Kanye West's "Runaway" - The Teacup Scene

This scene seems to show Griffin pulling the Phoenix fully from her naïveté and innocence in the garden. There she was entranced by everything around her and clearly knew practically nothing about Earth. It could be argued that the scene “All of the Lights” portrays her shedding that initial innocence and being shown everything from fairly ordinary pleasures (such as fireworks) to some of the evil in this world (in the form of the KKK) to her own apparent sexual awakening. It follows, then, that this scene with the teacup may be interpreted as her being shown that now that she has some knowledge of the ways of the world, she has to conform to some of the rules of the society that governs it.

The black panelled wall behind her and the vignette style lighting of the scene are suggestive of a stage and could indicate that she is learning to put on a façade or to act in a way that would not come naturally to her. The objects on the table (which include multiple white candles, gold and white porcelain, and a bowl of roses) all display, to some extent, how man controls his environment. The candle flames are smaller, controlled versions of the explosion that the Phoenix caused when she came to Earth. They might represent any rebellious or wild facets of her nature that are now being pulled into line by Griffin. The porcelain represents society; seemingly beautiful, yet cold and unforgiving. There is only one correct way to use the porcelain, as shown by her attempts with the teacup, and similarly, society is portrayed as having only one correct way for a person to fit in. Finally, the bowl of roses signifies man’s dominion over nature; he decides what parts of it are beautiful or useful and discards all of the rest.

The physical placement of the characters in this scene also communicates control to the audience. The Phoenix is perched on her gilt chair and seems to be uncomfortable or ill at ease in her surroundings – she constantly twitches and flinches when handling the teacup and offers unsure glances and smiles to Griffin. He, on the other hand, stands stony-faced behind the other gilt chair and is not seen for the majority of the scene. It appears that he does not move either to leave or to offer help to the Phoenix. The difference in their levels and the Phoenix’s constant deference to Griffin is a clear indicator of where the power lies in their relationship.

The lesson being taught to the Phoenix in this scene is clearly learnt before the start of the next as her demeanour has changed entirely between the two; she enters the banquet wearing (man-made) jewellery and shoes, exuding confidence and sits like a regular person rather than in the crouching position of the previous scene. Despite this, her feathers cannot be hidden and it is this aspect, rather than her acquired “humanity” that everyone notices. In this way, it is shown that one’s inner self can never be entirely hidden.