Reality TV dating creates false expectations

BY ZERENITY LOPEZ A&E EDITOR

Is it love or is it simply good for ratings? Reality TV dating shows have taken the media by storm. Whether as early on as “The Bachelor” (2002) or as fresh and exciting as “Too Hot to Handle,” (2020) this form of entertainment seems to be the new way of finding love .

But the contestants of these shows seem to constantly have to jump through hoops to build connections that ultimately crumble.

It makes viewers wonder why these people are subjecting themselves to these shows, often fighting to gain the a ection of their fellow castmates. In turn, it begs the question: Is this how we should approach our love lives?

“Reality television dating shows have impacted how realistic expectations should be,” said Rolando Lopez, New York Film Academy alumnus.

“People see how interactions are made on these shows and set a bar for themselves based on unrealistic behaviors. Beauty, lust and optics take center stage in how you should present yourself and because of that, many people change their approach to dating.

These shows normalize speed dating and switching partners for the sake of finding ‘love,’ which does not contribute to long-term committed relationships in the real world.”

Relationships in the real

Body Art

Continued from Page 1 relating to her faith as a Christian and explained that her body is a temple.

Christians often hear a common argument regarding tattooing from 1 Corinthians 6:19 (ESV), “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

At the same time, this topic of getting tattooed as a Christian has become part of a larger conversation. Some Lancers have opted to use this form of expression to aid in glorifying God’s name.

Savvy Freshwater, junior early childhood studies major, said when she got one of her tattoos, it helped her to share the gospel.

“I honestly think Psalm 62:5 is the statement of my faith,” Freshwater said. “It is an every- world cannot be edited and put together to be a montage of perfection. There are real-life problems that couples may face, and it is unfair to portray something that is simply unattainable. The facade of reality-tv dating shows omits authentic quirks within relationships and awkward firstdate moments and instead replaces them with perfect yacht dinners.

“In real day-to-day life, it is not all sunshine and rainbows all the time and perfectly planned dates,” said Mira Diaz, sophomore pre-nursing major.

“People in real relationships go through hard times and that isn’t always portrayed in these shows.”

Some say that love is a losing game, but no one is lining you up to receive a rose every week to stay on their roster. The idealistic pressure of dating shows can often create expectations of having multiple suitors in real life. A dating world where everyone is perfectly good-looking and readily available, fighting for your endess a ection, does not exist.

College campuses are full of young, single individuals and these examples portrayed on television promote hook-up culture and meaningless flings perpetuated by endless options. These themes, however, may translate di erently on a Christian campus like CBU.

“I think that reality television gives an unrealistic expec- day reminder for me, and it definitely has been such a conversation starter. I am not just saying that to say it, I have had such a unique opportunity to share the gospel simply by asking what my tattoo means.”

On the other hand, tattoos can come with challenges. Joseph Mitten, senior kinesiology major, said he often receives questions about his tattoos.

“I am not sure if any of mine are truly unique, but I do not care,” Mitten said. “They have meaning to me, which is what is most important. That being said, I do not regret any of my tattoos, but if I had known how often people would ask about their meaning, I would have waited to get the Odin one on my arm. I have explained it hundreds of times, and it gets tiring.”

Just like Mitten sees his tattoos as a representation of his life’s journey, Chic said she views her customers’ tattoo choices as valuable aspects of their identities.

“I do not want to say no to tation of what a relationship looks like and how someone should be treated,” said Sarah Ferrin, junior interior design major. “There is so much behind the scenes that they do not show us that gives us a skewed view.”

Ferrin is among the majority of the public that recognize that dating on TV is purely fiction, not fact. She said that she does not look to these shows to shape her dating life and that, if anything, certain things show her examples of what not to do.

These sensationalized dates are fabricated by networks to “sell the romance.” Well, view- someone who wants a specific design that they want to express themselves with because we are all di erent and beautiful in our own style and expression when it comes to tattoos,” Chic said.

Since Chic is a tattoo artist, she can express herself through art on her own body and help others pursue the same goal.

“All of my tattoos are well thought out and are part of my life’s journey,” Chic said.

Tattoos have the ability to hold memories, just like writing thoughts down on paper, and they can be seen as a form of expression.

“I love expressing myself through art in any way that I can — painting, music and I truly just see tattoos as an extension of that,” Freshwater said. “Especially now that I am really taking the time to sketch out and design all these tattoos that are drawn from experiences and people, each of my ideas has a story attached to them that I just want to express through art, specifically in the form of a tattoo.” ers are not buying it.

Most viewers have recognized that the contestants that supposedly find love on these shows lose those same feelings for one another as soon as the reunion episode airs.

“I believe every one of them wants to be famous for something,” Lopez said. “Whether famous for being the jerk, the hunk, the player, the committed one or the next America’s sweetheart. Any real relationship hunting is secondary, and if they do find the love of their lives, it’s only fueled by the fame and slowly withers as the cameras turn.”

Heartbreak Anthems

for the anti-valentine

Zerenitylopez

1. Shakira: Bzrp Music Sessions, Vol.53

2. Kill Bill- SZA

3. Gives You Hell- All American Rejects

4.Before He Cheats- Carrie Underwood

5. Marvin’s Room- Drake

6. Flowers- Miley Cyrus

7. Somebody Else- The 1975

8. Tears Dry on Their Own- Amy Winehouse

9. Me and Mr. Jones- Amy Winehouose

10. Motion Sickness- Phoebe Bridgers

For the full playlist scan here

The art form dates back centuries. The earliest evidence of tattoo art comes from 5000 BCE, according to the Welcome Collection, and has now reached Lancers at CBU and allowed them to be expressive in their own ways and styles with the help of tattoo artists hoping to help their clientele achieve the style, idea and image they desire.

“I cannot see myself doing anything else,” Chic said. “My quote is, ‘Tattooing is my Passion. Do what you Love. Love what you do.’ [I am] so grateful every day to be able to make someone smile.”

Biblical gures appear with inaccuracies

BY JONATHAN MEJIA ASST. A&E EDITOR

“The Last Supper” and “The Virgin and Child with St. Anne” are paintings from the High Renaissance period, roughly between the 1490s–1520s, that depict biblical figures. It is a reference point used by most people in the West to imagine what these figures may have looked like.

However, these depictions may not be accurate.

“Based on these pieces, and many other pieces in Christian art throughout the centuries, I really do not think that art has done an accurate job of portraying what the figures in the Bible looked like in their time,” said Ian Bell, senior applied theology major.

These biblical figures are centered in Christianity, a faith that originates in the Middle East. Paintings like “The Last Supper” notably depict Jesus and his disciples as Europeans with fair skin tones. These de- pictions are di erent from the appearances of actual Israelites and Middle Eastern peoples, from where these biblical figures are meant to be derived.

“Since people of Jewish descent and heritage did not make religious figures in visual arts in antiquity, we actually do not know what key biblical figures looked like for sure,” said Dr. Je Cate, professor of New Testament. “But there are plenty of noticeable features in famous biblical paintings that are at odds with what we do know about culture in biblical times and places.”

“The Virgin and Child with St. Anne,” created between 1500 and 1513 by Leonardo da Vinci, may be a prime example of the inaccuracies of Biblical figures. The art piece features St. Anne, the grandmother of Jesus, the Virgin Mary and an infant Jesus. St. Anne is shown looking toward Mary, who is sitting on her lap and Mary is herself looking into Jesus’ eyes. Jesus is shown holding onto a lamb, which may symbolize his passion.

The white European portrayal of these figures makes “The Virgin and Child with St. Anne” inaccurate because they would have had features of Middle Eastern descent rather than European features. Another issue is that St. Anne is not technically referenced in the New Testament canon. St. Anne receives credence in the non-canon Gospel of James.

Another and perhaps most famous piece by da Vinci, “The Last Supper,” also contains inaccuracies. Created between 1495 and 1498, the piece portrays the scene described in Matthew 26:21-28, where Jesus is gathered with his disciples the night Judas betrays him. Besides the ethnic inaccuracy of the figures in this piece, there is also a cultural inaccuracy. Israel was under Roman occupation during the time of Jesus, and due to the Hel- lenization of the land, Greek culture and customs were imposed on those under Greek and Roman occupation.

Matthew 26:20 (ESV) says that Jesus and his disciples reclined at the table to eat. Reclining in this period would refer to laying down on one’s side and dining around the table.

“The Last Supper” depicts Jesus and his disciples sitting upright, presumably on chairs, entirely on one side of the table. Although the scene attempts to emphasize the dramatic events of the last supper according to Scripture, it still needs to portray biblical accuracy.

“Da Vinci’s famous ‘Last Supper’ painting (1495-1498) has blue skies out the windows even though the Passover Seder would have been after sundown,” Cate said. “And not only are all 13 individuals on one side of the table, as if using a selfie stick, but they are also in chairs at a table, when typical Jewish meals at that time