“I simply regard romantic comedies as a subgenre of sci-fi, in which the world created therein has different rules than my regular human world.” When Mindy Kaling included these words, in her humorous biographical book Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me, she likely did not consider genre theory in her analysis. Romantic comedy is the genre of choice for Mindy Kaling and other people looking for cheesy humor and a “meet cute” scenario, leading to an idealistic love connection capable of withstanding any obstacle the film present. Its myths about couples and their “meet cute” love story, conventional relationship conflict, and iconic images of sappy kisses garner rolled eyes. However, the romantic comedy genre necessarily transforms over time
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In It Happened One Night, only Peter expresses political convictions, and he does so vehemently, "constantly spouting an anti-wealth ideology" (Campbell 323). His female counterpart, Ellie, seems entirely apolitical; this is likely a reflection of 1930s-era political culture, during which the idea of female involvement in politics would have been considered unacceptable. Harold and Maude makes some progressive statements; a relevant instance is when Harold’s mother, in filling out “Harold’s” online dating profile, answers “I don’t see why not. Absolutely yes” to the questionnaire’s topic “Should women run for President of the United States?” Harold’s mother’s words would not have been uttered by Ellie Andrews back in 1934, when Frank Capra produced It Happened One Night. However, by 1971, when Harold and Maude was made, second wave feminism had begun in the United States in reaction to domesticity, and attempted to win increased legal and political equality for women (Tavaana). Political ideology was more important in modernist than in classical romantic comedy, and this was felt by audiences who were polarized and puzzled by Harold and Maude (Metz).Thus, Harold’s mother’s claim showcases how increased political equality for women in the 1970s affected the romantic comedy genre by allowing such bold statements by female
In It Happened One Night, only Peter expresses political convictions, and he does so vehemently, "constantly spouting an anti-wealth ideology" (Campbell 323). His female counterpart, Ellie, seems entirely apolitical; this is likely a reflection of 1930s-era political culture, during which the idea of female involvement in politics would have been considered unacceptable. Harold and Maude makes some progressive statements; a relevant instance is when Harold’s mother, in filling out “Harold’s” online dating profile, answers “I don’t see why not. Absolutely yes” to the questionnaire’s topic “Should women run for President of the United States?” Harold’s mother’s words would not have been uttered by Ellie Andrews back in 1934, when Frank Capra produced It Happened One Night. However, by 1971, when Harold and Maude was made, second wave feminism had begun in the United States in reaction to domesticity, and attempted to win increased legal and political equality for women (Tavaana). Political ideology was more important in modernist than in classical romantic comedy, and this was felt by audiences who were polarized and puzzled by Harold and Maude (Metz).Thus, Harold’s mother’s claim showcases how increased political equality for women in the 1970s affected the romantic comedy genre by allowing such bold statements by female