Where did the 'Love' concept within mainstream media culture go to?

buried

Been wondering this lately. There is a huge lack of any sort of semblance of the notion of 'love' within the western hemisphere's mainstream cultural mindset within the last 20 years and most especially within the last 10 years.

For example, there are no great love songs with any sort of actual emotional melodic resonance in the mainstream music charts anymore. Not even in the charts, It isn't happening anywhere. Nowhere near the extent they were in existence in the mid 1990's and back into the 60's.

Not only that, the concept of romantic films within the Hollywood mainstream companies has totally been obliterated compared to the amount they were pouring out in the mid 80's to mid 90's, which was one nearly every week.
What happened? Is the demand for the notion of 'love' not here anymore? And what exactly caused this demand that was so prevalent 30 years ago to dry up?

Fake Scores

Look. It just wasn't working out..

SuperSean11

Have you not heard Jenny by the studio killers ?

Everyone is replaceable now so who needs it.

Leg End Reject

What is love?
Baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me no more.

igCorcaigh

I was born in 1973, so I remember all the pop songs about love in my adolescent years.

All about love, and how difficult it would be. That was pop culture.

But, looking back, you have to think, what is love anyway?

What is, lu, lu, lu ove, any way?

Leg End Reject

igCorcaigh wrote: »

I was born in 1973, so I remember all the pop songs about love in my adolescent years.

All about love, and how difficult it would be. That was pop culture.

But, looking back, you have to think, what is love anyway?

What is, lu, lu, lu ove, any way?

Does anybody love anybody anyway?

riffmongous

buried

buried wrote: »

Been wondering this lately. There is a huge lack of any sort of semblance of the notion of 'love' within the western hemisphere's mainstream cultural mindset within the last 20 years and most especially within the last 10 years.

For example, there are no great love songs with any sort of actual emotional melodic resonance in the mainstream music charts anymore. Not even in the charts, It isn't happening anywhere. Nowhere near the extent they were in existence in the mid 1990's and back into the 60's.

Not only that, the concept of romantic films within the Hollywood mainstream companies has totally been obliterated compared to the amount they were pouring out in the mid 80's to mid 90's, which was one nearly every week.
What happened? Is the demand for the notion of 'love' not here anymore? And what exactly caused this demand that was so prevalent 30 years ago to dry up?

Depends on what you listen to and watch.

Most of what would be considered the classic and memorable films of the 80s such wouldn't be love/romantic ones, mostly the same for the 90s.

Same with music, most of the songs that I would remember from then and still listen to, wouldn't have for the most part been in the charts, romantic or otherwise.

In short, reregardless of when, a lot of drivel is produced, the classics remain, even if they weren't/aren't part of the mainstream to begin with.

Montage of Feck

Somethin' filled up
My heart with nothin'
Someone told me not to cry

Now that I'm older
My heart's colder
And I can see that it's a lie

nottalking2u

It's because we've pushed a need for instant gratification in society but love involves commitment, effort and patience.

Its just a silly phase we're going through.

KaneToad

nottalking2u wrote: »

It's because we've pushed a need for instant gratification in society but love involves commitment, effort and patience.

Its just a silly phase we're going through.

And just because I call you up. Don't get me wrong. Don't think you've got it made

buried

DubInMeath wrote: »

Depends on what you listen to and watch.

Most of what would be considered the classic and memorable films of the 80s such wouldn't be love/romantic ones, mostly the same for the 90s.

Same with music, most of the songs that I would remember from then and still listen to, wouldn't have for the most part been in the charts, romantic or otherwise.

In short, reregardless of when, a lot of drivel is produced, the classics remain, even if they weren't/aren't part of the mainstream to begin with.

Yeah this is true, it's all down to what you listen to and also watch yourself, and I wouldn't have been into any of the romantic films or love songs myself, or considered them 'classics' in any way shape or form, but the fact remains, a lot more were being produced back in the 60's to the mid 90's than were in any way being produced now. It seems to me none are being produced at all, none that have a romantic or even emotional resonance to them at all.

I mean as far as films are concerned you had one major huge romantic film being produced ever year, from the likes of 'Grease' or 'Annie Hall' in the 70's up to the likes of 'Dirty Dancing' and 'When Harry met Sally' in the 80's, up to the likes of 'Ghost' and then on to 'Titanic' which seemed to be the apex of this. Then it stopped. Nowadays you literally have nothing like those films that were so heavily pushed being made.

riffmongous

KaneToad wrote: »

And just because I call you up. Don't get me wrong. Don't think you've got it made

Baw baw-dup baw-dup baaaw

buried

buried wrote: »

Yeah this is true, it's all down to what you listen to and also watch yourself, and I wouldn't have been into any of the romantic films or love songs myself, or considered them 'classics' in any way shape or form, but the fact remains, a lot more were being produced back in the 60's to the mid 90's than were in any way being produced now. It seems to me none are being produced at all, none that have a romantic or even emotional resonance to them at all.

I mean as far as films are concerned you had one major huge romantic film being produced ever year, from the likes of 'Grease' or 'Annie Hall' in the 70's up to the likes of 'Dirty Dancing' and 'When Harry met Sally' in the 80's, up to the likes of 'Ghost' and then on to 'Titanic' which seemed to be the apex of this. Then it stopped. Nowadays you literally have nothing like those films that were so heavily pushed being made.

Don't know about one major romantic film being produced/pushed every year, but plenty that would rival the likes of grease and annie hall to an extent, mama mia for example, which thankfully I haven't had to watch.

touts

The Millennials cancelled the L word because they found it hard to get. It is highly inappropriate, triggering and deeply insensitive for old people in their 30s and above to continue to use the L word.

The Leaving Cert, Love and the Full Stop. All cancelled because young people found them difficult.

buried

DubInMeath wrote: »

Don't know about one major romantic film being produced/pushed every year, but plenty that would rival the likes of grease and annie hall to an extent, mama mia for example, which thankfully I haven't had to watch.

Ahh there was definitely was more of them being produced in the 80's, and early 90's than compared to the late 2000's when only 'Mama mia' was made.

In the 80's you had major, major successful pictures year after year such as things like 'Roxanne', 'Splash', 'The Princess Bride', 'When harry met sally', 'Working Girl', 'Dirty Dancing', 'Moonstruck', etc etc. Even the likes of 'Crocodile Dundee' and later 'Bram Stokers Dracula' were in there in that sort of mix being heavily produced. There was nothing like those things being pushed especially after 2008-9, maybe Mama mia, but that was about it. What happened?

kowloon

As someone who sat through Maid in Manhattan, thank fcuk.

Leg End Reject

I think Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts are to blame.

The last big movie was probably Love Actually.

buried

Leg End Reject wrote: »

I think Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts are to blame.

The last big movie was probably Love Actually.

He was in that 'Bridget Jones' dose too in 2001 wasn't he? Maybe he did end up killing it, as far as film goes anyways. I also had to sit through that mess.

I'm still interested as to why in mainstream music the notion of emotion and love has totally vanished if anybody has insights into that too though

Your Face

Meatloaf never told us what he wouldn't do for love.
The effect of this on the collective psyche of successive generations means that we are all unsure and anxious about the nature of love.
Its best to leave it.

Quantum Erasure

I blame super hero movies, the rise of super hero movies in the late 90s early 2000s coincided with the decline of romance in films

FunLover18

buried wrote: »

Ahh there was definitely was more of them being produced in the 80's, and early 90's than compared to the late 2000's when only 'Mama mia' was made.

In the 80's you had major, major successful pictures year after year such as things like 'Roxanne', 'Splash', 'The Princess Bride', 'When harry met sally', 'Working Girl', 'Dirty Dancing', 'Moonstruck', etc etc. Even the likes of 'Crocodile Dundee' and later 'Bram Stokers Dracula' were in there in that sort of mix being heavily produced. There was nothing like those things being pushed especially after 2008-9, maybe Mama mia, but that was about it. What happened?

In the 90s you had romcoms like Sleepless In Seattle, While You Were Sleeping, and you also had more serious romances like When A Man Loves A Woman, Sense And Sensibility. Still plenty of romcoms in the 00s just not as memorable, Matthew Mcconaughey and Hugh Grant made a glut of them and the 00s also brought a wave of Nicholas Sparks adaptations and wannabes. You also have the 00s romcoms that were more com than rom, Knocked Up, Wedding Crashers. Recently Netflix has taken over romcoms with the likes of Will You Be My Maybe and the Lovebirds, neither are classics but they're enjoyable. Richard Curtis is still cranking out schmultz with the likes of About Time and Yesterday. Crazy Rich Asians was very good as well.

So I don't know if necessarily that there's less of them or that it's just a generational thing and we don't enjoy them as much. Money is probably the biggest factor though, they don't make the billions that big franchises do.

Ninthlife

Never mind Sleepless in Cincinatti or 4 Weddings and a Christening..those werent real love movies.

You wanna watch a realistic love movie watch Lethal Weapon, Stakeout, Turner & Hooch, Con Air...the ampunt of love in those would bring a tear to a glass eyed stone hearted person.

Leg End Reject

buried wrote: »

He was in that 'Bridget Jones' dose too in 2001 wasn't he? Maybe he did end up killing it, as far as film goes anyways. I also had to sit through that mess.

I'm still interested as to why in mainstream music the notion of emotion and love has totally vanished if anybody has insights into that too though

He was, all floppy haired and stuttering posh boy persona.

buried

buried wrote: »

Ahh there was definitely was more of them being produced in the 80's, and early 90's than compared to the late 2000's when only 'Mama mia' was made.

In the 80's you had major, major successful pictures year after year such as things like 'Roxanne', 'Splash', 'The Princess Bride', 'When harry met sally', 'Working Girl', 'Dirty Dancing', 'Moonstruck', etc etc. Even the likes of 'Crocodile Dundee' and later 'Bram Stokers Dracula' were in there in that sort of mix being heavily produced. There was nothing like those things being pushed especially after 2008-9, maybe Mama mia, but that was about it. What happened?

Think you have the rose tinted glasses on there.

Plenty of romantic films if your into them, A star is born would be the latest I can think of, but they aren't a genre I like.

Most of the ones you've listed since you started the thread are part of what would now be considered romcom and not really remembered for "love" such as the I'll have what she's having.

GMSA

Love is a misunderstanding between 2 fools.

guitarzero

Female music: T*ts, *ss, more t*ts and *ss and did I mention b**bs and bums and just an all round stinky, bratty attitude.

Male music: Wishy, washy, weary, nondescript, dry vanilla sh*t. And rap.

Love has run its course man and was only ever Santa for adults.

moonage

Romcoms went into decline because men never liked them and women started getting fed up with them.

Government buildings

All these strong women in the Netflix films. Can't warm to them sexually. Don't know why, as I totally agree with equality.

Although they are attractive looking, I think the guy having sex with them deserves a medal. Something to do with the women adopting male traits, I think.

Kermit.de.frog

Government buildings wrote: »

I think the guy having sex with them deserves a medal.

Why?

Any woman who earns the privilege with me deserves a medal then if we are talking equality. They fight hard with each other like Bengal tigers over the prize and it's a high bar to clear.

riffmongous

guitarzero wrote: »

Female music: T*ts, *ss, more t*ts and *ss and did I mention b**bs and bums and just an all round stinky, bratty attitude.

Male music: Wishy, washy, weary, nondescript, dry vanilla sh*t. And rap.

Love has run its course man and was only ever Santa for adults.

Except for you know, top selling artists of 2020 Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish

guitarzero

Dont they fall under the brat/attitude category? Im not down with whats hip today but...

riffmongous

Quantum Erasure wrote: »

I blame super hero movies, the rise of super hero movies in the late 90s early 2000s coincided with the decline of romance in films

Maybe, most super hero movies would have a love story component too, often a fairly pronounced one

nottalking2u

Teofimo98 wrote: »

You're describing duty, not love.

If you see it that way.

FunLover18

Government buildings wrote: »

All these strong women in the Netflix films. Can't warm to them sexually. Don't know why, as I totally agree with equality.

Although they are attractive looking, I think the guy having sex with them deserves a medal. Something to do with the women adopting male traits, I think.

I'm sure these women will be devastated to learn that you no longer see them as sexual objects. Feminism has has gone too far!

What male traits are you talking about?

kowloon

There aren't enough good Sci-Fi movies. Disaster movies aren't very popular at the moment either. It looksed for a very short while like westerns would make a comeback.

igCorcaigh

kowloon wrote: »

There aren't enough good Sci-Fi movies. Disaster movies aren't very popular at the moment either. It looksed for a very short while like westerns would make a comeback.

I've always been into the concept of SF, rather than it's implementation, when it comes to film.
Chernobyl would have been a great SF series, had it been done before the actual event.

Can romance in film or music be restored? I don't know.
I've watched way too many French love triangle movies to remember, but it does all seem very "dated".

igCorcaigh

One thing I do notice about most films about Love/Romance, is how terribly upper middle class they tend to be.
Even the bad endings involve expensive divorce cases.

What ever happened to working class love?
It can't surely be all Nil by Mouth?

Leg End Reject

igCorcaigh wrote: »

One thing I do notice about most films about Love/Romance, is how terribly upper middle class they tend to be.
Even the bad endings involve expensive divorce cases.

What ever happened to working class love?
It can't surely be all Nil by Mouth?

The wealthy man and poor woman angle is common enough - Pretty Woman, Maid in Manhatten etc.

enfant terrible

Wasn't Taylor Swift the biggest selling artist of the last decade and aren't all her songs about love, or breaking up anyway.

I don’t think Billie Eilish writes much about love exactly. Though she has sang about breakups. But ishe doesn’t sing about tits and ass either.

The real reason there are no romcoms or romances is because everything is super heroes now. Although I suppose Wanda and Vision is a romance.

igCorcaigh

enfant terrible wrote: »

Wasn't Taylor Swift the biggest selling artist of the last decade and aren't all her songs about love, or breaking up anyway.

I could never relate to a song about relationships and breakups.
Maybe cathartic for the artist, but has never struck a chord with my life.

I'm also much more into instrumental music without a voice, unless the voice is used musically, like in polyphony. And then it's in French or Latin.
Must say something about me!

kowloon

igCorcaigh wrote: »

I've always been into the concept of SF, rather than it's implementation, when it comes to film.
Chernobyl would have been a great SF series, had it been done before the actual event.

That was a damn good series. Hard Sci-Fi never really makes it to the screen, although my brain is running on 10% so I'm not sure I'd manage anything I had to think about.

Strumms

It’s about obtaining happiness though £$£$£$£$ and ego... as people’s first loyalty seems to be increasingly towards employers and careers as opposed to loved ones and purer aspirations... I know it’s good to find a nice balance but if you find your priorities weighted in favor of some business or corporate entity you really need to reassess your existence. I learned that the hard way.

JustAThought

igCorcaigh wrote: »

One thing I do notice about most films about Love/Romance, is how terribly upper middle class they tend to be.
Even the bad endings involve expensive divorce cases.

What ever happened to working class love?
It can't surely be all Nil by Mouth?

The Commitments, The Snapper, The Woman who walked into Doors, Brassed Off - not much to commend them really. No wonder people have given up or gone off it - its all been either big knicker blondes like Bridget Jones or inaccessible type ideals like Darcy , Huge Grant or foppish incredibly wealthy 4 weddings and a funeral types.

Prescilla Queen of the Desert - would you like to wake up next to someone with that mouth and attitude, or abandoned bad love unwanted baby syndromers - Juno, Mamma Mia, etc.

Same with songs - apart from Ed the puppet Sheeran and hillbilly music there is very little mention of Love in english speaking songs - at least not in a romantic non foulmouthed positive light.

But when the music industry puts stunning women into bustiers and leotards and has them gyrating while thrusting and performing crotch crushing moves its little wonder the days of Brittney in her pigtails and school uniform are just a rosy glow.

Kiss me baby one more time.

Now its all about power and control and rage and dominance.

85603

buried wrote: »

Been wondering this lately. There is a huge lack of any sort of semblance of the notion of 'love' within the western hemisphere's mainstream cultural mindset within the last 20 years and most especially within the last 10 years.

For example, there are no great love songs with any sort of actual emotional melodic resonance in the mainstream music charts anymore. Not even in the charts, It isn't happening anywhere. Nowhere near the extent they were in existence in the mid 1990's and back into the 60's.

Not only that, the concept of romantic films within the Hollywood mainstream companies has totally been obliterated compared to the amount they were pouring out in the mid 80's to mid 90's, which was one nearly every week.
What happened? Is the demand for the notion of 'love' not here anymore? And what exactly caused this demand that was so prevalent 30 years ago to dry up?

Beyonce happened, and all men finally just said ok fck this.

track 1; ah dont need no man.
track 2; womens rule the world mmmhhmm.
track 3; marry me or no sex.
track 4; he dont love me.

etc

really though the love thing is unusual in terms of the greater historical context. for most of history you just bought a few wives, had 13 kids, 3 survived.
it was all just transactional mating. the romance stuff is to a great extent just hollywood bollocks. still arranged marriages and dowrys in plenty of countries out there.

love stories are still strangely unlikely to feature in the lives of the unattractive. Theres yet to be one incidence in world history of a famous female model dating a homeless man.

love seems to somehow occur with way more frequency in couples where the man is 4-5 years older, between 5-8 inches taller than the pre-menopausal woman, and on a higher wage. love is somehow happening all over the place for extremely physically attractive types out there. like wow im a 9 and im in love for the 15th time, lightning has struck twice, what exceptional luck. both looks AND love.

buried

Hangdogroad

All you need is love.......