Week 45: Sleepless In Seattle

Dear Avid Reader,

Politics seems so simple, why is it so hard for politicians to play fair.

Is it something we said?

You Don't Want To Be In Love, You Want To Be In Love In A Movie

Romantic Comedies sometimes get a bad rap. The subject of "chick flicks" is even brought up in this movie. This is a classic post-modern moment in that the unattainable nature of rom-coms is being discussed during a rom-com. Genius.

And the criticism is valid. The expectations that movies give us are that there is a perfect romantic relationship out there for everyone and that this relationship is the center of every person. This would seem to indicate that single people are living a less than ideal life. But obviously this is untrue, even though it feels like it is true when living single. So, how did it get here?

I've Never Seen Potatoes Cooked Like That Before

It's something to do with the brain. A desire for procreation, so to speak. It must be. Because I've been living for over thirty years and the credits have yet to roll after a major life plateau. It might have felt like it should have, but they didn't.

And there is that word..."feel" again. I guess that is what this is really all about. Folks want to feel good. But i think the thing that isn't being learned from these movies is in what is missing. The key is what doesn't happen or get said. It's all about what is happening off-camera.

It Was Miss Scarlet, In The Closet, With A Radio

After watching the some two-hours traffic of a typical romantic comedy, the viewer experiences a similar story. It begins with a boy and a girl. They are at first unsure of how they feel about each other, but by enduring a hardship, they discover that they love each other. There of course is some kind of major complication to their union, but through the power of love, they overcome and finally unite as they were fated. Credits roll.

Of course Sleepless in Seattle plays with that dynamic and fully shows fate as the only way the lovers find each other. Sam and Annie never even truly meet until the final scene. This of course makes it the ultimate romantic comedy in that the love is based on pure fantasy. One should remember this when arguing which is better Sleepless in Seattle or You've Got Mail. Clearly Sleepless is better than Mail and all other rom-coms, but this might help in the final summation.

Suck it You've Got Mail fans. And Harry can punch Sally in the face!

She Had Really Fat Fingers

Now as in my summary, in Sleepless, and in all rom-coms the most important part is never seen....the happily ever after. How are Sam and Annie as a couple? Is Annie good with Jonah? When thinking about it, it's obvious that there will be bumps in the road, but the realization only comes after deciding to consider the possibly. The audience ignores the fact that the obstacles are never fully over in a relationship and as such are unaware of the game they have just committed to and lost. Rom-coms are not meant to be studied, and this is were problems arise.

Because the most pleasurable part (the blissful future) is left to the viewer, the fantasy off-screen becomes the entire movie. The mind is capable of creating the most powerful "realities" imaginable. And even though the evidence seems to point to the fact that the two lovers have a history of ignoring what is right in front of their face, the audience glosses over that and dreams that they will never no pain again. The brain has already doen it's job. The trap is sprung and the movie-goer isn't even to the parking lot.

This systematic teaching to deny reality and enjoy the paradise of the mind is why rom-coms should be given higher age restrictions. They can be dangerous for the wrong people.

This is untrue...but it feels true.

Until Next I Blog,

James