A commercial I saw on YouTube used the term “romcom”. I confess I didn’t know what that meant, so I looked it up on YouTube. While viewing the posting, I found this gem:
On society today
With the increase of romantic comedy movies, there has been an apparent change in the way society views romance. Researchers are asking whether the romances projected in romantic comedies are preventing true love in real life. The increase in use of technology has also led the society to spend a great amount of time engaging in mediated reality and less time with each other. Even though researchers have only started to explore the impact of romantic comedy films on human romance, the few studies conducted have already shown correlation between romantic comedies and the love delusion. Romantic comedies are very popular. They depict relationships that some scholars think affect how people view relationships outside of this virtual world.
The illusion of love
In the past, love has not always been the real reason for people coming together. In some cultures, arranged marriages were common to adhere to and propagate caste systems or to join kingdoms. Today, love is the root of all romance, and it is over-emphasized through these films. It tells viewers that love conquers all and will ultimately bring a never-ending happiness that is rarely affected by any conflict. When people do not experience the romance portrayed in these movies, they often wonder what they are doing wrong. Although people should be able to tell between an overly romanticized love and realistic love, they are often caught up in constantly trying to echo the stories they see on screen. While most know that the idea of a perfect relationship is unrealistic, some perceptions of love are heavily influenced by media portrayals.
Conducted research
A study was conducted at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh to understand this phenomenon. They studied 40 top box-office films released between 1995 and 2005 to establish common themes. Then they asked hundreds of people to complete a questionnaire to describe their beliefs and expectations in romantic relationships. Researchers found that people who enjoyed movies such as You’ve Got Mail, The Wedding Planner, and While You Were Sleeping often failed to communicate with their partners effectively. They also believe that if someone is meant to be with you, then they should know your needs without you telling them. Although this study is just one of a handful, it shows a correlation of how people’s expectations are distorted through watching romantic comedies.
My Observations
I would say that these romantic movies are a contributing factor in the high divorce rate. People have developed some very unrealistic expectations for marriage. I would also blame gay marriage on this phenomenon, because gays feel that their love for one another deserves to be celebrated through marriage. We think marriage is about falling in love and the strong feelings we have for one another. The reality is, marriage is a contract. It is designed by God to insure that the human race is perpetuated, and that children are brought up properly by committed parents, instead of the State or by The Street.
I would also add pop music to this, to a degree. Music exposes the strong emotions brought about by falling in love and glorifies it. This is the purpose of music, to illustrate strong emotions and relive them. The balance of this is that if it is understood that falling in love is a temporary phenomenon (which anyone married for more than 5 years understands), there is little harm from this glorification. The problem is that unless you know this fact about marriage, there is a danger that you will get divorced because “the love is gone” and will seek another partner to get back that “loving feeling”. Children NEED committed cisgender parents.
