Series and Music
Escapism has recently become a problem among the youth because today with the appearance of computers and television it is much easier to keep out of the problem solving and taking responsibility than it used to be at the time our parents were young, as there were not as many ways to do so. Nonetheless, although, sometimes people use television or music to estrange from troubling thoughts and unpleasant feelings provoked by some circumstances in life, in some cases, this reason is not exclusive, and one could overlook the dual nature of the excessive need in the mass media.
It is true that sometimes people use entertainment programs to escape from the reality of boring routine and daily life, however, it could be possible that an individual does not want to add excitement to one’s life; on the opposite, he or she looks for the catalyst, which will make their acute emotions switch over internal tranquility and equilibrium (Hastall, 2017). For instance, I am choleric; it is a kind of temperament which could be characterized by irascibility, density, an abrupt change in mood (Chamorro-Premuzic & Furnham, 2014), so from time to time I could barely moderate my feelings.
The easiest way to distract oneself is to watch TV series. Usually, the thing that allows my temper to calm down and help to keep on my social interaction with the society are the last episodes of a popular sitcom.
Music can also serve as a perfect moderator of stress, which spreads over the whole body. It is a widely known truth that it helps not only our minds to relax and regain strength, but also lowers the blood pressure, normalizes the heart rate and the pulse, reduces the number of stress hormones.
Movies
Hastall (2017) underscores that “media escapism is a complex phenomenon that involves specific motivations, cognitions, emotional states, media choices, media use periods, and short-term as well as long-term consequences.” In other words, it is just one of the ways to deal with the stressful situation such as depression, comfort eating or even a common sleep.
The motivation for the escape from the reality could be triggered by any unpleasant situation in life, which happens quite often during the teenage period when apart from the external problems, the endocrine profile is unstable and may be the reason for the unpredictable change in mood. Thus, the alternative reality such as cinematography could offer a sense of security, which would prevent a young man or woman from the emotional breakdown.
When I watch movies, I want to forget about the reality for some time, but not to escape from it. Therefore, whenever I switch on the film, I am trying to leave behind all the violence of a daily life: the men sitting in the public transport, while the fragile women are bound to stand, the cruelty of the people in the lines, antisemitism, racism or gender inequality.
Even though I comprehend that it is completely impossible to run from the unpleasant reality, I can at least put it out of mind for some time. Escapism helps me to take a step away from the feelings when I am on the edge of my emotions, and watching a comedy, or a thriller regains my emotional equilibrium, which helps me to solve the problems of my daily life.
References
Chamorro-Premuzic T. & Furnham A. (2014). Personality and intellectual competence. Mahwah, NJ: Psychology Press.
Hastall, M.R. (2017) Escapism. The International Encyclopedia of Media Effects.