Rom-coms and humanity

    Hi guys! I wrote this for my AP Lang class this past school year. We were told to write essays based on John Green's series of Anthropocene essays, but on our own personal topics. I'm really proud of it, and I hope you all like it! 

    Romantic comedies (rom-coms) may seem like cliché, cheesy chick flicks that teenage girls watch at sleepovers, but really, they influence the dynamics of dating culture. Rom-coms create a blueprint of what an individual should look for in a romantic relationship, typically setting certain expectations on how partners should behave around each other. You see, when you think about older generations and how they love, it’s more traditional and formal. Meanwhile, younger generations tend to reinterpret those tropes through a modern-day lens. Rom-coms reflect on humans and how we, as a society, allow the media to dictate our love lives.

    Rom-coms have had different eras per generation. The origin of Shakespearean theatre began with the idea of a “happily ever after” ending, along with witty banter, which sparked the beginning of romantic comedies. Although they originated in theatre plays, they began their first official appearances in the 1920’s during the Great Depression era in order to create entertainment during a difficult time in the United States. At the beginning of the first era, rom-coms were called “comedies of manners,” which included a cliche of the rich and poor falling in love with each other. Comedies of manners started as silent films and contained moments of grand gestures to show love. The generation that grew up watching these rom-coms was more likely to be more traditional. That’s why most elderly women tell young women to let the man do their part. Soon after that, began the era of “radical rom-coms”. The term “radical” refers to a rebellion against traditional romantic comedies. These consisted of components like challenging gender roles and more realistic themes from the real world. The movie 500 Days of Summer is just one example of these radical rom-coms. The main character, Tom, falls for a woman named Summer. He had developed strong feelings for her, but unfortunately, she did not reciprocate those feelings. Summer had broken typical rom-com stereotypes of a woman loving the man back, and the movie as a whole broke the expected “happily ever after” ending. After this movie was released, it became normal for women of modern-day generations to not comply with social norms. This created a shift in romantic comedies and how they have reflected society’s views on love and how it is constantly changing over time.      As rom-coms continue to evolve, each era represents the values of the generation watching them. 

     When I was a little kid, I grew up watching rom-coms. At the time, I didn’t know what they were other than just romance movies my dad would let me watch with him. I know. Weird. My dad introduced me to rom-coms. Not something you’d expect, but let’s be honest, life is unexpected. As I watched these romantic comedies, I didn’t know that they would shape my beliefs on love to this day. Being born in 2009, all the rom-coms I was introduced to were all late 1990’s or anything of the 2000’s. But the rom-com that had the most impact on me was 27 Dresses. To me, this movie was me. The main character, Jane, spends most of her life helping other people find happiness and supporting their love lives because she herself loves love. Yet, she struggles to find that same kind of love for herself. In my life, I’ve been able to connect to Jane. I’ve always admired deep, loving, and meaningful relationships, but it’s easier to watch than to experience. When I watched 27 Dresses, it shaped my standards for relationships by showing how powerful innocent intimacy and genuine care can be, rather than just appearance. At the same time, I’ve noticed that peers who grew up watching different rom-coms have had a completely different influence. Movies like The Wrong Missy tend to have more of a focus on chaotic relationships and more physical intimacy. Those who prefer to watch this kind of rom-com are more likely to display those emotions in their lives.  These characteristics may affect how certain people view dating compared to those who grew up watching more emotionally driven rom-coms. Seeing two different reflections of rom-coms portrays a realization of how strongly the media influences modern ideas of love. Simultaneously, the entertainment of rom-coms reflects today’s current Anthropocene era. The production of these movies may seem harmless and safe, but these film productions create a carbon footprint on this earth. These film industries use energy and create waste due to travel, equipment, and costumes. Although rom-coms have a significant impact on current outlooks of love, it still connects back to the human impact on the environment. Not only that, but rom-coms also reflect the changes societies have over time. Especially in how gender roles and relationships are viewed. Today’s rom-coms are more diverse and realistic, showing complex relationships that contemplate how society itself has evolved. 

    Romantic comedies shape how people view and characterize love and relationships. They’ve evolved over lifetimes in order to become more inclusive and realistic, creating a dynamic between the audience. However, they can create unrealistic expectations as well. Especially for those who compare movies to real life, which, unfortunately, isn’t how the real world works. In addition, the entertainment industry contributes greatly to environmental issues due to consumption and production. Despite these imperfections, rom-coms continue to provide an important part of pop culture as it exhibits the changes in society over time. Overall, I would rate Romantic Comedies 4 stars. ★★★★☆