Love the Way You Lie Analysis

How does the technical elements of this clip enhance the representation of gender roles in this video? In the first shot of the video there is a close up shot on Rihanna's face, showing she as a woman is of importace. A crane shot is then used to show the the featuring man and woman in bed in an embrace showing they re both content and of an equal status at that current moment. Futher into the video we see conflict in a medium shot of the couple fighting in the same bed that there were previously at peace in. showing that both have dominance and are contributing to the fight as they are both participating in the fight. A two shot is then displayed showing the girl leaving with purpose and him wanting her back and following her trying to chase her and stop her from leaving. This shows that the female is being represented as being of desire and importance to the man as he is wanting her back. This then turns into pan of the two fighting, but this time it is the man who is dominant over the woman, as he is initiating the fight and she is resisting and not fighting bak showing he has power and authority over her, suggesting the woman has a potential fear of him. With the use of transitions the couple are then back together and displaying their love and lust towards each other, showing they are both nieve and do not hold their angry emotion for a long period of time, the use of golden lighting behind them streaming through the window intensifies their moment together and proves they are both currently wanting the same thing as men and woman. The man is shown in a field, a wide open space, letting out his emotion and anger which is portrayed through a high action shot, showing he is of small size in comparision to the location he is in, suggesting that maybe his personal problems are of little importance. Throughout the video there are snippets of Rihanna in a medium shot with an alight back round signing with strong emotion, proving her opinion is valid as a woman and that she is of importance. Later The man is incorporated into the scene also, but he is behind Rihanna showing he is inferrer to her, and that she has dominance over him. In the final shot of the video, it is a repeat of the couple in an embrace in bed, again content and at peace, this shows their issues have been resolved and that they are now again at an equal status despite their conflict.