New Frontiers in Popular Romance: Essays on the Genre in the 21st Century

The romance genre has gained academic recognition, with the International Association for the Study of Popular Romance established. This essay collection explores the genre's position in the twenty-first century, examining its relationship with masculinity, consent, historical romance, representation, social status, and web-based romance fiction.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 277 pages
Publication date: 30 July 2022
Publisher: McFarland & Co Inc

The romance genre has garnered increasing academic attention in the twenty-first century, leading to the establishment of the International Association for the Study of Popular Romance. Despite its longstanding neglect and derision, scholarly works on popular romance often begin with a robust defense of the genre and its significance for academic inquiry. Even early scholarly studies of the genre tend to make broad generalizations about popular romance, its texts, and its readers.

This essay collection explores the current status of the romance genre in the twenty-first century and the ways in which it responds to and influences the culture and community in which it thrives. The essays are organized into six sections, each addressing different aspects of the genre's relationship with masculinity, the importance of consent, historical romance, representation, social status, and web-based romance fiction.

In the first section, "Romance and Masculinity," scholars examine how romance narratives have traditionally portrayed and reinforced traditional notions of masculinity. They explore how romance novels often depict male characters as strong, protective, and dominant, while female characters are often portrayed as passive, dependent, and subservient. The section also examines how romance novels can challenge these gender norms and promote more equitable and diverse representations of masculinity.

The second section, "Consent and Romance," explores the importance of consent in romantic relationships. Scholars discuss how consent is often marginalized or ignored in popular romance novels, particularly in cases of coercion or abuse. They argue that consent is a fundamental human right and that romance novels should prioritize it in their narratives. The section also examines how romance novels can promote healthy and respectful relationships and encourage readers to recognize and respond to consent violations.

The third section, "Historical Romance," examines the enduring appeal of historical romance novels. Scholars explore how these novels transport readers to different time periods and cultures, allowing them to experience different forms of love and romance. They examine how historical romance novels can provide a valuable lens for studying historical events and social movements and how they can challenge historical stereotypes and misconceptions.

The fourth section, "Representation," explores how popular romance novels represent diverse communities and identities. Scholars discuss how romance novels can promote inclusivity and representation by featuring characters from marginalized backgrounds, LGBTQ+ communities, and different racial and cultural backgrounds. They also examine how romance novels can challenge harmful stereotypes and promote empathy and understanding.

The fifth section, "Social Status and Romance," examines the relationship between social status and romance in popular culture. Scholars explore how romance novels can reflect and reinforce social hierarch

In the twenty-first century, the romance genre has gained a growing academic response, including the creation of the International Association for the Study of Popular Romance. Popular romance has long been so ignored and maligned that seemingly every scholarly work on it opens with a lengthy defense of the genre and its value for academic study. Even the early scholarly works on the genre approach it in ways that, while primarily respectful, make sweeping generalizations about popular romance, its texts, and its readers.

This essay collection examines the position of the romance genre in the twenty-first century, and the ways in which romance responds to and influences the culture and community in which it exists. Essays are divided into six sections, which cover the genre s relationship with masculinity, the importance of consent, historical romance, representation, social status and web-based romance fiction.

The romance genre has garnered increasing academic attention in the twenty-first century, leading to the establishment of the International Association for the Study of Popular Romance. Despite its longstanding neglect and derision, scholarly works on popular romance often begin with a robust defense of the genre and its significance for academic inquiry. Even early scholarly studies of the genre tend to make broad generalizations about popular romance, its texts, and its readers.

This essay collection explores the current status of the romance genre in the twenty-first century and the ways in which it responds to and influences the culture and community in which it thrives. The essays are organized into six sections, each addressing different aspects of the genre's relationship with masculinity, the importance of consent, historical romance, representation, social status, and web-based romance fiction.

In the first section, "Romance and Masculinity," scholars examine how romance narratives have traditionally portrayed and reinforced traditional notions of masculinity. They explore how romance novels often depict male characters as strong, protective, and dominant, while female characters are often portrayed as passive, dependent, and subservient. The section also examines how romance novels can challenge these gender norms and promote more equitable and diverse representations of masculinity.

The second section, "Consent and Romance," explores the importance of consent in romantic relationships. Scholars discuss how consent is often marginalized or ignored in popular romance novels, particularly in cases of coercion or abuse. They argue that consent is a fundamental human right and that romance novels should prioritize it in their narratives. The section also examines how romance novels can promote healthy and respectful relationships and encourage readers to recognize and respond to consent violations.

The third section, "Historical Romance," examines the enduring appeal of historical romance novels. Scholars explore how these novels transport readers to different time periods and cultures, allowing them to experience different forms of love and romance. They examine how historical romance novels can provide a valuable lens for studying historical events and social movements and how they can challenge historical stereotypes and misconceptions.

The fourth section, "Representation," explores how popular romance novels represent diverse communities and identities. Scholars discuss how romance novels can promote inclusivity and representation by featuring characters from marginalized backgrounds, LGBTQ+ communities, and different racial and cultural backgrounds. They also examine how romance novels can challenge harmful stereotypes and promote empathy and understanding.

The fifth section, "Social Status and Romance," examines the relationship between social status and romance in popular culture. Scholars explore how romance novels can reflect and reinforce social

Weight: 150g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781476682464