The Romanticism of War in Social Media

 by Navi K

Poster for the film, Oh! What a Lovely War, 1969,
which satirised the glorification of war

Lately, I’ve noticed that there’s been a trend in algorithms regarding the promotion of war or the idea of conscription. While these portrayals may evoke feelings of heroism and patriotism, they often overlook the harsh realities and ethical dilemmas associated with armed conflict- and as a result it glorifies the concept of being a soldier.

Impact on Perception

One of the primary issues with romanticising war is the distortion of public perception regarding the true nature of armed conflict. By portraying war as noble and heroic, the grim realities of violence, loss, and suffering are often downplayed or ignored. This skewed perception can influence societal attitudes towards military intervention and perpetuate a cycle of glorification that obscures the human cost of war. For example, video edits of the military never display the gruesome side of the battle. They show camaraderie, uniforms and planes. By manipulating the comradeship that can result within soldiers, it can subtly persuade people to enlist- ignoring the countless issues that could arise by joining.

Ethical Considerations

Romanticising war can also raise ethical concerns by glamorising violence and warfare. By idealising soldiers as fearless heroes and framing war as a noble endeavour, the moral complexities of armed conflict are often overlooked. This can desensitise individuals to the inherent brutality of war and undermine critical discussions about the ethics of military action. It sparks the decline in empathy within younger generations particularly within males ( not saying that females can’t feel similarly either ) as they find the concept of having a position of power as exciting and fun. As well as this, by having the mindset that they’re doing a noble thing within the lines of patriotism- it can cause morality to slip as it’s certainly extremely difficult to draw the line between defending a country and causing more bloodshed. 

Impact on Soldiers

For soldiers themselves, the romanticisation of military service can have detrimental effects on mental health and well-being. The pressure to conform to idealised notions of heroism and bravery can create unrealistic expectations and exacerbate feelings of guilt, shame, and inadequacy.  Soldiers may struggle with the psychological toll of combat, post-traumatic stress, and the challenges of reintegrating into civilian life after deployment. Furthermore, unaware generations will mostly turn a blind eye to the damaging mental issues that participating in war can bring- which means they will end up having a greater shock/affect if they do decide to enlist.

Family Dynamics

Moreover, the romanticisation of being a soldier can impact families and loved ones of service members. The glorification of military service may overshadow the sacrifices and hardships endured by families, such as prolonged separations, emotional strain, and the constant fear for the safety of their loved ones. Some consider enlistment as an ‘escape’ or a back-up plan for when things go wrong in life, which undermines the sheer amount of strain that being in the military can cause on family, friends and others- given that most soldiers are expected to take long amounts of time away from people who aren’t involved in their line of work.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the romanticisation of war and being a soldier perpetuates a distorted narrative that fails to capture the complexities, ethical dilemmas, and human costs of armed conflict. By critically examining and challenging idealised portrayals of military service, we can foster a more nuanced understanding of war and its impacts on individuals, families, and society as a whole. This article was not to undermine the idea of being a soldier as a job, it was simply to illustrate the importance of choosing such a risk-filled line of work with a lot of discussion and thought put behind it, instead of being blindly optimistic about becoming some form of soldier due to a biassed, badly-disguised form of propaganda on social media.