I’m going to say something crazy. Don’t worry its not Church of Scientology crazy. Are you sitting down for this? Here goes nothing: it is possible to have romance without being in a relationship or even dating. Romance isn’t necessarily Ryan Gosling dripping in the rain yelling about the postal service. Romance is defined as a quality or feeling of mystery, excitement and remoteness from everyday life. It’s about a moment or feeling too beautiful or poetically awful to seem real. Yes, it can mean any scene from a Nicolas Sparks book, but it can also mean so much more.
Here’s a perfect example. The Romanticism period in art history wasn’t filled with paintings containing cupids and lovers. Instead, the movement was all about glorifying feelings. Academics and science was pushed away to believe in senses and emotions. One of the most famous paintings in the movement was “Liberty Leading the People” by Delacroix. In the painting, Lady Liberty leads the people toward the French Revolution. Why was this considered romantic? The painting gives the viewer a sense of hope and freedom. Staring at the painting makes viewers want to yell, “Viva la Revolution!” with Lady Liberty and the French.
Photo courtesy of www.eugene-delacroix.com.
What romance means is entirely up to the beholder. Personally, I find summer nights with a star-filled sky and a bonfire romantic. My friends and I don’t have to talk about anything nor do I have to have someone’s arm around me to make it romantic. Looking out at the city on the fifth floor at Spring House is romantic. When everyone waves their cell phones at a concert it’s romantic. Friendships can be romantic. Specifically, the moment when you meet someone and feel like you were friends in a previous life. The interpretation is all up to you.
Despite the honorable intentions of Tinder, romance is extremely hard to find, even more so when it is defined as one thing. This is the reason why we need to broaden the definition. Let’s spread the word that this could be the generation of new romantics. Take a picture of what you think is romantic and tag @hercampusscad on Instagram. First person to take a picture of a candlelit dinner for two loses.