In keeping with this week’s theme of literally violent femmes, Maroon Five’s music video, “Misery,” portrays a sadomasochistic, heterosexual relationship in which the female character physically abuses her significant other. The physical violence occurring within the context of heterosexual relationships demonstrates the role masochism plays in relationships that are inherently unequal. In light of the over-the-top physical abuse occurring in the music video, we are prompted with the questions: Is masochism a necessary element of heterosexual relationships? And what does the female character have to gain from asserting her dominance through means of violence?
The physical violence in the music video provides a visual representation of the power struggle that exists between women and men. Due to the social and economic inequalities that exist between men and women, heterosexual relationships inherently contain a masochistic element. Women experience this masochistic element as a result of loving the person who benefits from society’s imposition of limited social roles and unequal economic status on women. “Misery,” however, inverts the expectation of female masochism and instead presents a femme fatale, who refuses to play the role of devoted wife and loving mother that society prescribes. This angle on heteronormative relationships differs from the usual heartbroken-girl-crying-over-bad-boy trope in which the female character continues to return to a painful relationship even though she knows it will hurt her. By putting the female character in control of the relationship, she preserves her independence and frees herself from having to rely on her significant other for emotional and sexual fulfillment. To demonstrate her liberation from reliance on her significant other, the female character in the music video rejects all of the male character’s sexual advances, returning each advance with a violent parry. She asserts her dominance violently causing the relationship to be a source of both love and pain for the male character.
“Can’t touch this”
Despite the knowledge that the femme fatale other will inflict pain, the male character continually submits to the physical abuse. The repetitive lyric “I am in misery,” in conjunction with “Girl you really got me bad,” demonstrates the male character’s acknowledgement that his significant other causes him pain. However, the subsequent lyric, “I’m gonna get you back/ Gonna get you back,” shows that he willingly pursues the emotional and physical pain because of his attachment to her. Thus demonstrating that masochism and love walk hand in hand with another in the relationship.
I am in misery
There ain’t nobody
Who can comfort me
Why won’t you answer me?
The silence is slowly killing me
Girl you really got me bad
You really got me bad
I’m gonna get you back
Gonna get you back
The game of love
In this shot, the male character watches with a blank expression as the femme fatale plays the “knife game,” quickly stabbing the blade in between each of his fingers on the table. The femme fatales’ intent gaze on the male character’s expression (frighteningly not watching the destination of each stab of the knife) demonstrates the satisfaction she experiences as the person in the relationship who can inflict the pain. The physical abuse continues to occur up until the point that the male character refuses to engage anymore and gives up on the relationship, prompting the female character to walk away.
Due to the apparent failure of the relationship, did the female character gain from asserting her dominance through means of violence? She certainly succeeded at protecting herself from sliding into the submissive role that patriarchal society imposes upon women. However, the inevitable end of the relationship implies that women and men cannot peaceably coexist. The cycle of receiving and inflicting pain ultimately fails to correct the inequalities that exist between men and women and instead provides additional fuel to the fire by creating more conflict within heterosexual relationships.
Violent Femmes 2015 
I agree with your position about the masochism that exists in a heterosexual relationship. I also agree that by playing the role of the femme fatale, that the women in the end ultimately ends up losing the relationship all together. Adam Levine eventually gives up on the relationship after growing tired of all the abuse, and having to chase after her time and time again. I would compare this video to the Kill Bill movies in which we have Beatrix who is the depiction of the femme fatale, but her relationship with Bill is more complicated. While we understand that Bill is masochistic, it is tougher to see that side in Beatrix. Once she finally finds Bill, she seems reluctant to kill the man she once loved. She also gives him a swift death instead of prolonging his suffering which Bill had absolutely no problem doing to her. We also see her crying once it is over, making it clear that she did not enjoy what she had to do to him. This also somewhat falls in line with the video, however, as neither party wants to see the relationship end, but we understand that the girl does seem to enjoy the pain inflicted upon the male figure. Overall I agree with your analysis and the final determination that relationships cannot exist completely without unhappiness especially when there is inequality between the two side.
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While this text illustrates that masochism can exist for males and females, it also illustrates that both men and women can be the victim of domestic violence. Personally, I do not think the music video appropriately depicted domestic violence. The relationship between Adam Levine and his love interest is illustrated as comical and acceptable. How do you think the tone and reception of the video would differ if the roles had switched between the two? The story of abuse would not be taken as lightly. Rather this video broadcasts the idea of a female masochistic abuser as something that can be normalized because it is not seen as a real threat. Is there a way the video could have depicted a relationship between the two that could serve as a model for all who are involved in an abuse relationship?
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I agree with the above comment that the music video depicts domestic violence appropriately. Despite many findings that show almost equal amount of abuse perpetrated against men and women, the media and government focus the most attention on the female victims of domestic violence. Men are largely silent on the issue because of the perception that men are physically stronger and should be able to subdue a female attacker easily.
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