Monday, November 19, 2012

Humanities Homework: Enlightenment Blog Post


Marriages and how they stand today have made a very large impact in the marriage society.  With half of all of marriages in the United States ending in divorce, it is not surprising that many people do not take marriage seriously or see it as a top priority and positive step in life.  Most problems that affect marriages today have a lot to do with money, independence, habits, and communication.  Though arranged marriages are not common in the US today like Hogarth’s series show, actually arranging how a marriage will work out is very popular these days.  Many couples will decide to experiment how their marriage will work out by living together first.  Many have lawyers and plans ready so if they decide marriage isn’t worth it, they will have a fair share what of “what’s mine and what’s yours.” 

Another problem we see is financial stability.  Though people still marry for money and wealth, there are a lot of very successful men and women who are independent and can rely on themselves for financial stability, many of a mindset that they do not need anyone else when they have a nice place, a nice job, and make enough money to provide for just them, so why share or change that?  I think if I were to come up with a series to represent today’s marriages, it would be a little similar to Hogarth’s, just with different circumstances.  I would start with a couple who is preparing to “experiment” living together before getting married sitting down with their attorneys, making a plan and deciding how to split things if their living situation doesn’t work out.  I would then show the two in their home together, looking satisfied and content.  The next picture would probably be them becoming aggravated or no longer interested in each other, maybe a fight happens because of unfaithfulness or financial problem, and last, I would show them moving on and going their separate ways. 

I think this relates to Hogarth’s in the way of the somewhat “corrupt” marriage, it is arranged, just in a more modern way.  Something happens where they become distanced from their partner because of an affair or other disagreement and then move on with their lives.  Because Hogarth’s shows murder and a marriage based off money, today’s marriage would not be able to relate to it.

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