Definition Essay
Objects Need Love Too
The word love was first linked to ancient romantic poetry, but historians believe the roots of modern romantic love came from courtly Europe during or after the Middle Ages. However, since then the common conception of love has been affected by the literature, music, and art that have been introduced to our society over the years. Today, society views love as a feeling of tender affection or attraction towards someone. Ironically, that is the general misconception for the meaning of love. Love should be viewed as a dedicated commitment or passion towards a person or an object that an individual can’t be without. Feelings of love do not have to be restricted to only being shared with humans; it is possible to share emotions of love with living and nonliving things and other objects. Instances where love is shown towards objects can be seen everyday in literature, art, or movies.
When asked what love means to him, Scott Kovanda, a freshmen student at Ball State University, replied, “I think of a never ending bond between two people, that causes you to want to be with them all day.” Scott’s opinion on love seems to match the word’s formal definition; that love is simply a feeling of tender affection, attraction, or desire for somebody. Many times I even agree with the stereotypical thoughts of society when it comes to the meaning of true love. I experience the feelings and emotions attached to love with other human beings everyday of my life. Those feelings consist of friendship, security, trust, and loyalty, while I experience emotions of happiness, excitement, and sadness. The emotions and feelings that I feel are often directed towards my family, friends, teammates, and girlfriend. I tend to feel this way about these people because they have had a big impact on my life, and I know they share a similar love for me. However, the feelings and emotions that I depicted do not necessarily have to be restricted to human relationships.
I have felt love for other things besides humans, such as various living and nonliving things and other objects. In this case the meaning of love is a dedicated commitment or passion for something that one can’t live without, compared to being a feeling of tender affection or attraction for somebody. The only noticeable difference between loving humans and loving objects or things is that nonliving things are unable to return love. For instance, I have always had a love for the game of football, which isn’t human and isn’t able to display an expression of love in return. Nevertheless, I like to say that it is a game that I have made a dedicated commitment towards and have held a passion for. Consequently, football has impacted my life, similar to the way certain humans I share love with have. To be honest, there is nothing more exhilarating in this world than running out onto a field with the fight song playing, while thousands of fans are screaming at the top of their lungs. I have learned a lot of life lessons from playing football and have gained a ton of memories as well, which results in my strong feelings for the game. My love for football is so genuine that I went to the lengths of getting a tribal football tattooed on my right shoulder blade. This tattoo will be with me forever to remind others of my love for the game. My experience with football is only one example of how it’s possible to share love with objects, things, or even sports.
In recent interviews I conducted, I was able to gain evidence of other people stating their love for things besides humans and not even realizing it. “I love Meagan Yoder’s house, it’s beautiful. It is the house of my dreams.” This was the reply from Courtney Springer, a junior student at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, after being asked about the last thing she recalled saying that she loved. Courtney displayed a legitimate love for the house in this statement even though it is only a lifeless entity. When asked the same question Steve Schott, another freshmen at Ball State University, referred to a statement he made earlier that day when he claimed that he loved ice cream. I’m sure those around Steve at the time didn’t acknowledge the statement, but it seems that he shares a passion for something that is also lifeless. These statements are two more examples of people displaying love or passion towards common objects.
The feeling of love towards common objects is around us everyday, and can be seen throughout society’s literature, art, or movies. In Jon Chu’s Step Up 2: The Streets, Andie, the main character of the movie has a love for dancing. Her commitment and passion for her hobby is so extensive that when she is threatened with being sent away she enrolls in a performing arts school that she despises. The only reasons that she agrees to attend the school are so she isn’t shipped away and so she is able to continue to dance on a daily basis. Along with practice, her commitment and involvement in the school results in the loss of her friends, but she continues to hold true to her passion for dance. This is an occurrence where love is being shared with something other than a human in today’s entertainment.
In turn, society’s view or definition of love, which has been evolved over the years, is partially correct; that love can be a feeling of tender affection, attraction, or desire towards another person. However, love can be shared with so many other things besides humans, such as living and nonliving things and other objects. There doesn’t have to be an expression of love in return in order to show a dedicated commitment or passion for someone or something.
