CHECK REALITY

In an ever-evolving world, our concept of reality continuously changes. Just like waking up after a night of bad choices, reality can hit like a truck. But what if everything we knew to be reality was fiction or fabrication? The concept of hyperreality is one that can be hard to recognize as it is an inability to distinguish reality from simulation.

This distortion of what we know to be true comes in many forms, each as consumable and addicting as the next. Reality television, photoshop, computer-generated imagery and certain influencers are considered simulations of reality. Magazines, production companies and media have been profiting off of hyperreality for years as their consumers buy into unrealistic Photoshop edits or reality TV shows. Even some athletes are culpable by drinking a flavor of a sports drink that does not even exist like, “fruity zest berry”.

While the world continues to turn with these versions of reality, humans’ inability to recognize what is true may be too far gone. The normalization of distorted images has impacted our perception of what reality is. While there is more information at our fingertips than ever before, the value of it is beginning to mean less as our world becomes contrived. Behaviorally, the uptick in hyperreality has allowed our tools, like Photoshop or Google, to shape who and how we are, rather than the other way around. This immersion into a fully digital world has blurred the lines to the “real world,” allowing our lives to become disillusions.

While it would be nearly impossible to find someone who has been untouched by this concept in our postmodern world, the desensitization to raw human emotion could be detrimental. Humans have adjusted to this hyperreal society, amplifying expectations of perfect bodies like those produced through photoshop, trying to match the thrill we feel at a theme park or romantic hopes built off of reality T.V. couples. Whether or not hyperreality is reversible is no longer a question.

While escapism is necessary, what’s scarier? A reality check or never knowing real from fake? Hyperreality was cemented in our society through programs like Photoshop, but with the rise of virtual reality and artificial intelligence, it is expanding even further–whether we can recognize it or not.

The buzz of a text eliciting a smile. A quick kiss before getting dropped off at night. Those slight flirtatious comments that can make someone feel like the only person in the world. The glow of the talking stage — all to be shattered by one single text late at night: “R u up?”

Hookup culture encourages casual sex and relationships that are not directly established. Hookup culture does provide a certain allure with no commitment, casual sex and multiple partners. Yet, due to this culture, it has become increasingly more popular to abandon romance.

So, why has hookup culture suddenly been embedded into our love lives? Anastasia Hanonick from The University News, credits this to the average age of marriage “being tested and pushed back. This creates a weird gap where we don’t feel mature enough to find the ‘loves of our life’ yet.” Dating Apps make it convenient to explore potential dating prospects without the commitment associated with finding “the one.”

The realities of hook-up culture vary. Risks range from commitment and trust issues, to threats and sexual health complications. Hook-up culture’s nonrelationship idea presents an opportunity for people who want to engage in relationships without the necessary vulnerability and commitment, sometimes at the expense of their partner.

Romantic connection is more than a late night, three-word text. While there is nothing inherently wrong with exploring non-committal relationships, hook-up culture can exchange emotional intimacy for sexual intimacy. A late night text can be healthy when the motivations and intentions behind hitting send are understood. Without recognizing the significance in prioritizing boundaries and vulnerabilities involved in casual sex, “R u up?” can turn a fun night into an endless spiral that leaves no one fulfilled.

Words: Lane Pruban

Photo: Josh Denver, Trina Fiebig

Glam: Emily Burke, Andie Bahm

Spread Designer: Libby Wagner

Model: Neha Gurung

Style: Lane Pruban, Sierra Law, Anna Webber