Michael Fontaine, an expert on ancient European cultures, explained to us the origins of “bro culture” and binge drinking, things that affect our society today. These social ills were documented in ancient cultures in painting and in literature, and people then already acknowledged it as an issue.

The origins can be traced back to German knights, who after fighting in the Crusades, had nothing to do after going home. Warriors without a war, a life without purpose, the knights turned to alcohol as their escape. As they tried to fill the void in their hearts, they fell further and further into the void of alcohol induced insanity.

What then does this say about our society now, especially in college where society considers to be where “people who will actually accomplish something in life” go? While so called “bro culture”, or the peer pressure best your “bros” to drink more than they can to prove that you’re a “real man”, causes people to irrationally binge drink at parties and such, people actually seek out these situations where they can freely drink away their sorrows. Are do we college students feel like the crusaders did after there were no more wars to fight? While we still go to class, study, write reports to chase after vague notions of a better future, maybe we are really all empty and purposeless on the inside. So much so, that people will turn to binge drinking as a temporary refuge from the torment of the void in their hearts.