So I've decided to change my focus more towards courtship on television, because my other one didn't seem to be leading anywhere. This new direction opens many doors concerning the possibilities of discussion, since most every show on tv these days has a different slant with dating and courtship. The one show that I want to focus on right now is Dawson's Creek, which yes, it a little bit older and may not be a familiar show to many of you, but is one that I have recently gotten pretty obsessed with. The thing about the show that I like most is the fact that the characters are portrayed as actual legitimate teenagers, so it is easy as the show progresses to not only relate to them but also see their growth and changes as characters.
Now how does this relate to courtship more so than another show? The aspect of soulmates versus passion-driven attraction. In Season 1 of Dawson's, we are introduced to Dawson, a guy so obsessed with the movie world that he relates every aspect of his life to a melodrama and thinks that in the end, everything should be perfect, which clearly is not true life. Alongside him, there is Joey, a shy, very smart girl who thinks of things in the opposite of Dawson, a girl who is not concerned with the way things should be, but only the struggles she has faced so far in her life. These two characters have been best friends since the youngest years they can remember, and both, mainly Dawson, however, are convinced that they are soulmates. Every memory they can remember, every life-changing moment they have had, has been with each other, and they have been the solid point in one another's life for years. This poses the question of a soulmate- what exactly does it mean to find the one person that you are seemingly destined to be with forever? In the case of Dawson and Joey, it is merely the historical connection between the two, the intense friendship that they have shared for so many years and feel makes them who they are. There is definitely sexual tension between the two, but it is far from passion, far from the intense connection one has with sometime they are strongly attracted to.
This brings me to wonder what is it that makes a relationship move from friendship to something more? How do you know that the intellectual connection you have with someone, the feeling that a person is your rock and will always be there for you, is something more than a functioning friendship? It seems like a lot of the time on television, there are characters who are together constantly, who love to be with each other, who are friends, but later decide to take that relationship to a new level. In the case of Dawson's Creek, that jump from friendship to a relationship seems like the best idea for the two characters, the two who are "destined" to be together, but once it is made, it unravels into disaster. There is tension and awkwardness and essentially a change in the relationship that prevents the two from going back to the comfortable level they started out on.
So what is it that makes two people feel the need to bring a new aspect into their relationship after functioning so well without the romantic connection? There is a fine line between soulmates, best friends, and lovers, which makes it hard to know when to move from merely friendship to courting.
12 comments:
I love Dawson's Creek. So you have at least one person that is familiar with the show! I read somewhere that it is hard to fall in love with someone you have grown up with because of some chemical thing that keeps you from falling in love with family or your brother like in the reading when Biblis fell in love with her brother. Somewhat off topic. Anyways I am curious what you think the reason for going from friends to unsuccessful lovers is.
great questions brought up-- future blog topics...can't wait til the "soul-mate" one.
Dawson's Creek I think has a lot that someone can write about. It has a lot of "stuff" in it. It does not matter that it is old, almost everyone know what show you are talking about when you talk about Pasey and Dawson.
Dawson's Creek! Interesting post! Perhaps you could venture into the idea of comfort and familiarity. When two people tire of outside quests for love and are vital in one another's life, the "falling in love" is quite possibly settling.
the topic of friends becoming more than friends is a really good one I think. Something that many of us can relate to. I know that I can. I would like to know yours and others opinions on this. Good idea.
I like the question you brought up of how do you know when two should move to the next level. I never watched Dawson's Creek, but I think the topic is something many people can relate to. So often we hear that people don't want to go further into a relationship because they don't want to ruin their friendship. It would be interesting to know where that "fine line" should be drawn.
Brought up some good points, I'm curious about the question of what makes friends take it to the next level and when?
I used to be a big fan of Dawson's Creek when it originally aired. I have aways found it strange when two people who are friends take it to the next level. I know it happens, and successfully too, but personally I can't relate! Definately a show that includes lots of love issues to explore and write about.
I like your discission on soulmates and your relation with Dawsons Creek, because I feel that it is something a lot of people that age can relate to (or at least I did when I watched the show)...but a lot of the time it was hard for me to relate it close to reality because of the verbose language it always used.
I like the Friends more than Friend thing you talked about...sounds interesting
I always felt that I could relate to Dawson's Creek. I think that it would be very interesting for you to explore the real differences in love and friendship and what elements are needed in both to be successful. Maybe use other tv shows to explore this.
I love that you brought up the whole soul mate argument since it essentially ends up being the final question in the show when the series ends. I think that the friends/more than friends change has a lot of room for discussion and should be a great topic.
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