We can all admit that dating has changed over the decades, some say for better, MANY say for worse. The entire concept of “dating” really isn’t a thing anymore. In fact, being a “thing” is the new dating and seems to be the only thing that happens nowadays. It’s hard to deny the feelings you get when you watch old movies of people falling in love and it seems so real. The evolution of dating is hard to describe but can be easily visualized when you look at it through some of the best romantic comedies from each decade…
The 80’s- Pretty in Pink
The classic good girl likes bad boy while the good boy loves her from a distance. It’s cliché but we all love it and secretly wish it was that easy. It’s crazy to think that Andie and Jack didn’t share their first kiss until AFTER they were “dating.” It was something young girls dreamed about and idealized. It made us girls think that when we grow up that’s how guys will be, and some are, but the chivalry is just simply not the same.
The 90's- Sleepless In Seattle
This is basically the first time the art of technology begins to play a huge part in the dating game. Although it isn’t as modern and cool as the ‘romantic’ texts we get today, the move makes the art of dating idealistic as told through emails. The romantic gestures were insane, the Empire State Building?! What could be more romantic and perfect than that? This movie was all about fate which seems to be less and less believed in nowadays. Movies like this made the “spontaneity” of dating and love seem inevitable and so alluring.
The 00's- The Proposal
This movie showcased a modern dating idea: the girl having the power of decision making. It showed a strong willed girl with a better job than the lead guy getting to almost have complete dominance over the “relationship.” Now, even though Margaret ends up falling head over heels for Andrew and deals with the cliché “girl falling for guy extremely hard,” the movie still explores the idea that a woman could be the lead in a relationship and have the ball in her court, if you will. This was progress but it definitely did not mask what modern dating has since become…
2011- Friends with Benefits
I’d say this is pretty consistent with the current scope of dating. It is practically unheard of to wait until officially in a relationship to kiss let alone do anything more. While the movie does insinuate a loving relationship in the end, it is so 21st century to start a relationship in the way Jamie and Dylan do. It shows that the idea of having butterflies at the thought of a first date or wondering whether you will share a kiss at the end is literally not there anymore. Things are far less romanticized in this day and age and it needs to stop.
While there are many people who still partake in proper dates and old school etiquette, the instances of this type of courtship are probably few and far between. For a hopeless romantic like myself, the old school romantic comedies give me hope that we will all go back to that time at some point. Or at least let’s hope…right?
