How have our cult films and series shaped our romantic imaginations?

We grow up with all these images seen in our cult series and films from our adolescence.

Who has never taken our favorite series heroines as models, like wanting to dress in Carrie Bradshaw's fashion in Sex and the City or reproduce Rachel's haircut in Friends ?

Like these iconic characters, we imagine that romantic relationships must inevitably hurt to be worth living.

Without drama, yelling, crying, the relationship wouldn't be worth it.

Or how the search for the prince charming, cold, distant or even rich and controlling, is glorified there.

The most glaring example remains the dysfunctional relationship between Carrie Bradshaw and her Mr. Big in Sex and the City.

The nice, respectful and gentle guy often gets dumped by the protagonists, depending on the seasons. After all, a normal guy is boring.

In any case, these programs have led us down the wrong path with these false beliefs giving us a biased view of romantic relationships, growing up.

The myth of the white knight

However, paradoxically, on the other side, we have cult films like Dirty Dancing, and its final scene, one of the most enjoyable in my opinion, with its “We don’t leave Baby in a corner.”

We all dream of this illusion of a prince charming

Who has never dreamed of having their own Patrick Swayse?

The myth of the white knight coming to free you from your little life, to live an unspeakable happiness in perfect freedom...

Evolution of morals

In recent years, with the evolution of morals, series have tackled subjects that were little explored at the time, such as polygamy, sex friends and adultery.

The vision of the monogamous couple is no longer so representative

Take for example the series The Affair, starting from the deception of a man, the series will then exploit this theme from the point of view of each character: the deceiver, the deceived and the mistress. A series that is very well exploited.

Not to mention programs that increasingly feature transgender, homosexual or intercultural couples (e.g.: Sense8, The L World)

Today, women are no longer represented as weak women, dependent on their relationship. They are no longer waiting for someone to put a ring on their finger.

She asserts herself, devotes herself more to her professional and social life outside of her family and her partner. The goal is no longer to have children.

As an adult now, it still gives me great pleasure to come across these films or series again. And even if the messages used are biased, they are still just as enjoyable to watch.