Genre ResearchTeenage Romantic Comedy

The romantic comedy is a sub-genre of both the comedy and the romance film which is light-hearted, has humorous plotlines, and is centred on romantic ideals such as true love’s ability to overcome most obstacles . They are also known as ‘chick-flicks’ due to their predominantly female target audience.

History• The creation of romantic love in the western

European medieval period, prompted the term ‘romantic love’. These adventures often revolved around a knight's achievements on behalf of a lady

• Shakespearean comedy and Restoration comedy was also very influential in the development of the genre. The creation of huge economic social levels combined with the increased openness about sex after the Victorian era and the birth of the film industry in the early twentieth century, gave birth to the screwball comedy

• In particular, the teen romantic comedy (teen rom-com) may have emerged from the 1950’s when the term was coined as the stage between childhood and adulthood

Early Romantic ComediesIt Happened One Night (1934)

His Girl Friday (1940)

The Lady Eve (1941)

Sabrina (1954)

Love in the Afternoon (1957)

Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)

Later Romantic ComediesSixteen Candles (1984)

Can't Hardly Wait (1998)

Say Anything... (1989)

Ever After (1998)

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)

The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)

Highest Grossing Romantic ComediesRanking Title Gross Domestic Box Office Adjusted Gross Domestic Box

Office

1 Titanic (1997) $600,743,440 $812,770,536

2 The Lion King (1994) $312,850,033 $476,176,153

3 Aladdin (1992) $217,042,825 $324,779,745

4 Ghost (1990) $214,288,325 $315,338,980

5 Dances with Wolves (1990) $184,010,809 $270,143,528

6 Armageddon (1998) $201,573,391 $266,902,080

7 Pretty Woman (1990) $178,396,916 $262,522,475

8 Jerry Maguire (1996) $153,620,822 $215,833,779

9 Terms of Endearment (1983) $108,423,489 $213,749,164

10 What Women Want (2000) $182,805,123 $210,615,920

Taken from http://www.hollywood.com/news/Top_25_Highest_Grossing_Romance_Movies/3479872

Repertoire Of Elements

Ideological Themes• Heterosexual romance, predominantly between two young people – although homosexual

relationships have been explored (such as in My Beautiful Launderette) these usually suffer from lower gross profits

• Prevalence of a happy ending – audience rarely sees beyond the point of the couple’s join and are therefore lead to believe that they will stay together, in joyful matrimony; this nostalgic view of meeting a partner is popular within females and probably describes why they are the main targeted audience

• The idea that love can overcome all boundaries – romantic comedies have a strong ‘feel good’ factor and display the versatility of love itself

• Encouragement of true love – commonly, the relationship between the two people is without disloyalty or infidelity; this may be a ploy to promote the idea of devoted love, especially in a modern world where such issues do occur

Narrative Structure• The basic plot of a romantic comedy is that two protagonists, usually a man and a woman meet

before parting ways due to an argument or other obstacle, then ultimately reunite• The two protagonists are sometimes hesitant to become romantically involved because they

believe that they do not like each other or because of social pressures• Iconographical hints that suggest that the characters are, in fact, attracted to each other and

would be a good love match are deployed to display their intentions to the audience. The protagonists often separate or seek time apart to sort out their feelings or deal with the obstacles between them

• While the two protagonists are separated, one or both of them usually realizes that they are ideal for each other, or that they are in love with each other

• Then, after one of the two makes some spectacular effort to find the other person and declare their love (this is sometimes called the grand gesture) or due to an astonishing coincidental encounter, the two meet again

• Film usually has a positive conclusion

Iconography

Character Archetype

StereotypicalTraits

Mise-En-Scene

Nerd • intelligent but socially and physically awkward • lack confidence or to be indifferent • physically unfit

• large rimmed glasses• mathematical equipment• high trousers• unfashionable clothing

Popular Girl • materialistic • self-centred• physically attractive • alpha female

• make-up/brush/comb• cheerleading• fashionable clothing

College Jock • very attractive girlfriend but shows signs of disrespect toward women• homophobic• muscular/athletic, but not considered intelligent• show abuse to ‘non-jocks’ and usually the main antagonist

• sports equipment• fashionable clothing

Character Archetypes

Iconography

Technical Aspect

Mise-En-Scene • Predominantly set within a school or college setting (use of school equipment i.e school desks, whiteboard, pens etc)• Appearance of college students and teachers to emphasize activity aside from the story itself• Aside from the educational environment, shots of the protagonist's home may be included (convey importance of life outside of college; usually a place where protagonist gathers his/her thoughts about the other character)

Sound • Busy school environment - school bell - students talking - gym class whistles• Rural/urban sounds depending on setting• Heavy emphasis on dialogue and communication

Cinematography • Low angle shots of the popular girl/jock connote popularity• Emphasis on the two-shot/over-the-shoulder shot to suggest intimacy between the two characters• Establishing shot reinforces the importance of setting in the film

Editing • Continuity editing• May make use of ‘slow motion’ – all look to add emphasis to key moment of the film eg. first appearance of popular girl, on screen kiss, accident

Technical Aspects

Marketing Campaign10 Things I Hate About You (1999)A remake of the classic Shakespeare play "The Taming of the Shrew.", set in a modern day highs chool.

Poster Analysis• The main image portrays the two protagonists of the

film in close proximity, hinting at a possible close association. The juxtaposition of both characters conforms to stereotypical views of the heterosexual relationship, in that the male is above the female implying a patriarchal bond, whilst also suggesting that she upholds a more subservient role. In contradiction, however, the male’s offset position from the centre of the image may insinuate the female’s prevalence as the main character; further emphasized by the larger proportion of her body in the copy.

• The use of the chair, when coupled with the characters’ clothing signifies a strong theme of homeliness and togetherness.

• The tagline of the film is deliberately positioned next to the male protagonist, indicating the numerous obstacles that stand between the two and her initial “loathe” of him(also emphasized by their unenthusiastic facial expressions) – in accordance with conventional narrative structure, we as an audience can assume that they will eventually overcome these obstacles and become a couple.

• The film title “10 Things I Hate About You” is the largest typography on the poster, summarizing it’s importance as a title and key theme throughout the film. Entirely lower-case, this may hint at the youthful nature of this relationship. The title is arranged directly on top of the female character, suggesting it is her who feels these emotions, yet juxtaposed by the use of red which usually promotes love and affection – possibly foreboding the alteration of her feelings before the conclusion of the film.

Trailer Analysis• The trailer uses montage editing in order to intersperse

moments of comedy and action with dialogue, reinforcing the genre of the film. For example the line “people see you as somewhat ...tempestuous” is followed by a sequence of the female protagonist reversing her car into another vehicle (fig. 1) – thus providing the audience with an idea of the character’s personality. Many of these conversations are also between just two characters within a two shot (fig. 2) - this again highlights the film’s genre and dependence on character interaction.

• The use of the conventional male American voiceover is relayed here – hinting at the setting of the film and providing a balanced overview of all the characters, an element which would be lost if one of the characters to perform this voiceover instead.

• Popular rock music is used throughout the trailer to illustrate the youth of the cast and people involved. In addition, the speed of the editing could display the speed at which the two characters’ relationship develops.

• The title is the last thing mentioned in the trailer in order for it to have a lasting appeal on the viewer and encourage them to see the film. Interestingly, the stars and director of the film are not mentioned ; possibly because these actors are either well known (meaning they do not need to be introduced) or unknown (meaning that mentioning their names will have no positive effect on the appeal of the trailer)

(fig. 1)

(fig. 2)

10 Things I Hate About You - TV Series• 10 Things I Hate About You was turned into a TV

series and broadcast on ABC Family from July 7 2009

• The show is a half-hour, single camera series based on the 1999 film of the same name, originally based on the Shakespeare play The Taming of the Shrew.

• The Stratford sisters, Bianca (Meaghan Jette Martin) and Kat (Lindsey Shaw), have very different goals. At their new high school, it's clear that one sister wants to stand out and the other just wants to fit in.

• Kat is a cool, intelligent, strong-willed, forthright feminist who is looking to save the world and get out of school as fast as she can. But when she meets the intense Patrick Verona (Ethan Peck), sparks begin to fly.

• Bianca is a social butterfly whose main goal in life is to be popular, but when the head cheerleader makes her the mascot, she realizes she has a long way to go.

Shared Marketing Conventions

Posters within the genre tend to share similar layout characteristics, for example: • Title usually appears in bottom half of the poster• Two or three characters – protagonists; two people that become a couple• Actors names near the top; names of those in shot• Characters are within close proximity to suggest a possible association with each other