It seems like we are constantly bombarded with health related news telling us that modern people are, in general, far more depressed than they were in years gone by. We have made such advances in the fields of science (be it astronomy, medicine, technology or others), yet we seem to be regressing in terms of our mood. Logic would dictate that that the more we understood, the better we would be able to achieve this magic ideal of happiness. It seems as though the opposite is true.
However, one must not be quick to see cause and effect when, in reality, the explanations probably lie elsewhere. The increase of our understanding does not necessarily result in diminished happiness. I see other things at work here.
One factor of modern life that I believe needs to accept some of the responsibility is the entertainment industry: mostly movies and TV. While I completely appreciate the role these media outlets play in escapism or pushing boundaries they have had a massive impact on 21st century culture. Think about it. The current generation (myself, I hate to admit, included) have become so accustomed to the narratives of TV shows and the movies that we have subconsciously come to expect the outcomes of those narratives. While, of course, on a conscious level we are aware that the movie we are sitting in front of is not reality, and that it's all just a bit of fun, we are actually becoming conditioned. In the vast majority of movies (and most character based TV shows), the main character ends up with the person of his/her dreams. They get the dream job they've been chasing. They finally have that baby they've been trying for. They have a touching reunion with an estranged family member. It all works out because it just does.
Subconsciously, the current generation (and most likely all subsequent generations) have become conditioned by the idea that things will just work out for them. Everyone is the lead role in their own life. No one thinks of themselves as the supporting cast, so everyone believes that things should work out for them. Just because.
This is what makes 21st century life as difficult and as depressing as it is to some people. No, we don't have to worry about smallpox or try to appease a deity because some crops are not doing well. We are not burning suspected witches. We have advanced so much, but our perception of our own lives has become so distorted that we are becoming more depressed. If life doesn't turn out exactly as we hope, we feel cheated. We are owed our happy ending. So when the person of our dreams falls in love with someone else, it hurts us. Not only because we have lost someone we so deeply want, but because the happy ending that is rightfully ours has been taken away. What makes it worse is that the person of our dreams is probably thinking that their new interest was the romantic lead in their movie, whereas you are (at best) a supporting cast member.
Our perception of life has become so warped by the narratives that surround us that we are probably the most depressed generation of humans to have existed. I would love to say that being aware of this can help fight against it, but sadly our conditioning is now so deep that it cannot be helped with rational thought. Life is hard and some people are going to be miserable and alone. No wonder we take such comfort from movie narratives when being a good person is enough to make things work out. The cruel irony is that this escapism is making our sense of disappointment and despair all the more poignant.
However, one must not be quick to see cause and effect when, in reality, the explanations probably lie elsewhere. The increase of our understanding does not necessarily result in diminished happiness. I see other things at work here.
One factor of modern life that I believe needs to accept some of the responsibility is the entertainment industry: mostly movies and TV. While I completely appreciate the role these media outlets play in escapism or pushing boundaries they have had a massive impact on 21st century culture. Think about it. The current generation (myself, I hate to admit, included) have become so accustomed to the narratives of TV shows and the movies that we have subconsciously come to expect the outcomes of those narratives. While, of course, on a conscious level we are aware that the movie we are sitting in front of is not reality, and that it's all just a bit of fun, we are actually becoming conditioned. In the vast majority of movies (and most character based TV shows), the main character ends up with the person of his/her dreams. They get the dream job they've been chasing. They finally have that baby they've been trying for. They have a touching reunion with an estranged family member. It all works out because it just does.
Subconsciously, the current generation (and most likely all subsequent generations) have become conditioned by the idea that things will just work out for them. Everyone is the lead role in their own life. No one thinks of themselves as the supporting cast, so everyone believes that things should work out for them. Just because.
This is what makes 21st century life as difficult and as depressing as it is to some people. No, we don't have to worry about smallpox or try to appease a deity because some crops are not doing well. We are not burning suspected witches. We have advanced so much, but our perception of our own lives has become so distorted that we are becoming more depressed. If life doesn't turn out exactly as we hope, we feel cheated. We are owed our happy ending. So when the person of our dreams falls in love with someone else, it hurts us. Not only because we have lost someone we so deeply want, but because the happy ending that is rightfully ours has been taken away. What makes it worse is that the person of our dreams is probably thinking that their new interest was the romantic lead in their movie, whereas you are (at best) a supporting cast member.
Our perception of life has become so warped by the narratives that surround us that we are probably the most depressed generation of humans to have existed. I would love to say that being aware of this can help fight against it, but sadly our conditioning is now so deep that it cannot be helped with rational thought. Life is hard and some people are going to be miserable and alone. No wonder we take such comfort from movie narratives when being a good person is enough to make things work out. The cruel irony is that this escapism is making our sense of disappointment and despair all the more poignant.
3 comments:
I totally agree with you. And I think it is not only movies and T.V. shows that are responsible for this state of things. So are the numerous social networking sites. I recently read something about the fact that despite having over a thousand friends on facebook, people still suffer huge bouts of loneliness and depression. Perhaps the solution is for us to take control of how we use these technologies, not letting it control us. Knowledge is power, so if we are armed with the information of what harm this changing society can do to us, we are better prepared to brace up against it.
And I agree, too. It's not just the younger generations who are sucked into believing - it's most people regardless of their age. There are also those who promote the 'think it and it shall be so' theories. They have a lot to answer for because they prey on vulnerable people who are facing the truth that their reality doesn't match their dreams.
I have never been a believer in 'you can do anything you put your mind to' line of thought. Some things are just too darn difficult!
Perhaps this is the beginning of the fight against fantasy!
And happier lives.
Good one, Tony!
It's also not just the movies that promote some of the things you mentioned, like happy-endings and the idea that being a good person automatically means you'll have a long and happy life. It's everything, from religion to your parents telling you that if you're good and you study hard, you'll get what you want and automatically will be happy. I don't know how it is for other people, but how my mum was - and still is, for that matter.
On a different note, I usually get annoyed with happy endings. I guess that's just because there's too many of them (fictional ones), so I've developed a sort of allergic reaction to them.
Despite this, I'm probably still secretly hoping for a happy ending, so that just makes me worse than the silly women crying their eyes out with joy at the end of cheesy romantic comedies...
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