LET US BECOME SHARPER/TNS PODCAST

Love's Lost Art - What Happened to Romance

• CJ

Share episode

Remember when romance meant carefully crafted love letters, mixtapes filled with heartfelt ballads, and moments of genuine vulnerability? Our latest conversation tackles the puzzling disappearance of these romantic traditions from modern culture, examining how we've collectively shifted from Jodeci's desert serenades to a world where showing affection gets you labeled as "simping."

The panel explores how music has historically shaped our romantic expectations. Where once R&B artists like Boys II Men, Keith Sweat, and Carl Thomas celebrated emotional depth and passionate pursuit, today's hits often reduce relationships to purely physical or financial transactions. This transformation mirrors broader cultural changes – when was the last time you saw romance genuinely portrayed in popular media?

One striking revelation emerges across generational lines: many young people today have never witnessed authentic romance. "They haven't even seen it. They don't even know what it is," observes Nina, highlighting how romance has become foreign to an entire generation raised on dating apps and reality TV conflicts. The rise of "Galentine's Day" serves as powerful evidence of how dramatically the romantic landscape has shifted.

We explore how technology has created an environment where connections have become too easily accessible, eliminating the need to "work for" relationships. As Delaina aptly notes, "Why do I have to buy edible arrangements when it comes too easy?" This convenience culture, combined with mixed messages about gender roles from single-parent households, has created a perfect storm against romance.

Ready to reverse this trend? Join our pledged commitment to bring back genuine romantic expression without fear of judgment. Let's challenge the notion that vulnerability equals weakness and reclaim the art of authentic connection in relationships.