It happens to me quite regularly. I will be sitting in front of the TV, eating a home cooked meal. Something warm and delicious; curried fish and pasta, or roasted chicken with garlic potatoes. A meal cooked with love, a 25 dollar plate had it been served at a restaurant. Then an advertisement for McDonalds comes on TV, and suddenly I want a McChicken burger more than I want anything else. The desire’s only there for a moment, and then I laugh at my inclination to be easily swayed.
Advertisement is a powerful thing. The media is a powerful thing. Numerous studies have shown how easily people’s thoughts and opinions are unconsciously influenced by the messages they hear on television and in magazines.
How are relationships portrayed in the media? What subliminal messages are we receiving about how to be with romantic partners?
We live in a society that is detached. As human beings we need to connect, we need to socialize. We are social creatures and we need each other, but we struggle with it, and we live in isolation (we call it independence).
The media picks up on this, and feeds off of it. Our need to find connection helps them sell things. There are so many shows out there about relationships. These shows exist to entertain us. To entertain that need to be with somebody.
There’s a big difference between entertainment and education, and so many people get their values and beliefs about relationships from entertainment as opposed to education. Shows like Sex and the City, and Two and a Half Men subliminally warp people into thinking differently about relationship. Men and women are portrayed as objects. A good relationship is one where the sex is really good, and no other criteria needs to be met. There is no emphasis on communication, or connection, or complimenting values. It’s mental garbage. And this mental garbage is painting a picture of how relationships ought to be. The entertainment that teaches us about relationships leaves out the part about values. It speaks nothing of belief systems, or of pulling people into your life who line up with who you are.
The TV shows, the movies, the magazines have been influencing our thoughts since we were children. I watched Cinderella. I was given the illusion that it would be a wonderful thing to be swept off my feet. But the education out there says it will never be that way. Prince charming does not just walk into your life, say two lines, and then marry you, allowing you to live happily ever after.
Be aware of the messages you are receiving.
Choose your influences.
