Setting | Romantic Comedy Research | Kiera Tolhurst

Setting in Romantic Comedy

Teen Rom-Coms

Because it is important to make a film relatable to audience, for a teenage rom-com the main actors and actresses would be a similar age to the target audience. Typical settings for a teenager to be located would be:

1.       A school.

Stereotypical shots in a school environment could include:

·         A school classroom

·         Locker/changing room (in an American rom-com this would be a place for cheerleaders/jockeys/sports people to congregate.

·         The canteen (often where the student sits at lunch/break defines their status - stereotypical examples include groups like nerds, cheerleaders, beauty queens, jockeys, drama students, 'food-obsessed', the quiet ones etc.)

·         The gym or sports fields

2.       A shopping centre or 'mall'.

Stereotypical shots in a shopping centre or 'mall' could be included because the target audience of the teenage rom coms are teenagers and young women in particular. Because women are often stereotypically seen as being materialistic and 'shop-a-holics' there are usually shots including a group of girls going shopping together after school.

3.       A cafe/diner/coffee shop

Especially in American rom-coms, the idea of having a diner or cafe where most students congregate and meet up after school or in their break and lunchtime is very popular. A setting like this is often a place where friendships/relationships form, break apart and events take place for the plot to develop.

4.       A friend's house for a sleepover

Another stereotypical setting for a teenage romantic comedy would be a friend's house. Usually, this is a meeting point for the group of friends and where some events in the plot may unfold. Typically, the friend may host a party or sleepover at their house which causes some kind of occurrence.

Mature Rom-Coms

For a possibly more mature audience, the settings may differ to a teenage rom-com. Because the characters are usually young adults or middle-aged, they aren't set in a location like a school. The settings could stereotypically include:

1. A workplace

A workplace like an office, a cafe or a big corporation/company business could be one of the main settings for adult characters. This could be a place where characters meet, form relationships, or make enemies etc. It is a versatile setting for any narrative. This could also follow some character conventions of a rom-com like the popular idea of the workplace holding 'an evil boss', or a 'desirable workmate' .

2. A Well-Known City

  Rom-coms are usually set in big cities like New York, Paris or London. The busy lifestyle means there is a lot going on which can add to the plot - the storyline being set in a hectic urban area usually acts as a plot device. Also, large cities like Paris have links to romance and love which refers to the romantic elements of the genre. Particularly in a romantic comedy, cities are often used as a setting as the place is home to millions of people so if the stereotypical narrative of a rom-com occurs and two people happen to meet in the city, fall in love and discover they are soul mates, it is seen as the cliché "one-in-a-million" chance of finding each other - which adds to the romantic elements of the film.

   Cities could be used in romantic comedies as famous places like these are well-known and relatable to the audience. In some circumstances, the audience may enjoy watching the film as they spot a place/cafe/shop/street they are familiar with or have visited before.

3.  A wedding/Family event/Family meal

   In a stereotypical narrative, the family of the two lovers are often included as a plot device. A particular storyline which appears to be popular is the idea that the family of the girl/woman do not like her new boyfriend. This can cause tension, awkwardness and comedic elements which are usually presented through a scene at at the parent's house or at a family meal or event. 

Sometimes, romantic comedies end in a wedding of the two lovers. After watching a film about the two lover's rollercoaster of emotions, in a stereotypical narrative they put all this aside and the film ends happily with a wedding or proposal scene. 

4. Their houses/apartment

 Finally, probably the most commonly used setting would be located at the character's house or apartment which in a rom-com, is usually shared with their girlfriend or boyfriend. This is usually the base setting of the film, which is where the majority of the events and conversations will take place. 

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