The ancients may not have experienced love as people do today. Relationships depended more on fulfilment of duties. When Christianity and God’s love came to prominence, people could love unrelated others. In the 12^th Century, romantic love was idealistic about individuals but cynical about institutions, with gallantry and seduction continuing until today. In the Enlightenment (1685 – 1815), there was more idealism about institutions, laws and governments. 

In the 1960s the Youth Revolution in America had the Beatles proclaiming ‘All You Need Is Love’ and it was taken up by a hippy social movement. Then a Frenchman, Guy de Bord, in 1967 pointed out in his book ‘The Society of the Spectacle that the appearance of commodity products and images was displacing reason and truth in the production of public goods, causing worker and consumer alienation. 

Love was commodified and extraneous qualities flooded society until it was awash with commercial renditions of love. The appearances and images projected by capitalist producers colonised social life. The marriage industry produced identical experiences depersonalised events. The spectacle became less and less active and more and more contemplative and people were getting hurt.

My satire ‘Short of Love’ set at that time has a commodified love relationship that runs into unexpected problems with an unfortunate result. Love is usually more personal today.

‘Short of Love’ is available on Amazon. Reviews: martinknox.com