Toxic Relationship in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind And We Can’t Be Friends

Abstract

This   study  explores   the  representation  of  toxic  love  relationships  that  cause emotional distress and leave deep scars. This study chooses two cross-media works, the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) and Ariana Grande’s song We Can’t be Friends (Wait for Your Love)(2024), because these two works explore the dynamics of toxic love relationships. This study focuses on how these two works represent the theme of toxic love relationships, comparing the similarities highlighted and how the differences in approach are used to construct the meaning of destructive relationships. This study uses narrative as an analytical framework to examine how the plot, symbols, and storytelling structure are constructed in both the film and the song to represent emotional conflict. The method used is qualitative and comparative analysis with a close reading approach to both works, allowing for the identification of prominent narrative elements. The results show that although the two works are different in form, both are able to emphasize the destructive side of toxic love from their  respective  perspectives.  The  film  depicts  toxic  love  with  the  ambiguity of  a complicated and endless relationship, while the song depicts clarity and self- acceptance in escaping from a toxic romantic relationship.