Modern Marriage

Hogarth’s series Marriage a-la-Mode is interesting in that it is an artistic parody of marriage in the eighteenth century. If I were to make a similar artistic parody of today, I would start out with a Facebook friend invite, since so many people are meeting online now-a-days. What would follow would be a photo of the couple texting literally for months on account of people today being far too lame to call each other on the phone (heaven forbid they should open themselves up to a real relationship). 

Next would be a first encounter where the couple is both excited to see each other, but feeling awkward, since they don’t get any romantic interaction except on the Internet.  The first encounter is a very important part of the series since these long distance/no physical relationships are so much more common now than they were once upon a time.

The next step (assuming the couple got as far as an actual relationship) would be the marriage preparation, which would basically be a print off of the woman’s Pintrest. The man on the other hand would be playing Call of Duty letting her do all the work.

After that would be a photo of an overpriced and drunken wedding with a lot of iPhones taking Instagram pictures of everything while the groomsman and the bridesmaids run off in the background together. Ladies crying, father’s cringing at the site of the bill, some things never change.

 Finally, (and this is my view of society’s view on marriage) the marriage would likely end a few years later on account of money problems or immaturity and boredom.

 I think that ever generation could have complaints to say and parodies to write on the subject of marriage, because marriage has never been a perfect institution.  It is a something that has to be worked at, and is not for the faint of heart.  Only the best of people can make a successful marriage last and remain happy, but that is something worth fighting for.