What Independence Day (1996) Reveals About Men, Relationships, and Hypergamy | Then and Now

Intro let's take a quick trip back to 1996 a year full of major events the launch of DVDs revolutionizing how we watched movies the Summer Olympics in Atlanta putting Global athletes in the spotlight Dolly the sheep was cloned sparking debates about science and technology Bill Clinton secured his second term as president and of course the internet was just beginning to change the world forever but among all these milestones one thing stands out the Blockbuster hit Independence Day released on the 4th of July Welcome To Earth the movie gave us everything American Military might leadership and Global heroism Bill Pullman as the US president rallying the world to defeat an alien invasion it was Peak 9s patriotism celebrating sacrifice and bravery at its finest fast forward nearly 30 years and a lot has changed what was once a straightforward celebration of American Pride and heroism is now being looked at through a different lens today we're going to explore what Independence Day can still teach us about relationships men and hypergamy then and now [Music] [Applause] welcome to Mana highlights daily a big shout out to Mr ores for suggesting this topic and thank you for your PayPal donation salute this will be a two-part Series where we break down what Independence Day thought us about men relationships and the shifting dynamics of society over the past three decades in today's video we'll dive into the first three chapters and in part two we'll go even deeper into some big teams so make sure you stick around for both videos first we will dive into Will Smith's character Captain Steven Hiller who marries Jasmine a single mom and exotic dancer next we'll talk about David and Connie Connie is a career-driven woman but when it comes to relationships she's still after a man with more status finally we'll explore how marriage and traditional roles have shifted over the past 30 years with marriage no longer a focal point in movies and Rising issues like loneliness we'll see how these changes impact our views on heroism and personal fulfillment the unity celebrated in Independence Day feels rare today and we going cover the deeper implications of this shift let's talk about it disclaimer this video contains copyrighted footage so we will be freezing it frequently to prevent copyright infringement a special salute to our patreon supporters the original video will be available on patreon if you enjoy our content and want the full experience consider supporting us on patreon spoiler alert this video contains spoilers so you've been warned now it's time for us to get into this and do what we got to do because we many we we many [Music] Captain Hiller Marries a Stripper and a Single Mother? we listen before we do this I just want to say I'm sorry sorry for what babe I should have done this a long time ago do you have the ring oh yes sir here make yourself useful ow Will Smith's character Captain Steven Hiller marrying Jasmine played by FIFA a fox has always left a bad taste in my mouth it diminishes Hiller's character especially as a respected Marine Captain think about it a marine with his sight set on joining NASA but he's seriously about to marry a stripper and single mother even the movie hints that this decision might cost him his dream thought you said you were going to break the whole thing off man you know I really like Jasmine you know that right man you never going to get to fly of space shuttle if you marry a stripper now the Marine corpse has a clear stance on ethics according to their website honor guides Marines to exemp ify the ultimate in ethical and moral Behavior Never Lie never cheat or steal abide by an uncompromising code of Integrity respect human dignity and respect others so what exactly is Honorable about Captain Hiller marrying a stripper what's the added value here the hero marries a woman who sells her body for money how does that elevate his character dearly beloved we're gathered here in the sight of God and in the presence of these witnesses to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony let's be real stripping and going to strip clubs are widely considered forms of sexual immorality especially in Christian teachings so now we're expected to believe that in the sight of God this man of Honor marries a stripper this entire Dynamic makes no sense is this really the only only way Hollywood could depict true love for a man like Hiller by reducing him to marrying a stripping single mother this isn't a oneoff it's a recurring theme in Will Smith's movies he plays the hero but there's always this underlying narrative that makes him look tainted foolish or downright goofy sure his career started in comedy but what exactly is funny about this a captain in the Marine corpse portrayed as a p killer of strength and discipline becomes a black belt in Sim Jutsu for a stripper and unfortunately this foolishness bled into Will Smith's real life his wife Jana pinket went on a public platform to announce her entanglement with August she embarrassed him in front of the world and how did will respond by slapping Chris Rock to Salish his reputation but even that backfired cementing him further as a public punchline now don't get me wrong Will Smith is talented beloved and has the machine behind him he can win back the Public's favor as he did with his well-received bet performance and the anticipation for Bad Boys 4 but let's not digress too much the point is Captain Hiller's marriage to Jasmine was a ridiculous decision that undercut his entire character Arc so what do you do for a living I'm a dancer yeah ballet no exotic oh sorry don't be I'm not it's good money besides my baby's worth it notice the reaction of the first lady when she learns about Jasmine's profession she doesn't applaud it or encourage it because stripping isn't something to be proud of Jasmine's dismissive response I'm not sorry is typical of women in the sex industry they engage in these activities voluntarily not because someone forced them into it we explored this in depth in our video on Vanessa Del Rio where we highlighted research that shows the primary motivations for women entering the adult industry money attention and control over their sexual agency recently and in my growing my most growing years which have been the last three years I have felt that I don't want to be a victim I'm My Own Victim Because I I let people use me in the 2012 Journal of sex research it's shown that women often enter the adult industry for empowerment or financial gain not because they're victims of circumstance Jasmine's lack of remorse follows this same pattern but why should we applaud or excuse that is this really the type of woman a marine Captain should be with a woman who voluntarily shows A Life That's morally questionable and let's be real embarrassing Jasmine's character is depicted as strong smart and courageous but why then is she a stripper what example is she setting for her son the contradiction is glaring and it just doesn't fit unless of course there's a bigger agenda at play back then without social media this dynamic between Captain Hiller and J might have flown under the radar but today in the age of only fans and adult content creators their private lives would be just a Google search away and what about their kids growing up with this kind of baggage can have serious consequences yet Independence Day glosses over all of that trying to sell us this ridiculous narrative as if it's just another day in the life in conclusion the decision to pair a decorated Marine captain with a stripping single mother undermines not only his character but the entire moral framework the film tries to operate with him the whole setup is foolish and it's essential that men know The Career Woman’s Thirst to Date/Marry Up this well he's a good man oh he better be you left me for him or you know for your career do you know it wasn't just my career it was the biggest opportunity of my life I wanted my life to make a difference I wanted my life to mean something and um I wasn't um ambitious David David you could have done anything that you wanted research development oh honey I was happy where I was haven't you ever wanted to be part of something special I was part of something special the dynamic between David and Connie in Independence day is spot on when women climb the socioeconomic ladder their desire for men of even higher status climbs with it that's why so many many many many men are left scratching their heads when they hear a woman say something like this well if it makes any difference I never stopped loving you but that wasn't enough was it [Music] here's the reality men and women love differently women don't love men for who they are they love men for what they can provide at this point in the movie David is at a lower socioeconomic level than Connie he can't feed her hypergamous nature because in her eyes he doesn't measure up she can't show him off to her friends or brag about him at work he's become a source of embarrassment not Pride so what does that leave a brotherly kind of love she cares about him sure but he's not exactly making her punani wet or setting her heart on fire now watch what happens when the script flips why you David I don't excuse me I don't understand why you can't show someone else how to how to plant the virus someone who is trained oh no something may go wrong going have to think quickly uh adjust the signal who knows hey you know how I'm like I'm always trying to save the planet here's my chance now he gets ambicious see that now her punani is wet somebody call her plumber because she's leaking down there the moment David steps up to save the world he's transformed into a high status man world famous no less women can't help feeling attraction to high status men they want what other women want David's Newfound heroism doesn't just make him a savior it makes him desirable now Connie can brag to her friends and colleagues her man isn't just David anymore he's the man who saved the world fast forward nearly 30 years and we see the consequences of this dynamic playing out on a massive scale the majority of women are struggling to find men who are on a higher socioeconomic level than they are here's the irony of the eist and women's Liberation movements women demanded equality Financial Independence and the right to climb the corporate ladder but now they're complaining that there aren't enough financially eligible bachelors to date you can't make this stuff up this situation has led to a historic first more single adults than ever before and the lowest birth rate on record and it's only getting worse because just like David a woman's love isn't enough if the man doesn't measure up women today can't stand the thought of settling they'd rather die alone with their cats than date a man with a lower socioeconomic status like say a bus driver and with social media amplifying the importance of status to insane levels the pressure is destroying women's mental health as they chase after these unrealistic expectations so what have the last 30 years done for the so-called strong and independent woman not much good despite the increase in career women one quick note the portrayal of strong independent women in the 90s had a different feel more balanced more genuine today Hollywood pushes this quote unquote women are better than men narrative so hard it's disgusting to watch it's not empowerment it's tearing down men to build up women it's insulting and it's no wonder men are checking out of relationships all together the modern dating Market is rigged and the juice ain't worth to The Death of Marriage, Traditional Roles, and the Epidemic of Loneliness squeeze let's take a moment to reflect on how much has changed since Independence Day hit theaters in 1996 back then marriage was a central theme in movies and a key element in character development the president was married Captain Hiller's relationship was pivotal and even David and Connie's marriage and Reconciliation were Central to their story arcs these relationships were more than just subplots they were essential to understanding the characters and their motivations but fast forward to today and marriage doesn't hold the same place in popular culture the landscape has shifted dramatically over the last 30 years the meoo movement has reshaped discussions around gender and power dynamics online dating and dating apps have revolutionized how people meet and form relationships and societal expectations around marriage and family have evolved in 1996 marriage was portrayed as a Cornerstone of stability and heroism characters were often driven by their roles as spouses and parents with their personal sacrifices underscoring their commitment to their country and love on once but now marriage is no longer the central focus in many many many many modern movies the themes of heroism and sacrifice are often depicted without the traditional family context this shift mirrors a broader societal Trend where traditional roles are being re-evaluated people now question the relevance of conventional marriage and family structures women in particular are increasingly choosing careers and Independence over traditional roles meanwhile men are often portrayed in media through a more negative lens sometimes as bumbling buffoons or toxic figures this portrayal diminishes the traditional motivations that once drove characters to be heroes or make sacrifices for their families and countries compounding this issue is the epidemic of loneliness we face today despite being more connected than ever through social media and digital platforms many many many many people experience profound loneliness the rise of individualism and changing societal Norms has led to a disconnect between people making genuine meaningful relationships harder to find the togetherness that was so celebrated in Independence Day seems increasingly rare in our modern world this loneliness is not just an emotional challenge it has serious health implications Studies have shown that chronic loneliness can be as detrimental to health as smoking or obesity contributing to a range of issues from depression to cardiovascular problems in a society where traditional family structures are less emphasized the importance of having a supportive connected Community cannot be overstated so what does this mean for us it highlights a profound shift in how we view marriage family and heroism the traditional drive to protect and provide for one's family as a source of motivation is being replaced by new priorities and societal norms at the same time the rise of loneliness underscores the need for Meaningful connections and Community the Quest for heroism and sacrifice may take on new forms and meanings but the fundamental human need for theonis remains crucial as we move through this new reality it's crucial to confront the loneliness creeping into Modern Life getting back to the core values of togetherness and Community much like those celebrated in Independence Day is more important now than ever fellas don't be ashamed of feeling lonely you're human and that's part of the experience building deeper connections with others is possible but let's be real no one said it would be easy the key is learning the art of walking away and understand this it's not about giving up it's about stepping away from the things that drain you or aren't worth your time focus on finding your purpose dive deep into what drives you along that Journey you'll find like-minded people who match your energy if that's what you want keep moving forward keep moving forward patreon gang salute man we working protect yourself at all times this video has officially been highlighted [Music]