At that climactic emotional moment in a movie, that point at which a character realizes something dramatic or experiences something meaningful, you’ll find me sat there crying. I couldn’t count on my fingers, toes and eyebrow hairs how many times I’ve bawled over a film, a book or a television show. Whether it’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s, The Tigger Movie or even (and this has shocked many) The Devil Wears Prada, I just can’t resist having a good cry. Does this mean I’m overemotional or simply in touch with my emotions?
Well, I could certainly be seen as overemotional, or at least I used to be. When I was younger, I wouldn’t just make a mountain out of a molehill, I’d make mountains out of flat land, creating issues that drove me emotionally when they meant absolutely nothing to me. It was not good. In fact, I still know people that do that and I know from first hand experience that it just drives you into a vicious cycle of ‘why does everything in my life go wrong?’. That’s not to say my childhood wasn’t fun too, but that’s another story for another time.
 |
| This one is 'Bought from Japan by my Godfather' |
I find myself making emotional attachments to each and every object I own, which is why I couldn’t bear to part with any of the many, many cuddly animals I had for years – I still have a huge stockpile of them in my attic each with their own story, ‘the first Beanie Baby I bought’, ‘Travelled with me to Florida’ or ‘Was given to me by my grandma’. They’re like little furry reminders of beautiful moments in my life. I take this even further when watching TV shows or films, where I become attached to fictional character’s possessions. Take, for example, a scene from Scrubs a little while ago. One of the doctors, Elliot, has decided to get rid of her ‘good girl’ image and have a life makeover. Thus, she begins destroying her bedroom. I have to admit, I was mildly distraught by this and couldn’t help thinking ‘didn’t you want to keep any of this?’. It didn’t bring me to tears, but I was pretty close.
Perhaps I am oversentimental in this regard, or even dangerously materialistic, but what’s the harm in a little nostalgia every now and again? After all, I think it’s only by looking on what you’ve done that you can change yourself for the better and be who you want to be. If I didn’t address my past and my emotions, and kept it all bottled up inside, I’d be a mess in no time.
But what is it about art that causes me to cry? Books, television, movies all contain these life stories and development, emotional highs and lows that lead me to crying. In my young age, I’ve still managed to become quite a cynic and I find myself recognising and predicting a lot of cliché moments. In most stories you know that the guy will get the girl, the hero will overcome the villain and love will conquer all or indeed, if you’re in a tragedy that everything will go wrong. You can watch a film and know exactly what will happen.
 |
| I'm not this bad, honest |
Why then, do I cry at the end, if I knew it was going to happen? I think that’s actually exactly why I cry. It works as dramatic irony, I can see the end coming but it only makes it more powerful when the characters encounter it themselves; I’ve even found myself crying before the end, just because I know what’s coming. Music, also, is actually a huge part of the ‘crying reflex’ for me; the rousing, tension building symphonies, or indeed cheesy pop songs, in TV & films means that I feel that extra bit more emotionally connected and at a peak of vulnerability to the overstrung emotions. Of course, there are many other reasons like the quality of the writing or acting and the visual presentation but these two seem the most affecting to me.
But really, I don’t care what it is that makes me cry because I’m quite happy doing it. It means I’m capable of empathy (hoorah!) and that I have outlet for my emotions – I was a stress-depressy child, but now I’m a pretty damn chilled adult (just about) which is good with me.
