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TechnographStill waiting for your Prince Charming?
By Brittney Clyde, The Mustang Daily, Cal Poly (U-Wire)
Posted: 5/21/08 Section: Opinion Columns
The love-stricken, ridiculously good-looking couple rides off into the sunset on a white horse after overcoming a multitude of adversities with the help of their cute and cuddly animal friends. These troubles include an evil stepmother, gigantic dragon and/or poisonous apple. The prince and maiden, who have yet to know one another for more than a few days, can now fulfill their life-long dreams of finally finding their other half and "living happily ever after."
How many times have you seen a version of this picturesque setting? And how many times after watching something like this have you thought, "When will that happen for me?"
This type of scenario, and in particular the four words "lived happily ever after," should sound quite familiar to those of all ages and genders. As long as there have been available media to convey a story, whether it be on radio, in movies, in television or in novels, all-too idealistic love stories have been infiltrating the thoughts of the masses.
Because of these stories, consequently, expectations of life and love for many are hindered and unrealistic.
The well-known Disney corporation, which began in the 1930s, has especially been an accomplice to human fantasies when it comes to conjuring up enchanted fables with the help of animated movies. You can see the effect just by looking at little girls during Halloween or when playing dress-up. Their costumes consist of sparkly ball gowns with over-puffed sleeves, elbow-length silk gloves and tiaras atop perfectly coiffed hair.
At an early age, girls are given many examples of situations where someday Prince Charming will appear and want to take her away from their humdrum, less-than-magical life, far far away to his grand castle.
But it doesn't stop at age 12, because when these girls grow up, they are still waiting for their very own princes. Countless women aged 20 to 50 sigh with a deep longing at the precise moment in the film where the leading male takes the maiden into his arms and kisses her, when instantly two characters fall head-over-heels in love or when lovers are reunited after being kept apart for an extended period of time.
How many times have you seen a version of this picturesque setting? And how many times after watching something like this have you thought, "When will that happen for me?"
This type of scenario, and in particular the four words "lived happily ever after," should sound quite familiar to those of all ages and genders. As long as there have been available media to convey a story, whether it be on radio, in movies, in television or in novels, all-too idealistic love stories have been infiltrating the thoughts of the masses.
Because of these stories, consequently, expectations of life and love for many are hindered and unrealistic.
The well-known Disney corporation, which began in the 1930s, has especially been an accomplice to human fantasies when it comes to conjuring up enchanted fables with the help of animated movies. You can see the effect just by looking at little girls during Halloween or when playing dress-up. Their costumes consist of sparkly ball gowns with over-puffed sleeves, elbow-length silk gloves and tiaras atop perfectly coiffed hair.
At an early age, girls are given many examples of situations where someday Prince Charming will appear and want to take her away from their humdrum, less-than-magical life, far far away to his grand castle.
But it doesn't stop at age 12, because when these girls grow up, they are still waiting for their very own princes. Countless women aged 20 to 50 sigh with a deep longing at the precise moment in the film where the leading male takes the maiden into his arms and kisses her, when instantly two characters fall head-over-heels in love or when lovers are reunited after being kept apart for an extended period of time.
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