Why has society become obsessed with ‘Obsession’?
Putting Calvin Klein’s famed fragrance aside, our society seems to have its own smell with the same name. Obsession: it’s the air we breathe…but does it smell good? Dictionary.com defines obsession as “the domination of one's thoughts or feelings by a persistent idea, image, desire, etc.”
The compulsion of the North American society seems to have reached epidemic proportions. But did you notice? When and how it slithered into our garden is not defined by a single answer, but much like Adam and Eve, it has been our own choosing. In fact, it’s a concept that is so engraved into our daily routines that we haven’t really stopped to notice, raise, or discuss this issue. Or perhaps to decide on whether it really is an issue at all?
What ever happened to an idea, image, or desire being given the worth it deserves, and no more, and taking the time to appreciate it for what it is? It seems almost instinct in our society no matter the subject; to latch hold, run, make noise, with flashing lights and silly string. This may sound like exaggeration, but if we truly examine how society becomes obsessed over anything so easily, it is nothing short of the truth. The golden question: Are we really that obsessed with that which encircles us or have we just created for ourselves a strange obsession with being obsessed?
You don’t have to travel far to become infected by this mind game. Focusing on the 21st century, we come across obsession in money, food, celebrities, reality shows, clothing, and even topics as intangible as violence. You breathe it in every day.
It’s not surprising money makes it to the top of the obsession list. In fact, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the popular ‘money’ theme song from Donald Trump’s The Apprentice was chiming through your head right now. In short, the reason we spend the majority of our waking hours at work, is to bring home the dough. We’re in a day and age where workaholics have become the norm, sleep is considered luxury, and you’re a nobody unless you can afford to wear somebody else’s name. What sense does this make? This is a land where The Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous is no longer a TV show portraying those opulent few. Today, with a little luck and a lot of hard work, anyone can make a million dollars.
In a sense, we really do eat, breathe and sleep ‘money’. If you’re not absorbed with thoughts about how to spend your money, then it’s how to pay back money you owe, or the money you want to make so badly. These thoughts seem omnipresent. Why? Although important, why do we let our money, or lack thereof, define us as individuals and completely consume us? It’s not a secret that we serve money, but shouldn’t money serve us? Walking down the street, you can almost see the dollar signs over pupils and hear the cash register sounds as they speak. The cute expression has gone broke, because ‘A penny isn’t so pretty anymore’. Smells a bit like obsession.
Who would have ever thought that something as small as our mouth would be a floodgate to one of society’s biggest obsessions: food. A balanced diet is like a foreign language to the North American culture. There are only two ends to this scale: too thin and too fat. It may sound harsh, but that’s exactly what is happening in our continent – its all we talk about. Can you ever remember a time when someone you know wasn’t on a diet or that your restaurant portion size wasn’t ridiculously more than your stomach could hold? These different angles on food, affect us on a daily, and even hourly basis. We are constantly bombarded with this topic.
In the past couple of years there has suddenly been a realization of our extreme ends of the scale, with a new goal for healthy eating. It doesn’t take much thought to see that it has only amplified the obsession frenzy. We are hurled into new compulsions with oh-so-skinny models being banned from runways, and limited calorie snacks replacing impulse strips in our favorite convenience stores everywhere. Although it’s society’s attempt for healthier lifestyles, it only floods our minds even more, if that were possible. Somehow the calories that go through our mouths end up in our brain, and filling our sense of smell with obsession.
Celebrities and reality shows are different players, but they’re in the same game. Celebrities saturate the movies, television, consumer products, and are even a favorite lunchtime topic. Their presence is hard to avoid, to say the least. Why? Is it because we have a desire to be associated with these ‘VIPs’? Do we want to be like them? Maybe a little, but is there really a reason to be this involved with people we don’t even know and will probably never talk to? The car-crashing paparazzi are only there to satisfy what society demands. Obsession is starting to smell ridiculous.
When some of you hear the words ‘reality show’ you probably roll your eyes or have something to say, whether good or bad. Finally! An obsession that we are at least aware exists! A step forward, but still, the pit is too slippery. Despite awareness, reality shows continue to be cash cows. Maybe you brush it off by thinking it’s that 15 minutes of fame that seems to be an instinctual desire inside us. The infamous show Survivor is what started this barreling bandwagon. What happened next? The silly string exploded. Why do reality shows continue to clog the airwaves, and be so successful despite the declining quality? The only explanation is that it’s hard to extinguish a wildfire once it starts, and the smoke smells like obsession.
When did this disease grow? How did we let ourselves get so out of control? Why does society sabotage itself, taking the meaning out of everything? The smell is sickly and we certainly don’t want to obsess over obsession. Next time something fills your every thought, instead of acting out of compulsion, stop to consider your reasoning. Is there any reasoning at all? Will we continue to spray the air with obsession until we one day render ourselves completely senseless? Now it’s time for your answer: Are we really that obsessed with that which encircles us, or have we just created for ourselves a strange obsession with being obsessed?
(by Rebecca Campbell)
