Lana Del Rey Domestic Violence

In America, “nearly 5.3 million intimate partner victimizations occur annually against…women over 18” (Kintera). Domestic violence is no rare occurrence for young women, particularly in the target audience of singer Lana del Rey. Del Rey sings melodical tunes, paying homage to 1960’s stars with vintage vibes and soft vocals, that portray vivid adventures and lavish lifestyles. Recently, she has been criticized for her lyrics saying that she glorifies domestic violence based on select phrases in, namely, one of her songs. When looking at one individual phrase as singular, it may give the appearance of her glorifying a negative experience; but, when looking at her entire song and album in a more collective sense, it is apparent that she is showing …show more content…
This fear is not irrational, but instead it is extreme and relevant due to the fact that “males [account] for an average of 95.7% of the persons committing [the] violence.” (Kintera). Letting someone in personally can be incredibly difficult based on statistics like the ones mentioned previously. The women who fear this the most and are targeted mainly are within Lana del Rey’s target audience of young women emerging adulthood. Thus, those who criticize Del Rey for select verses in her songs, saying that they are “straightforward glorification of domestic violence” (TIME), believe that it may “tear up previously closed wounds” (Kahlo) of a listener who may be suffering through a similar situation, leading them to possibly be inclined to stay in the situation or to return to it. These critics believe that the strong, brave stories of overcoming an abusive relationship are the only stories of partner violence that should be shared as they give a “goal” for victims to aspire to. Although these stories are very important and helpful to victims, they are no more important than the stories of abuse and psychological damage that victims endure when in a violent relationship. The real life emotions that occur when in these relationships are relatable between individuals who have or are experiencing the same situations and emotions. While Del …show more content…
That’s not a good thing for young girls, even young people, to hear.” However, the “shirt-tugging, desperate” that Lorde is referencing is becoming increasingly more important to publicize. It is not being submissive and staying in an unhealthy and abusive relationship; instead, it is shedding light on the struggles women in those relationships have. These struggles are imperative to share because “many women return up to seven times before making a final break from the abuser”, making this issue more and more relevant to everyday women (Kintera). Ultraviolence as an album is “about the tortured, emotional violence of troublesome relationships” (TIME). It not only outlines physical abuse in the track “Ultraviolence”, but outlines drug abuse as well in the track “Pretty When You Cry” when she sings “all those special times/I spent with you, my love/they don’t mean shit/compared to all your drugs” (Ultraviolence). This track adds another level to Del Rey’s storyline, as she is addressing another serious issue that her target audience may face. She takes on the role of the victim, coming from their point of view, and portrays it in a way that embodies the conflicting emotions a victim has when they love their abuser but know they deserve better. This vantage point is equally as important due to its relevancy within individuals who are in abusive