Real Love vs. Infatuation: I Love You, I Love You Not (C&C Essay)

"I Love You". These three words can be easy to say, but can be difficult to understand as they hold different meanings. "What more can it possibly mean?" A person might wonder, but saying "I Love You" does not necessarily mean that a person is showing his or her love. Ironically, it is more like he or she is showing another kind of feeling; which is called infatuation. Love and infatuation can easily be mistaken for each other, but even though most people think that they are the same, being in love and being infatuated have major differences in terms of their basis, characteristics, and effects.


Ideal guys and ideal girls, this is what a person searching for "love" usually looks out for; but can it really be called love once you meet your ideal partner? Most people think so, but that feeling cannot really be called love; it is infatuation. As Samson Itoje stated in his 2007 article, infatuation is another kind of feeling that focuses more on a person's physical aspect and satisfaction. When a person claims to be in love at first sight is a concrete example of being infatuated. How can a person say that he or she is already in love when he or she just saw the person? It just proves that the person was just being infatuated with the other person's appearance. Real love, on the other hand, is not just focused on a person's physical aspect. As Samson Itoje also stated in his 2007 article, real love is mostly focused on reality; it also involves making sacrifices for the sake of the other. This kind of feeling can usually be found in "unexpected" couples, or couples that most people find incompatible. When people see an ugly guy going out with a beautiful girl, or vice-versa, they usually say that it is real love. Why? Because people can be assured that it is not based on physical attraction. Cruel, yes, but it is the truth; hence the saying called "Real Love is Blind".


Basis is not the only difference between love and infatuation, they still differ when it comes to their characteristics. Infatuation is selfish; it is primarily interested in personal "feelings". Also, infatuation can easily be weakened by time and separation. Infatuated people have the tendency to forget about people whom they spend less time with. On the contrary, real love is selfless; it seeks more to give than to receive. It unselfishly seeks the highest good for the other person. Also, unlike infatuation, real love is strengthened by time and separation, but it does not mean that there is no pain in it. Rather, there is much more pain in separation when a person is really in love.


The last notable difference between these two feelings are their effects. After being infatuated, people usually feel that they had wasted time. Eventually, they realize that they did not really fall in love. There are also times when people feel irritated as they think that they just made a fool out of themselves for believing that they had been in love. Being in love, however, makes a person feel satisfied and committed. It makes people appreciate life even more; sometimes, they even feel as if they can live forever as long as they are with their partners.


In the end, infatuation and real love are two very different feelings, but it does not mean that one cannot lead to another. Infatuation can eventually lead to real love; it just depends on a person's choice and effort in his or her life.



References:
http://psychcentral.com/library/love_infatuation.html
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/28170

Making a Music Video: Not as Easy as You Think (Process Essay)

"Where is the love?", by Black Eyed Peas, "Thriller" by Michael Jackson, and "Down" by Jay Sean. These are examples of famous songs made known through their music videos. Have you ever wondered how they were made? Have you ever wondered how a normal video can have such an impact? People often see a music video simply as an advertisement, a way to publicize the song, but in fact, a music video is a lot more than that. A music video is not just a "video", but it is also an interpretation of the creator's feelings based on the thought of the song.


Making a music video can prove to be a difficult task as one must prepare all the necessary things carefully. The first thing that a person needs to do before making a video is to decide on the song. It is important to choose a song that the creator can relate to as this will make it easier for him or her to express his or her own thoughts. After selecting a song, it is best to pick out actors who can also relate to it. Afterall, a good actor is essential to a good illustration. Next to the selection is to decide on the setting and to direct events that will fit the song. Aside from the actors, the setting is also important as it strengthens the theme of the video. Just imagine the song "Love Story" being done on a cemetery, pretty awkward right? Although it can be said that it is creativity, it is still not right to shoot a song about love on a place full of dead people; it will just ruin the theme of the song. To cut the long story short, it is best to prioritize the thought of the song while planning a music video.


Preparing all the things needed for a music video is important, but editing takes the top priority. Afterall, a person cannot combine the clips with the song randomly; editing is similar to directing. All clips should be arranged to go with the flow of the song. This is not simple as all clips should be analyzed carefully before being edited. Without doing so, editing will not be as effective as it should be.


After video editing, it is natural for all contributors to be given proper recognition. It is also better if the video can be evaluated by some experts. If the need arises, final revisions should be made before distributing it.


In the end, the art of video making is not simple; it is all about illustrating the thought of a song through the video. It is difficult and challenging, but it can also be fun. Any person who is planning to make a music video should always remember that he or she will not make a normal video, but he or she will make a video full of emotions and feelings that will affect anyone who will be watching it.