Love versus Lust (pt 2)

In my last journal entry, I talked about two books in which I compared the difference between love and lust.

This time, I’ve been thinking about movies and shows.

I don’t watch a lot of popular shows. Like at all. You will usually and most likely find me watching a Korean drama. For the most part, I find that they’re much more clean and less controversial to my beliefs than American TV. Not to mention, they have amazing storylines! Most of their shows only have one season, so that’s also a plus for someone who doesn’t like stories to drag on.

This is not to say they’re perfect by any means. I’ve seen a handful in which I need to skip a scene.

Anyways, what I’ve noticed with these dramas is that I don’t feel gross watching their romantic scenes. I don’t know if you know that feeling in which you’re watching something and it feels wrong. Like “I shouldn’t be watching this” wrong.

I remember when I was in middle school the Twilight movies came out. There are some scenes for the last movies in which a middle schooler (or anyone, in my opinion) should not be watching. The craziest part is that it’s rated PG-13. I remember running into those scenes and turning the screen away from me. Not because I knew what was going on (I honestly, didn’t and was confused), but because there was this innate sense in me that said “I should not be watching this”. Yet, a lot of people saw nothing wrong with it.

There is something very sacred about sex. I don’t want to paint it as a “terrible thing”. That being said, because of its sacredness it does not deserve to be portrayed in a public manner for the world to see. It is something intimate that happens between two spouses. I understand that there are many people who say it’s “artistic liberty” to portray it in movies or books. To a certain degree, I agree, but it should be done within proper bounds and never explicitly. Not because we needed to be shielded from it, but because it's not our place to be there witnessing something that is so incredibly intimate and should be an exclusive expression of love.

Now, in contrast, most Korean dramas I’ve watched have done their romantic scenes as “fade-to-black” or simply a kiss that concludes the scene but later is spoken about with implications. Yes, a lot of them have been more recently done with couples that are not married. Although I disagree with it, I’m still thankful that they’re done with tact. For the most part, I can start a show without worrying that anything alarming is going to happen on the screen in which I need to skip.

This may sound really weird, but I don’t feel grossed out when these couples show affection towards each other. From hugs to kisses, it is a moment where I’m rooting for the couple and not feeling like it’s inappropriate for me to watch.

I strongly believe that our society is influenced by the entertainment we consume. If we dismiss what we’re watching simply with “I’ll just skip it”, one day we won’t skip it and justify that we’re watching it because “everyone else is watching it and has no problems with it”. Then it escalates into “I’m in a relationship and since everyone does this, I can do it too without a problem”.

I would be cautious of what is portrayed on TV. Don’t get me wrong, there are American movies that I’ve watched which I absolutely love, but as of late, I’ve seen an emphasis on the lust part without true love being present in these romantic relationships.

What are your thoughts? I’d love to know if you agree or disagree!

Praying for you always <3