said this is something they had to get off their chest.
Also sorry the grammar isn’t the best I’m on my phone

Comment on Does Eminem’s “Love the Way You Lie” Send the Wrong Message? by Brett

Brett — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 06:32:44 +0000

To the people complaining that she didn’t leave at the end. This video was showing the cycles an abusive relationship goes through. Fight, makeup, sex, fight ,makeup, etc. It shows how much of a messed up place she and him are in. Trust me guys this video was accurate I witnessed my parents go through this for about 2 years and its just all one big cycle. I vote this video was a step in the right direction.

Comment on Does Eminem’s “Love the Way You Lie” Send the Wrong Message? by Melissa Wardy

Melissa Wardy — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 04:42:11 +0000

With all due respect, Megan’s character seems to enjoy the violence, the rough dramatic sex, the drinking, and the intensity of the fighting. Early in the video she marches toward the door, only to turn around and start hitting the boyfriend. A fist goes through the wall, bodies get slammed up against the drywall, and then there is hot makeup sex. Cut to Rihanna, former poster girl for walking out (once the media catches her bloodied, cut, bruised face) as she sings “Just gonna stand here and watch me burn, well that’s alright because I like the way it hurts”. Major fail, whether this art is intended to be a PSA or not.

Megan’s character doesn’t ever try to leave for good or stand up for herself (without hitting) or reach for help. While out on a date with another guy at a pool hall, who gets beat up, she goes to a liquor store with the abusive boyfriend and is then seen the next morning at a motel kissing over the bottle of vodka they had stolen. Later Megan greets her abusive boyfriend at the door and welcomes him back with a beer, after he had apologizes with a teddy bear. There is a decisive, poignant moment at 3:07 where she makes a choice. She’s allowing him back (I don’t think that counts as being trapped) and is unable to keep his gaze, and for a faltering few seconds shows fear, disappointment, and reserve about having him back. He sees it and gets angry. They walk through the apartment, he throws things, she hides in the bathroom, and then he knocks her around. Next we hear to lyrics about him knowing it is all lies, tying her to a bed, and burning her. As they kiss.

I see very little catharsis in that.

Comment on Does Eminem’s “Love the Way You Lie” Send the Wrong Message? by 700stories

700stories — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 03:59:23 +0000

oh and in response to Megan’s character, yes she very directly does try to leave in this video.

Comment on Does Eminem’s “Love the Way You Lie” Send the Wrong Message? by 700stories

700stories — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 03:58:00 +0000

not every story has a happy ending… and i don’t think that should be expected in life.

a 14 year old, yeah they might not really understand what this song is about. actually they probably wouldn’t, but i still don’t think that makes it bad. if anything, they’ll talk about it and it’s up to the adults, older peers, etc. in their life to create an open dialogue about it.

I work in the music industry, and something that is really important getting across to new artists is that for music to be good, it has to be for YOU. People who are artists (vs. entertainers/performers) don’t create music for other people, they create it for themselves. That’s what makes it good. I think Eminem is one of those people.

The last point I’ll make is that music (at least for me) is about connection and emotion. Sure I can listen to the lyrics if I make a point to, but when I hear songs I’m really more so FEELING them. This song touches me, I can connect with it. The same way I could connect with Eminem’s music 10 years ago even though I did not connect with the lyrics. Even if the teens don’t fully understand the issue of domestic violence when they listen to this song… if they’re in a hard place themselves, they can still connect with the emotion in this song and I think that is really cathartic and important.

Comment on Does Eminem’s “Love the Way You Lie” Send the Wrong Message? by 4loves

4loves — Sat, 07 Aug 2010 01:14:07 +0000

As a teacher and the mother of 4, I think kids are sick of having happy endings painted for them. In our society many young people are living this experience through their parents, siblings, friends or through their own lives. I think kids want honesty. They want to see some truth reflected. I think the video showed two very broken people, trapped in a horrible situation. Yes, I am an adult and I can interpet the images, but as is the topic in many writings today, the sad hypersexualization of our children means many of them can see it too. As the Mother of three boys, I was kind of glad that it showed the abusiveness of the female as well as the male, as that is a little discussed reality.