I think it's safe to say we all have that ultimate favorite t.v. show we just can't get enough of. Whether we're attracted to the characters, the humor, the suspense, or the concept--we love to watch it. Well, it's time I made a confession; I am a proud fan of "The Bachelor". Yes, I am hopelessly addicted to the dramatic cultural phenomenon. It's my guilty pleasure.
The reality series started back in 2002, and has since spun off into "The Bachelorette", "Bachelor in Paradise", and "Bachelor Pad".
Most of my peers don't agree at all with the underlying message or lack of traditional values that follow "The Bachelor". They're convinced the show is mostly scripted and is just merely a disgusting act of polygamy. Sure, people are entitled to their opinion and I do see their point; one man dates 25 women at the same time at an attempt to find 'love'--pretty bizarre to me. Then there are my other peers who have a love/hate relationship with the reality show--we hate that we love it so much. But, there is nothing wrong with that!
I may be a proud devotee of "The Bachelor" franchise, but I do not let that define me. I don't solely depend on this show to show me what 'love' is. To base your idea off the show of how relationships should be is unorthodox and unrealistic. Although it's bad objectives, the franchise has shed some light on how we view love.
Love is made out to be a magical fairytale. A typical date involves an exotic paradise destination with an over-the-top romantic candlelight dinner. This pressure of an instant connection, passion, and so-called 'spark' tends to be the focus of a hit or miss when searching for the right person for them--the one they will spend the rest of their life with. Don't get me wrong, that is extremely intriguing, but is this kind of 'love' practical?
The representation of romantic partnerships are heterosexual as well as lacking in diversity, as we rarely see people of color cast on the show which poses a serious problem.
"The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette" franchise allows us to feel much better about ourselves, or superior so to speak. As I tune in religiously every Monday night I think to myself how I would never stoop low to such measures to "find my forever". I'd rather save myself from the embarrassment of feeding into drama with other nutcase women, expressing my feelings with phrases and words out of a Disney movie, or crying my eyes out in a limo on the way home after a week of knowing a complete stranger. But let's be real ladies and gents, I would totally last more than a week.
Even though the show makes love seem simple, it also makes us feel grateful for the real thing. Love is totally not some six week competition to win the heart of an eligible partner. Who the hell falls in love in six weeks? I can't even manage to work up the courage to share my thought out pick-up line in that time frame.
The real thing does not involve two on one dates or being dumped and left alone on an island.
Most of us would rather stick to customizing our Tinder or E-Harmony profiles or meeting people through friends or meeting people when drunk at the bar.
So instead of taking "The Bachelor" too seriously, us proud members of the bachelor nation use it as an escape from reality -- a token of appreciation for our mess of a love life that is REAL. So please, let us live tweet our thoughts and embrace our addiction for the pure entertainment of watching psychotic nut jobs battle it out in their journey of tears, death threats, and cheesy dates.
