a little voyeurism

Why is it so interesting when someone else falls in love? Is our fascination purely voyeuristic, like the you-are-there of reality-TV? Is it jealousy or some unwavering belief in lovers as heroes? What is this relationship? We ask ourselves - and them - let’s take it apart and find out. Like those YouTube videos where you’re shown how to do French-tip nails. Is love an impulse, a one-time hookup or even a summer fling, or is it about finding ‘the one’ in the face of our own obligations and ineptitudes? Love’s ‘high concept’ - it’s many things at once - it’s physical, emotional, intimate - maybe even sexual. Part of our interest has to be our affection (or dislike) of the characters involved. A relationship isn’t a ‘performance,’ of course, but as friends we might be considered an ‘audience’. Love is drama. There’s a cast - with their chemistry. There’s a plot - shot through with compelling incidents, difficult situations, tear-jerking agonies, and shocking twists. The sweet moments, between the actual ‘wow, this is happening’ and everyone finding out. The time the secret belongs to the lovers - that’s their chance to privately define their ungainly new reality - but soon enough, the world finds out, and there’s interest. At its best, love is the gentle handling of consciousness itself, to evoke the effective resonance of pleasure. But has it ever truly been a private experience? . . Songs for this: Me and Mrs. Jones by Michael Bublé (maybe the sexiest song ever) Me and Mr. Jones by Amy Winehouse