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.

1. Rom-Com
Theory for your
Comparative
Analysis
Unit B321:
Foundation Portfolio in Media Studies
Comparative Analysis (60 Marks)

2. ‘Romantic Comedy’
Claire Mortimer (2010)
• ‘The seeming loss of love, when despair and disaster prevail’
• ‘The central couple are antagonistic to one another’
• ‘The dominant theme is the battle of the sexes’
• ‘Unrequited Love’ – 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..’
• ‘The generation of laughter is the fundamental narrative
dynamic within any form of comedy’.
Codes & Conventions

3. ‘Romantic Comedy’
Claire Mortimer (2010)
“The archetypal romantic comedy is certainly perceived to be a
woman’s film, perhaps dismissed by some, often male, critics and
lumped in a label ‘chick flick’”

4. ‘Pursuits of Happiness’ –
Stanley Cavell (1981)
Cavell labelled the genre as “the comedy of remarriage”

5. Tamar Jeffers McDonald
(2007) –
The romantic comedy genre
places an emphasis on “tears”
and “suffering is often part of
the narrative process”.

6. ‘Media, Gender and Identity:
An Introduction’ –
David Gauntlett (2008)
• “..superior to Ben in terms of looks, prospects and everything else”
• Alison is faced with the “challenge of dealing with men like this (Ben)” –
therefore providing a “window into the World” (Wendy Helsby) of the
difficulties women face with the opposite sex in contemporary society.
Alison (Katherine Heigl)

7. ‘Media, Gender and Identity:
An Introduction’ –
David Gauntlett (2008)
Ben Stone (Seth Rogen)
• Ben is represented as
“well meaning, but immature”
(Page 81)
Connotations of this?

8. Ben Stone (Seth Rogen)
‘American Cinema of the
2000’s: Themes and Variations’
–
Timothy Corrigan (2012)
• According to Corrigan, Ben’s character
represents the “new man” that exists
in society – unambitious, lazy and
takes little pride In his appearance

9. Ben Stone (Seth Rogen)
“Ben is far from the typical rom-com hero in his looks” – Claire Mortimer (2010)

10. Ben Stone (Seth Rogen)
“Ben conforms to the
boy/man archetype who is
often to be found in
contemporary rom-coms. He
lives a carefree, hedonistic
life”
Claire Mortimer (2010)

11. ‘On the Aisle - Volume 2: Film Reviews’
by Philip Morency (2010)
According to Morency (2010), the text focuses on the
“emotional role reversal” of Peter when faced with being “dumped”
by Sarah Marshall.

12. Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell)
• John Berger “Men act, women appear” – She appears to be beautiful and
objectified throughout the text.
• Conforms to Laura Mulvey’s “Male Gaze” ideology.
• However, she represents a binary opposite (Levi Strauss) to this stereotypical view
of the female gender as she is ambitious and career driven – as a result of this and
her dumping of Peter she transcends from ‘Princess’ to ‘Villain’ (Propp)