While the dictionary defines a date as “a social appointment, engagement, or occasion arranged beforehand with another person,” Hollywood defines it as a romantic evening of flowers, dancing, and fireworks shared between a beautiful couple. Romantic comedies and dramas have given us concrete examples of what a date should be, what a good boyfriend is, and what a good marriage is like. These ideals create unrealistic expectations, leaving us feeling dissatisfied with our relationships and ourselves. Hollywood is full of discrepancies. Issues include inaccurate accents, high schoolers looking like they’re thirty, and characters always having seemingly perfect skin and hair. In terms of romance, Titanic promotes the idea of “love at first sight.” …show more content…
Before you can even consider asking someone on a date, you must express your love by means of a Grand Gesture. According to Hollywood, if a man commits a horrible offense that’s led to the end of the relationship, or the woman decides she doesn’t want to be with him, he must come up with some bold, romantic move to show her that he’s sorry or that she should give him another chance. Movie examples include playing a boom box outside a window, serenading in public, interrupting weddings, and of course proposing/kissing/confessing your love in the rain. While in movies the girl always says yes to the Grand Gesture, in real life it can be ill-timed, manipulative, and a last ditch effort to save something broken beyond repair. Even at young age, the Grand Gesture starts setting expectations and can be seen in the extravagance of …show more content…
While Hollywood attempts to mirror society, a 2015 Gallup poll found that while fewer young adults are getting married, even fewer are in committed relationships. As a result, the percentage of young adults ages 18-29 who report being single and not living with someone has risen from 52% in 2004 to 64% in 2014. Young adults are avoiding not only relationships, but dating and much of that has to do with society pressures. It is easier to have a random hookup, than to commit. But despite this, Hollywood continues to sell us happy