By Andrew Hansen

I wish to address a disturbing trend in pop culture, which is penetrating BYU. In response to the recent arrival of the film "Twilight," which gathered $70.6 million in its opening weekend, let us be concerned with the unrealities depicted in popular media. I can understand that the viewers of "Twilight" and other cheesy, exaggerated and dramatic romances enjoy the emotions and passion evoked from these films. May I, however, pose a question: Is it not an emotionally pornographic practice to participate in such media? According to "Let Virtue Garnish Thy Thoughts Unceasingly," an LDS pamphlet, "pornography depicts or describes the human body or sexual conduct in a way that arouses sexual feelings. It may be found in written material (including romance novels), photographs, movies, electronic images, video games, Internet chat rooms, erotic telephone conversations, music or any other medium. It is a tool of the adversary."

Whether it is the viewing of a chick flick, reading a romance novel or viewing Internet material, the results may be the same - such as unrealistic expectations of the opposite gender, skewed senses of reality, thriving on shallow or inconsequential emotions, selfishness and desensitization. Guys, do you feel we are being measured against Edward the vampire or the caring affection of Shayne West from "A Walk to Remember?" Do you have the right things to say at every given moment, or the strong chin and chiseled abs of a Matthew McConaughey or the serenading voice of Michael Bubl?? Girls, please don't shoot yourselves in the foot by thinking there just has to be some Edward or Brad Pitt out there for you. If you do find such a man so perfect, good luck trying to keep up with his perfection. Let us not lose sight of or skew the divinely assigned process of courtship and affection.

As a psychology and neuroscience student I have become increasingly aware of the differences in genders. For men, visual stimuli (flames, explosions, scantily clad women and guns) are more tempting whereas the emotional (tear jerking scenes and moving musical melodies) is more appealing to women. Whatever the format of the stimulus in media, the result is the same. Strong, godlike and sacred emotions and actions are portrayed unrealistically and exploited for the viewers' carnal pleasure. I hope none of us may be caught up in the list of the addicting "twilight zone." May I conclude on the statement that this twilight zone of a double standard in our society is a condoning of "emotional pornography."

Andrew Hansen is studying psychology and neuroscience and is from South Jordan.

Copyright Brigham Young University 5 Dec 2008