How has relationships in the media affected your own expectations and view on love?

[Amber]

How has the media affected your views on love and how you behave in your relationships?
For my final Studies of Society assignment I'm doing a social experiment, and need as many answers as possible.. How has watching relationships grow in movies and books affect your expectations within your own relationships and how you treat your partner?

[Eth]

My personal opinion is a lot of people form unrealistic expectations from what they see on TV and movies. A lot of sitcoms that portray a group of friends that sleep around with each other (i.e.the series of Friends from the 1990s) or others that are similar. The fact that the characters are kosher with each other despite the fact that each other have probably been passed around is pretty unrealistic.

This when you consider most guys and girls would flip if they found out one of their friends had slept with their boyfriend or girlfriend at one point or another. Or in the case of movies (romantic comedies in particular) where you're looking at a story that is portrayed over the span of an hour and half. Every plot these days seems to fit a certain mold (insert generic characters and plot twists).

Personally I'm glad I separate reality from entertainment/fantasy. Life by itself can be pretty challenging let alone adding in complicating external factors. And as far as relationships go in the media based from celebrities, well that stuff is just a mess most times. Sure there are plenty of celebrities who get married or go steady. But then again there are plenty of Charlie Sheens, Britney Spears types out there, yeah they pretty much screw up that curve.