This document provides an overview of theories for a comparative analysis of the romantic comedy genre. It discusses several key elements of romantic comedies, including antagonism between central couples, unrequited love, and the theme of the battle of the sexes. The document also analyzes characters and their representations in the romantic comedy Knocked Up, discussing how characters like Ben Stone conform to or challenge stereotypes. It references several critics and their perspectives on romantic comedy conventions.
2. âRomantic Comedyâ
Claire Mortimer (2010)
âą âThe seeming loss of love, when despair and disaster prevailâ
âą âThe central couple are antagonistic to one anotherâ
âą âThe dominant theme is the battle of the sexesâ
âą âUnrequited Loveâ â One half of the couple realises their love
for the other early on, but the other half is slow to recognise
and return their love..â
âą âThe generation of laughter is the fundamental narrative
dynamic within any form of comedyâ.
Codes & Conventions
3. âRomantic Comedyâ
Claire Mortimer (2010)
âThe archetypal romantic comedy is certainly perceived to be a
womanâs film, perhaps dismissed by some, often male, critics and
lumped in a label âchick flickââ
4. âPursuits of Happinessâ â
Stanley Cavell (1981)
Cavell labelled the genre as âthe comedy of remarriageâ
5. Tamar Jeffers McDonald
(2007) â
The romantic comedy genre
places an emphasis on âtearsâ
and âsuffering is often part of
the narrative processâ.
6. âMedia, Gender and Identity:
An Introductionâ â
David Gauntlett (2008)
âą â..superior to Ben in terms of looks, prospects and everything elseâ
âą Alison is faced with the âchallenge of dealing with men like this (Ben)â â
therefore providing a âwindow into the Worldâ (Wendy Helsby) of the
difficulties women face with the opposite sex in contemporary society.
Alison (Katherine Heigl)
7. âMedia, Gender and Identity:
An Introductionâ â
David Gauntlett (2008)
Ben Stone (Seth Rogen)
âą Ben is represented as
âwell meaning, but immatureâ
(Page 81)
Connotations of this?
8. Ben Stone (Seth Rogen)
âAmerican Cinema of the
2000âs: Themes and Variationsâ
â
Timothy Corrigan (2012)
âą According to Corrigan, Benâs character
represents the ânew manâ that exists
in society â unambitious, lazy and
takes little pride In his appearance
9. Ben Stone (Seth Rogen)
âBen is far from the typical rom-com hero in his looksâ â Claire Mortimer (2010)
10. Ben Stone (Seth Rogen)
âBen conforms to the
boy/man archetype who is
often to be found in
contemporary rom-coms. He
lives a carefree, hedonistic
lifeâ
Claire Mortimer (2010)
11. âOn the Aisle - Volume 2: Film Reviewsâ
by Philip Morency (2010)
According to Morency (2010), the text focuses on the
âemotional role reversalâ of Peter when faced with being âdumpedâ
by Sarah Marshall.
12. Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell)
âą John Berger âMen act, women appearâ â She appears to be beautiful and
objectified throughout the text.
âą Conforms to Laura Mulveyâs âMale Gazeâ ideology.
âą However, she represents a binary opposite (Levi Strauss) to this stereotypical view
of the female gender as she is ambitious and career driven â as a result of this and
her dumping of Peter she transcends from âPrincessâ to âVillainâ (Propp)