The Cultural Resource that I have selected is finding true love through a television show. In spite of a “loneliness epidemic” that is widespread across the U.S., many still cling to the notion that true love is readily available and finding it can be made into a competition that also makes for entertaining television.
When I was in high school, I always strived to get my homework done early. I would have a snack after school and get to work. This always surprised my parents. Yes, it was so that I could appropriately follow my bedtime routine, and minimize stress, but it was also so I could watch The Bachelor on ABC. At my school, it was the major topic of discussion the day after it aired. If one missed an episode, one would be excluded from the next day’s “water cooler talk” that spanned generations—teachers and students alike would be discussing contestants – even the lunch ladies and office staff would partake in predictions and express exasperation that the “bad seed” (and there was one of those every season) made it through to the next week. Society as a whole fell in love with this show and watched religiously.
The Bachelor or Bachelorette, depending on the season, is a “reality” television show that has people flocking to their screens and strategically timing bathroom breaks. It is an extremely popular show that attempts to help one lucky (and deserving) contestant find true love. Weekly eliminations threatened contestant’s security and sanity – making for a very entertaining experience that could be enjoyed from the comfort of one’s couch. Each week concluded with a rose ceremony. Whoever was not called, was eliminated from the competition. (“If you did not receive a rose, please take a moment and say your goodbyes.”) To receive a rose, one had to ensure that they had quality, one-on-one time with The Bachelor or Bachelorette and that they did not make enemies in the communal living “house” to the degree that they would be tattled on by their fellow contestants. In turn, the Bachelor or Bachelorette had to determine who was really there for the “right reasons” and eliminate contestants based on little more than outward appearance, “chemistry” and a few cocktail parties. Group dates, elimination dates and unnatural scenarios (write a song about your love and sing it to a Las Vegas audience) further fueled the competition.
For a large majority of a younger generation, The Bachelor, aimed to illustrate that finding love is a competition. It had over 25 contestants (at times) sabotaging one another and depicting the lengths one will go to throw (and keep) their hat into the ring when “love” is involved. Towards the end of the show, hometown dates and a chance to meet each other’s families came into play. In the end, two contestants would show up in an exotic location believing that they were the final contestant that would be proposed to.
Whichever contestant was rejected would become the next Bachelor or Bachelorette for the following season.
With 30 seasons of The Bachelor and slightly fewer seasons of The Bachelorette one thing seems apparent: Fewer than 10 couples of all those who made it through the final rose ceremony are still together. The show clearly does not help one find true love, but it is something that people are willing to watch and buy into season after season. More recently, the network aired a version for the over 55 age group, “The Golden Bachelor”. The show saw widower “Gerry” select a widow, Theresa. Their show was followed a month later by a televised, million dollar wedding that ended in divorce soon after. The popularity of this show, (in my opinion) paved the way for online dating apps that are so prevalent today. One must quite literally sell themselves to a complete stranger in a short amount of time with a captivating profile and photo – proving they are worthy of asking out on a date.
In a world with increasing isolation—some brought on by the pandemic—and some brought on by the proliferation of technology as the main means of “social interaction”, loneliness is becoming a measurable health problem. In May of 2023, NPR reported that the physical consequences of poor connection can be devastating, including a 29% increased risk of heart disease; a 32% increased risk of stroke; and a 50% increased risk of developing dementia for older adults. That same NPR article stated that a lack of human connection can increase the risk for premature death to levels comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day, according to a new advisory from the U.S. Surgeon General.
Members of society accepted that the journey towards finding true love should be televised and became loyal audience members each week (rather quickly).
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