#theparallel

The “Cinema Therapy” (2020-now) webseries by Jonathan Decker and Alan Seawright.

This is a really interesting series where the hosts examine different movies and their characters through the lens of a therapist. They tend to focus on issues that impact relationships (all relationships, including friends and family), but will branch out into other topics regarding mental health as well.

It is fascinating to see how Decker not only deconstructs how romance is portrayed in the media, but has clearly done his research and is both aware of and casually accepting of the wide range of LGBTQIA+ relationships, including asexuality and aromanticism. In their video about “Megamind” they even specifically talk about aromanticism and asexuality, theorizing that Metroman may be on the aroace spectrum. This was so cool to see!

It is also pretty interesting to see them mention in a lot of their videos that it is perfectly fine to have sexual relationships with no dating, to be involved in poly relationships, and also how couples therapy can apply to friends. It is clear that Decker and Seawright have done their research into the big wide world of LGBTQIA+ gender and sexuality (even casually mentioning nonbinary and ‘they/them’ pronouns a few times), which is so nice to see.

Not a romance-free series, but definitely aro-friendly.

Additional Information: Trailer:  

“A Patch of Blue” (1965)

An excellent film where set in the backdrop of the Civil Rights movement, where an African American man Gordon meets a young blind white woman named Selena and realizes she is being abused by her mother.

While Selena and Gordon grow to love each other, I’m submitting this film here due to their conversation at the end. He tells her “Selena, there are many kinds of love. Most of them have nothing to do with marriage…You’ll meet many new people, men and women. You will see lots of things differently. And after a time, you’ll be able to tell - we’ll both be able to tell whether what we feel for each other has anything to do with marriage.”

Their discussion is so great. It is rare that a film will acknowledge, let alone examine, the wide spectrum of love that exists, and how romantic love is just one of many and just as important. It is also very wise that Gordon is aware that they need some time to think about what they have. They don’t necessarily need to define it, but he has a point that there is no hurry to marry and plenty of time to decide if that is what they really want.

Additional Information: Unrated | Drama, Romance Trailer:

“It’s Gonna be Okay” by The Piano Guys

Doubt is a broken record that plays inside my head I try to turn it down, but I can't quite drown it out I'm tortured every day, these never-ending worries, pulling on my sleeves

“Maybe Life is Good” by Em Beihold

Maybe life is good And everything is fine Maybe take a breath Maybe do it twice

These are some romance-free songs with a fun steampunk/fantasy feel

The Cog is Dead:

“Sunset Val the Pirate Queen”

Come and hear the story of a mighty galA legendary pirate named Sunset ValShe came to our world from a far off landTo become the saviour of all of Atlan

[VIDEO]

  “The Iron Horseman”

But though these villains are heartlessAnd they show no remorseOut to the west is a heroOn his giant iron horse

[VIDEO]

  “The Copper War”

So saddle up your steam-bike and put your goggles onWe’ve got to be prepared or else we’ll all be dead by dawnCopperplate is coming, and his eyes are seeing redAnd he’s after Wilbur’s head!

[VIDEO]

  “The Space Cowboy”

Watch him as he sails out across the starsHe’s got a bottle full of whiskey and a big cigarYou know there ain’t nowhere that he calls homeSpace is the only place he’ll roam

[VIDEO]

  “Mirte Against the Big City”

There's a little shop I know On the edge of town The city says it's got to go They want to tear it down

[VIDEO]

  “Captain Gustave Foster vs the Metal Underground Army”

Well we were loaded up and were full of fright We were scared young soldiers in the night And nobody told us it would be The strangest battle in history

[VIDEO]

  “The Marvelous Mister Low”

Well, give us a smile Just for a while! There's someone who can help you And he does it all with style

[VIDEO]

Abney Park:

  “Born at the Wrong Time”

I'm a stranger everywhere I go From Washington to Tokyo Angry eyes tell me I don't fit in I smile back but I can not win

“Supposed to be a Love Song” by Anson Seabra

Can be viewed through the lens that the singer and their partner are  akoiflux / lithflux

This was supposed to be a love song Fallin' too far we burned too fast Now there's no way out and there's no way back

Added!

Songs by Sick Puppies

“Odd One”

Both of us basically unattached to anything Or anyone unless we're pretending

“Let Me Live”

So I don't belong but tell me I'm so different from you Why is that so wrong

“Connect” -wanting to be close to someone but not sure how to ask

I'm standing right beside you Screaming in my head I don't know how to reach you

The Christopher Walken “Weapon of Choice” music video by Fatboy Slim, just a romance-free short film about either a businessman daydreaming or a bored man testing his superpowers in an empty building - either way Christopher Walken is definitely having fun being Christopher Walken.

Additional Information: Short, Fantasy, Music Trailer: