-
Essay / The Chemistry of Love in Modern America - 1475
The Wonderful World of Disney is a magical land full of fun, happiness, friendship and love. Children from a young age are captivated by the colorful art, wacky characters and fun moments of classic animated films. Children may leave the movie happy, but their minds have been contaminated by ideas far beyond their comprehension; ideas especially related to love. From a young age, children are accustomed to the idea of ideal love, love at first time and everlasting love from Cinderella, Pocahontas, Beauty and the Beast and many others. In many of the romantic relationships found between the characters in these stories, there is a defining moment where something “clicks” and then there is love; This is the image we give to children. It is assumed that there is some sort of “chemistry” between the characters. However, in real life, does this “chemistry” really exist and is it this connection that causes love? Maybe love requires an instant connection as seen in Disney movies and depicted in Jennifer Egan's "Love in the Time of No Time," or maybe love requires work, commitment and dedication, as described by Laura Kipnis in “Against Love”. Both Kipnis and Egan address the assumption that “chemistry” equals love; Kipnis believes this is a false claim while Egan uses online dating to describe the truth of this hypothesis. It is conceivable that love has a scientific basis that can be explained through science using “The Brain in Love” by Benedict Carey. These three perspectives provide valuable clues about the meaning of romance in modern America. Everything moves so much faster in today's society; we even expect love to happen quickly. Online dating sites promise quick matches and hookups...... middle of paper ...... find the perfect match and attract potential customers by advertising how many members they have, bringing potential clients to think they have a better chance of finding the ideal partner. “Chemistry” is a fickle idea used by couples to determine their compatibility and attraction to each other. American culture thrives on the idea of true love and has an insatiable appetite for finding it. Love in America is everywhere and everyone is trying to find the perfect match with the “chemistry” existing between the partners. It's hard to say whether the "chemistry" of true love actually exists or whether it exists at the beginning of relationships and slowly fades as relationships continue, shifting from Egan's perspective to Kipnis's with the scientific evidence provided by Carey; However, it is clear that the ideal of love is unavoidable in modern America..