My wife has been on a rom-com binge over the last year or so and something I’ve noticed when I’m vaguely paying attention or walking past is that almost every single rom-com features people who are, at the very least, middle to upper-middle class. These characters all live in gigantic houses/apartments, have beautifully sparkling brand-new cars, take month-long vacations to their beachfront properties… it’s just so unrealistic and out of line with the life that the vast majority of us lead.
I understand some concepts - large rooms are easier to film in, rich people own nice things that set a beautiful scene, it’s not interesting to discuss financial issues all the time etc. but this seems (from my anecdotal perspective) to almost be a rule of the genre.
Some more food for thought:
https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a867107/rom-coms-diversity-wealth-income/
It is escapism. Romance usually has very few things that’s real. I mean that most romance stories are more alike to a fairytale than reality.
Most movies and books are 98% predictable with the well-known cliches. And that makes them work. Beig wealthy is just an other thing that makes it going.
Most girls were raised on the price charming idea, and a rich, wealthy and emotionally available person fits the bill.
Reality of barely making rent and having no money to fix your car or even just daily struggle to find childcare for a date would break the dream.
When you are watching romance you want the fuzzy feels, the safe environment that everything going to be alright and happy ending is guaranteed. Love, money, heath and safe environment - with tons of loving friends and family - now that’s what people want to dream of.
Entirely escapism, most romantic movies involve felonies lol.
Stalking is the most popular, harassment, sexual harassment, assault, lack of consent.
…. But it’s all portrayed as romantic. You want to talk about rape culture? The romance films are peak “rape culture”
Twilight vampires secretly watching you sleep without your consent? Hawt! The guy refusing to take no for an answer? How devoted! The guy just grabbing you and kissing you out of nowhere? Swooooon! My ex inserting herself into my current relationship to wreck it and get back together with me? It MUST be true love. . I assure you, those things are unpleasant in real life, but I’m really curious as to how people think they’re romantic in movies. I don’t get it.
The Notebook is notorious for this.
It’s “hero” has big stalker “I’ll kill myself to punish you if you dont love me” kind of vibe.
Lots of women fucking love this movie and it makes me sick because the relationship is SO unhealthy.
I like this.