As onward and upward with the arts we go, into the great wide open, here's a look back at highlights from the seventh (2011-2012) year of Living the Rom-com.
Of particular note was a series of posts addressing some central belief systems of the romantic comedy genre:
Rom-com archetypes discussed were the Manic Pixie Dream Girl and the Buddy/Buddy Group. The Rom-Com Truisms series continued with #7, #8 (including an assessment of Crazy Stupid Love), and #9. Bridget Jones fans may enjoy Great Moments #104, High Fidelity-lovers see Classics #7, and lovers (or haters) of Amelie should check out this post. Along with the 2011 Asta Awards, films reviewed were:
Year 7 also featured posts on current television and specifically Lena Dunham's Girls, writing craft and industry screeds, and in a personal highlight, my trip to Sweden and Ingmar's home.
Starting Year 8, Living the Rom-Com is attempting something new. For some time now, I've been working on a book proposal that's about the past decade of romantic comedy and how the genre changed over the course of it. And one of my preoccupations has been explicating how these movies affect, and are shaped by, us.
In struggling to make sense of my own relationship with romantic comedy, I've begun an essay that's a kind of memoir-critique of the genre in the 2000s. And to force myself to complete the thing, I've decided to write it in public, i.e. as a series of posts that will stretch out over the coming summer. So while the usual LRC post high jinks will intermittently continue, this writing project will be taking up the bulk of the blog's space - which means more posts, more frequently. Whether that's a good or a bad thing will be for you to decide.
As always, let me know what you'd like to see more (or less) of on this blog. Hearing from you continues to be the greatest pleasure in this ongoing online adventure.
Billy, you've got the best blog on the planet. Whatever you decide to do, I'm sure it will be done with excellence.
Can't wait to read the upcoming posts for your follow-up to "Writing the Romantic Comedy", which I still reffer to from time to time when dabbling in my own spec. script writing. Your new project is going to be a blast to write. Thanks for letting your fanbase in on the process.
Posted by: E.C. Henry | July 01, 2012 at 12:28 PM
Just glad you're still writing. I won't promise to love every post, but I will ready every one. :) I think I need a project to put some life into my old blog...but this about you not me...
Congratulations and here's to a great year 8.
Posted by: jamy | July 01, 2012 at 03:58 PM
You posting more is always a good thing! Looking forward to it.
Posted by: Christina | July 01, 2012 at 04:24 PM
Congrats and thank you.
Posted by: Willie T. Stoke | July 01, 2012 at 07:37 PM
EC, Jamy, Christina, and Willie: Thank you one and all!
Posted by: mernitman | July 02, 2012 at 07:56 AM
Just keep them coming Billy, we are all relying on you - love your blog.
K xo
Posted by: Karen Roberts | July 02, 2012 at 10:27 AM
Bring it.
Posted by: Scott | July 02, 2012 at 10:32 AM
Great way to make a deadline, Billy. Looking forward to a good read!
Posted by: Stephanie | July 02, 2012 at 06:03 PM
Thank you, Karen & Scott!
Stephanie: Yes, I'm looking forward to making a fool of myself in public...
Posted by: mernitman | July 03, 2012 at 01:26 PM
Keep writing, Billy. Any post by you makes me think, and that invariably expands my understanding of romcoms. Looking forward to your essays!
Posted by: Kshiti | July 15, 2012 at 01:04 AM