For myself, I can’t really say that the media is a causal factor. I think it might just be a case of art imitating life, rather than film influencing values.
I would say that most relationships which are depicted as desirable in movies are, in fact, dysfunctional. When I see people watching them without recognizing that the relationship is actually dysfunctional and glossing over unfortunate implications, I feel irritated. It’s also a constant source of values dissonance for me.
Simple stuff, like the notion that people who are alone are necessarily unhappy, sex negativism, black and white thinking (either s/he’s The One or s/he’s a terrible person), etc...and in general, there are so many love stories that do not depict any actual love or even altruistic behavior. Which would be fine, except it’s done with absolutely no self awareness of that fact on the part of the writer or the audience. They think they’re depicting a good situation.
I’d add that romances in movies (which are necessarily constrained in development time by the length of the format) tend to involve characters making grand gestures or major commitments while in a state of limerence without demonstrating fundamental compatibilities which would suggest good long term prospects.
For myself, I can’t really say that the media is a causal factor. I think it might just be a case of art imitating life, rather than film influencing values.
I would say that most relationships which are depicted as desirable in movies are, in fact, dysfunctional. When I see people watching them without recognizing that the relationship is actually dysfunctional and glossing over unfortunate implications, I feel irritated. It’s also a constant source of values dissonance for me.
Simple stuff, like the notion that people who are alone are necessarily unhappy, sex negativism, black and white thinking (either s/he’s The One or s/he’s a terrible person), etc...and in general, there are so many love stories that do not depict any actual love or even altruistic behavior. Which would be fine, except it’s done with absolutely no self awareness of that fact on the part of the writer or the audience. They think they’re depicting a good situation.
I’d add that romances in movies (which are necessarily constrained in development time by the length of the format) tend to involve characters making grand gestures or major commitments while in a state of limerence without demonstrating fundamental compatibilities which would suggest good long term prospects.