I'm in love with love!

Okay-I cannot tell a lie. I'm such a hopeless romantic. I'm in love with anything even remotely romantic, sweet, beautiful etc. I'm in love with love!!! The idea, the practice the everyday occurrences the meaning, I just really love it all. There's no "chick flick" I've seen that I haven't cried during or even for many minutes after. The Notebook, Time travelers wife, the last song, don't even get me started about Titanic! Basically I'm a sap, a hopeless romantic if you will and I'm totally fine with that! But why do I love, love? I mean I can't say that I've met my very own Edward so to speak and yet here I am spilling my guts to strangers about how much of a romantic I am. I think the idea of love is what gets me. Security. Faith in something that is more than yourself. To be able to say that you are selfless and are fine with that. That's what I see as I bawl my eyes out during my chick flicks. I see struggle between two people that crave that feeling that deep emotion of loving one another. And behind that veil of love is every other emotion possible-hate,anger, happiness gratitude, desire, loath. It seems that somehow every emotion possible is somehow played out in love (if that makes any sense). And this is what gets me all romantic-loving- is the fact that it's possible that all these emotions are wrapped up in the overlying emotion of love-and some of these can be very hurtful and yet love remains still beautiful and desirable. It's quite interesting I feel. I think this picture captures my thoughts of love and romance well- this couple is mad for one another and that radiates through this picture. Personally I'm a lover of black and white pictures because I feel there's something so pure and real about them. There aren't any distractions over color and so the "reader" is left with the lovers and romance and the affection that's exhibited. Like I said, I in love with love, and somehow I don't see that changing soon :)

Love vs Sex

Mami you looking like I'm just another guy
That came to check you
That came to reck you
No disrespect but mami that's correct cause... what's in them jeans just got my mind hectic
I can see that your feeling my passion
Is it cause I'm flashing (hmm)
Or is it this cash that's just way to reckless
Or is it this necklace
Wait let me interrupt myself with this smash you see.

[Chorus:]
I don't wanna be loved
I don't wanna be loved
I just wanna quickie
No bite marks, no scratches, and no hickies
If you can get with that, mami come get with me
I don't wanna be loved
I don't wanna be loved
I just wanna quick fix
Up in your mix miss
Send me you wishlist
I have you addicted
So mami come with this

Mami I realize that I manage
Speak a language and love like Spanish
Godo vageele
I'm so obscene and know what I mean and
Yeah sorry that was Portuguese
And I speak with ease
Please (aha) get on them knees
I gotta penny for your thoughts
If you know what I mean

[Chorus]

Don't be offended babe
By what I say
It's just a game
And how I play
Pillagent blender
Call me ya plan ma
Knock on this wood
Get rocked by this thunder [x2]


Man, This guy just wants to get it in! The song here is called Quickie by Miguel. This is a song about a good looking guy who just wants sex. He just wants the pleasure aspect of sex. He doesn't want to see any marks of intercourse after the deed is done. Sadly, this is how our society sees sexual intercourse. It is seen as something that happens for one night. Then you never see that person again. A 'One Night Stand' as defined by Urban Dictionary is Hooking up with someone for one night of sex with no strings attached and hoping to never see them again. It is important not to exchange any personal info with them so they can't track you down and stalk you later.

This is pure passion at it's finest. This shows the finest act of love and romance without love or romance. This should never be the case. Sex is how two people show their love for each other by giving their body to the other. Sex has many important aspects other than just pleasure. People link many emotions to sex.




This video shows that the brain can show love. That love, being so very obvious, is a measurable emotion. Love is something we all experience. Whether it is with our parents, our significant other, or our pets. But having sex with someone doesn't mean you love them. Also, Loving someone doesn't mean you've had sex with them. Although sometimes it can feel this way.

One Product Away From Nature

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqxtC3wwBVM

This is a commercial for Timberland's Lite trace line of trail shoes. The commercial starts off with a wide view of the hustle and bustle of a large city. It is jam packed with action, concrete, shops, people, etc. But in the middle of it all is one guy who seems to act differently, he isn't moving in a hurried manner or determined end point. He is envisioning "nature" while being in a wild city. Throughout the whole commercial there is a separation of the busy city life to nature. At one point he gets to a news stand with the words "who's hot", "gossip", and "celebrity" written all over it and proceeds to climb it, becoming above those things. At that point in which we actually see him physically touch nature, he is now wearing Timberland's Lite Trace shoes. A clear attempt from the advertisers to connect their shoes with the wearer being in/one with nature. It also makes the distinction between a factory billowing out smog and the clean air of wilderness. All the while in the background is a song that has the lyrics "on my way back to where I belong" providing yet another connection to how we belong in nature. I could go on and on analyzing all of the constructions that this advertisement contains, it is a remarkable ad in my opinion.

This ad, by the means of the examples that I pointed out, is trying to convey the message that by buying those shoes you become closer to nature. It also provides "evidence" that nature is where we belong and should want to be. This advertisement is aimed at people who have already learned to love nature but it also contains the materials necessary to try and teach people to like nature. It provides a fantasy (all of the scene comparisons of nature) and the means to achieve or live out that fantasy (buying the LiteTrace shoes) thus creating a structure of feeling that we can obtain. This means that when we view this commercial we will have a desire to be in nature, because we have been taught that nature is good, serine, desirable, leaving us with some sort of emotion. The advertisers are obviously hoping that we act upon that emotion and buy the product.

Love At First Sight

http://youtu.be/EhDrJz4rBH0

Love At First Sight - Kylie Minogue

Thought that I was going crazy
Just having one of those days yeah
Didn't know what to do
Then there was you

And everything went from wrong to right
And the stars came out and filled up the sky
The music yoy were playing really blew my mind
It was love at first sight

'Cause baby when I heard you
For the first time I knew
We were meant to be as one

Was tired of running out of luck
Thinking 'bout giving up yeah
Didn't know what to do
Then there was you

And everything went from wrong to right
And the stars came out and filled up the sky
The music yoy were playing really blew my mind
It was love at first sight

'Cause baby when I heard you
For the first time
I knew we were meant to be as one

And everything went from wrong to right
And the stars came out and filled up the sky
The music yoy were playing really blew my mind
It was love at first sight

Those are the lyrics for a popular Kylie Minogue song that was played to death in the early 2000's. It features the extremely prominent romantic theme of 'love at first sight'. It plays to these aspects of romance:

• feelings or emotions over reason or fact

The feeling of being in love, striking you in a moment, clouds over any reason you might have over the fact that you just met this person for the first time. You feel like you have known them 'forever' or in another 'lifetime'. As Kylie sings, "the stars came out and filled the sky and everything went from wrong to right"

• nature over civilization

There is a triumph in the 'natural' feeling of loving someone right away as opposed to the contrived practices of modern day courting where you manufacture romance instead of feeling it.

• intuition over learning or knowledge

This feeling has more value because something innate within you connected with something innate in another person. This contrasts with the idea of getting to know someone over a long period of time and managing a relationship the more you understand one another. There is no getting engaged and living together for two years before getting married. It's getting married, moving in together and learning about each other afterwards.

• innocence over experience

The pureness of the emotion can only come from the innocence of love at first sight. Not only is there no time for lust or 'like', there is no time or thought towards experience. It is only the innocence of the moment, when love catches you off guard in a single moment, that captures you fully.

The Romantic Christmas

This picture is also very romantic for some people because it provides us with a fantasy. This setting takes place in the woods, away from the stresses of city life, therefore it is somewhere we wish we could go. As humans we all want peace and for some people the only peace there seems to be is when one is in nature so this setting seems so romantic to them and therefore it becomes beautiful. The stars and the beautiful lights from the tree also add to this fantasy. In our culture we are taught to see stars as magical and therefore beautiful. For example, take the simple song "twinkle twinkle little star." Most American school children learn this song and the lines "like a diamond in the sky" tell us that stars are beautiful, so we see them as beautiful. Most people will also see the lights on the Christmas tree as beautiful, especially the pink which is the color most associate with love and happiness. Of course this setting is not beautiful for some people because they do not see the woods as someplace they would want to go. I also think that some people, (especially some of the kids who are raised in the cities), wouldn't feel some of the emotions that I feel when I see this picture. I was raised in a small town in Northern Minnesota and this scene is literally in my backyard, so when I see this image I feel a sense of home and belonging (especially now that I am living in the BIG CITY). This picture actually makes me feel a little homesick because it brings up all of my emotions I feel from home.

This picture is also very romantic and beautiful to certain people (especially me), because it isn't simply just a tree but it is a beautiful Christmas tree. This tree represents or in other words signifies Christmas and the magic that is Christmas. Because we associate Christmas with this image, this image provokes the same emotions that we feel about Christmas. Now when most people think about Christmas they think about happiness, peace, and the joy of being with one's family, so when they see a beautiful picture of a Christmas tree, they see it as beautiful or "romantic" because they are reminded of this happiness. Also, people feel peace when seeing a Christmas tree because when we see it we are "transported" to a much simpler time of childhood Christmas, and we get in touch with our "inner child." People, on the other hand who don't celebrate Christmas, probably won't feel these same feelings of joy when they see a Christmas tree. They don't have that emotional pull to this picture as someone who celebrates Christmas so they probably don't consider this picture as romantic or beautiful as someone who has these feelings. This picture is also "romantic" in the fact it is unrealistic but magical which creates a fantasy for us. Why is there a tree in the middle of the dark forest decorated with shiny Christmas lights when there is no possible way that they are lit up by an electrical power? This tree is magical so it gives us that exciting feeling we feel when we are given that possibility the magic exists. This possibility of excitement and happiness makes want to be transported into this picture, therefore it makes this image romantic for us. Overall, the message that is picture argues us into believing that this image and nature is beautiful and that Christmas is a magical time of year. This image argues us into this reasoning by creating the emotions of happiness that I explained above and hinting that it was magic that gave this tree it's beauty.

Destination Weddings

Destination weddings. A time where a couple flies to a far, beautiful place to get married. A few of their closest friends and family make the trip as well. I have to admit, the picture above is gorgeous. The men are in tuxes that are perfectly matched with the beach sand. The bridesmaid's dresses reflect the ocean waters. An intimate amount of family and friends are watching the couple say their "I do's." The romantic part of this is the scenery and the location. The waves are noticeable but not too big. The sun is shining and the clouds are white and fluffy. It's like a painted picture. Everything is working in perfect harmony to create the "perfect" wedding ceremony.

I get the point of a destination wedding - beautiful scenery, honeymoon suite, close family. But what about the wedding reception at the resort's restaurant filled with strangers and guests of the resort? Unless the couple rented out the whole restaurant for the wedding, the vacation goers would not have to stay away. Random people would be toasting with the bride and groom. I understand that for some couples it is their fairytale wedding. But I'd say the majority of them have another wedding back home so more friends and family can watch them get married - again. So my question is - why don't they just skip the destination wedding if they are just going to do it all over again. I'm not saying that I'm against the institution of marriage. I just don't think it is necessary for a couple to fly to the Bahamas, Rome, or Greece just so they can have pretty wedding pictures. Maybe I'm just to cheap to have a destination wedding. Or maybe I just want my wedding to be private and only shared with the people I know and love. When the time comes, I guess I'll know.

National Mall Romance

This picture is what I think of when I think of a romantic image. This is a picture of the National Mall in Washington D.C. and when I see this picture I feel a sense of relaxation, calmness, and happiness that I don't feel when I look at anything else. When I look at this I don't see a city, I see a expanse of history, nature, and camaraderie. To me this is the perfect example of, what I like to call, neo-romanticism. To me, neo-romanticism is the idea of a balanced calmness that comes from the perfect combination of things that traditional romantics saw as opposites. This image gives a perfect example of neo-romanticism.

First, this image is one that combines nature and civilization. The trees and greenness of the mall area come together with the classic construction of the Smithsonian buildings to give a feeling of what would happen in the perfect world when nature meet with civilization. Neither are intruding on the other and they almost seem to compliment each other, in this situation, to create a calm balance. Those same things almost combine rural and urban to create a area somewhere in between where one minute you're in nature (the trees and greenness) and the next you're in an urban area (the classic construction of the Smithsonian building).

This image also combines art and science (or what I like to call intellectualism). The art in the construction of each of the Smithsonian buildings and in the construction of the memorials at the end of the mall combine with the intellectualism that is created in the Smithsonian buildings and the memorials as well. This feeling of calmness comes over you as you ingage your brain intellectually in these incredibly beautiful and artistic surroundings.

Lastly, this image perfectly combines poor and rich. The entire National Mall area is a place where being poor or rich no longer matters. Every Smithsonian museum, as well as all of the memorials at the end of the mall, are all free. This means that poor, rich, or somewhere in between everyone can go and enjoy the beauty and intellectualism of this area. To me, the fact that poor and rich no longer matter is the perfect combination of those two things and create a calmness that isn't allowed anywhere else.

This image is clearly not a typical representation of romanticism, but of neo-romanticism. This image combines what traditional romantics think of opposites to create a feeling of calmness that you can't find in many places in today's world.

The Walk Girls Want To Remember

Lets face it.. in high school, most teenagers have no idea what they want in a significant other! I remember having crushes on the craziest guys in high school and I looked back and wondered how I even had feelings towards those "Immature boys". This post may relate more to girls than guys, but do any of you remember falling head over heels for a guy and they were nothing like you? They didn't dress like you, didn't hangout in the same group as you, but something pulled you in. The mystery of it.. who could this person be? Possibly the man of your dreams, or at least thats what your mind is imaging.  

In a Walk to Remember, Mandy Moore is the sweetest and most modest Christian girl in school, and Shane West is the rebellious kid who seems to have no morals, yet they end up together. It takes people into a situation that will likely never happen. I am a Christian and I am more reserved than most people today with dating. If I saw a guy like Shane West try to win me over, I would be incredibly enthralled, yet also cautious. The reason I would be enthralled is because how often does this happen? The guy you thought was an absolute jerk off that ignored or made fun of you, turns out to be crazy in love with you? When I watch this movie I always think about Mandy and how she has to secretly love the attention and love that this guy is changing his whole life just for her. Shane ends up ditching his “cool friends” for Mandy and makes her his WHOLE world. I’m pretty sure this is every girl’s fantasy. Shane turns out to be the perfect man and treats Mandy like an angel until she passed away from leukemia.

For us women today, this dream of having a man do this to us is completely dead. I’m not sure it was ever alive in the first place? Deep in our hearts we desire to be swept off our feet by the mystery man who turns out to be prince charming. But until then, I’ll snuggle up with my girlfriends, grab some popcorn, and watch A Walk to Remember.

Romanticism in the Natural World

http://visionwidget.com/images/2010-1/0107/photography-jeffrey-vanhoutte_07.jpg

As we have discussed in class the culture (images, movies, songs, poems, etc.) that bombards us every day has impacted how we view and feel about almost everything we come into contact with. This is know as the "structure of feeling". I picked this photograph because it evoked a strong response from me and it also represents the ideal version of romantic advertising/ imagery on a contemporary level.

This image "constructs the romantic" by first of all introducing us into a beautiful landscape complete with rolling clouds, trees, and fields. It reminds me of the images we discussed in class. How could one ever want to be involved in civilization when the natural world is this appealing. It also stresses individuality with a single chair, inviting us, the viewers to come in and join the scene. It is clearly a rural scene, completely innocent from the flaws and evils of civilization. I feel like this image is arguing us towards a "green" ideology and at the same time promoting and exposing us to the beauty of the natural world. But i also feel like it is arguing for the joining of nature and civilization due to the strategic placement of a clearly modern looking chair in the middle of the natural landscape and due to how the tree and chair literally connect into one another.

This image spiked feelings of tranquility in me when i first saw it and after thinking about it for some time i began to be able to read it like data and form opinions on when the political/ ideological rhetoric of the image could be. I believe that it is arguing us to accept the combining of nature and technology and also to support a green alternative. After all, that beautiful landscape and rural setting looks so amazing compared to drab city life, and that modern chair blends in so well to the whole scene, inviting us the viewer to join it all.

JK Wedding

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0  MUST WATCH!!!

To some people, being romantic means being subtle and subdue while others think being romantic means showing the world your love and compassion for someone special.  The world has many different takes on being a romantic and everyone has their own opinion as to what is and isn’t romantic.  As much as I hate to admit, I am a huge romantic.  I love to watch movies that tug at the heart strings but also involve a chase.  Although, I am not a typical romantic.  My favorite moments are those that are creative and irresistible such as the featured wedding clip above.  The video shown above is my all-time favorite you-tube video.  It is the wedding entrance for Pam and Jim that occurred in our very own St. Paul Minnesota.  I have watched this video over and over numerous times and each time sends chills down my spine and places a huge smile to my face. 

The wedding starts out like a typical wedding with the announcement to take your seats and the ceremony will begin shortly.  To everyone’s surprise, music begins playing and groomsmen and bridesmaids begin dancing up and down the aisles.  The music played is Forever by Chris Brown.  How fitting!!!  The couple wants to be together ‘forever’!! Every girls dream is to find the ‘perfect’ guy and fall in love that lasts ‘forever’.  This is explained in movies as well.  Romanticism in movies is often viewed as a dream for those in reality. In the movies, everything always turns out ‘perfect’.  This is ‘perfectly’ unrealistic for many viewers.  Movies portray a fantasy lifestyle that is out of reach of real life.

 If you have not seen this video you must watch.  After all of the bridesmaids and groomsmen have traveled down the aisle a few times they all proceed down the aisle together.   This is when the groom does a summersault into view and they all travel to the alter where the priest waits.  The music shifts to slow motion and so do all of the ‘performers’.  When the music resumes, it’s time for the bride to make her entrance.  While gracefully dancing down the aisle in her white dress the groom meets her halfway and they approach the alter together as the music fades. 

                This video helps to show that the typical church wedding ceremony can be sculpted into a magical moment with memories that will last a lifetime.  Weddings are viewed as the sacred celebration of joining two people in holy matrimony.  They are typically quiet with little interruption before the ending “I Do’s”.  This wedding defies all standards set in place as provides the audience with a creative versus ideal situation.  This video helps to show that having a wedding is not the main concern of marriage.  Marriage is the joining of two people who are happy and in love.  This wedding specifically shows the personalities of both partners and expresses their love for each other in the way they see fit.  They are not going to be just another ordinary couple; they want to make themselves stand out from the crowd.  This was accomplished because not only was this wedding a hit to those witnessing it but to those across the country.  This video was featured on news stations and in Pam and Jims wedding on the show The Office.  This helps construct a path for new beginnings and new ‘standards’ for old traditions such as weddings. 

Romance divided into Love and Life

The first definition of Romance that I believed in stemmed from the music I listened to during early high school years. I was positively in love with bleeding heart Indie music, in particular, Dashboard Confessional. I spent hours memorizing every heartfelt, soulful, longing, falsetto word sung to acoustic guitar that Chris Carraba sang. The songs always involved the love of his life leaving him broken hearted, and his declaration of his devotion regardless of how this girl treated him.

When I first listened to these songs, I was positively inexperienced in love, but I considered myself an expert based on my brief, immature, "relationships". I hoped and dreamed that one day a boy would fall head-over-heels in love with ME too, a boy who would still love me when I was sad or crabby or in my sweatpants, and who would pine for me long after our relationship was done.

On the other hand, I use Romantic to define a life that I want to live in my future. This life is in Paris or Prague or Milan, and is pre-war 1900's European decadence. Gilded furniture, crystal chandeliers, champagne with raspberries, sleeping 'til 2pm, shopping all day, dinner at 11pm, clubs all night long.

I know that this image of romance began when I traveled to Europe in high school on a trip, and we spent a few days in each city that we visited, spending one month in total across the pond. I believe it is the history and culture that won my heart. But I also believe I was attracted to the foreign aspect of the cities. It was so different than my suburban upbringing. People waited around to enjoy moments, where as I had only known a life of constant movement toward the next acheivement (get A's, be Track captain, be on student council, get into college, etc).

I believe that the life I romanticize grew NOT from what I commonly knew during my life, but from what I got just a taste of. I associate rare or exclusive with romantic, which absolutely is a product of marketing campaigns by luxury brands. I know that if the life I consider "romantic" became my reality, I would begin wishing for another type of life. If I had Champagne every day, I would stop thinking it was romantic.

Thus, I believe romance incorporates more than simply a relationship; it describes a lifestyle. I have separate standards for each, grown through different sources. If only I could combine the two.... oh well. Cheers!

Love it or Hate it

I am not a romantic. I do not care much about romance in film and in reality. I live life as it is. I do what I do. I like watching people fail at times with cheesy and corny proposal in front of thousands to millions of audience. Just like the guy in the video. In a world of unbelievable love and fantasy where everything comes true, proposing to your significant other during the half time game show would allow you to get a yes for an answer. However, in reality, this is not the case as proved by the video. The anchor man also mentions that it is a lot of pressure to ask someone to marry you during a halftime game show and with the audience waiting for an answer. This is TRUE. Did the guy even stop to think about how embarrassing it would be to get rejected in public? Or the pressure that is exert on his significant other? He is a super romantic who is too much in love with fairy tales. Only a small portion come to reality, as it was not his time. If you listen to the audience after the rejection, there were lots of boos and also slight whistling as she steps off the field. The anchor man also states he was "joking" when he said for her to reject the marriage proposal. And this was the night before VALENTINE'S DAY. How unromantic of her (it's reality. It's there). All I have to say was, he should have thought about all the possible outcome, regardless of how much he loved her. If he loved her, he would have made it unique and less corny and cliche. And now he knows how much she loves him.

Titanic:Poor over Rich

Titanic makes EVERYONE cry. Literally everyone cries when Jack sinks to the bottom of the ocean, every woman at least. For those of you unfamiliar with the love story shown in the movie Titanic, Rose boards the ship with a rich well-to-do fiancée that her parents adore and gives her whatever she needs. However, she meets Jack Dawson on the ship and he is the complete opposite. Jack is a poor, nomadic, artist that just goes where life takes him; not a penny to his name. Rose falls in love with Jack because he is the type you would love, where her fiancée is the type you would marry. But who determines these categories of men and what they are sufficient for? This makes the audience believe that poor men are more genuine than rich men, or that artists are better in bed than entrepreneurs. Throughout the course of the movie you learn to hate Cal (the rich fiancée) and grow attached to Jack. When the ship is going down you want nothing more than Rose and Jack to get out alive together, but Cal is in the way and you as the viewer want to just shoot him yourself! Making the rich, loved-by-parents man mean and the artist lovable, it gives an entire stereotype to all rich men and all poor artists. It’s the classic poor over rich, even though none of us would prefer to be poor, he’s the underdog and America loves an underdog story. The fact that Rose’s parents chose Cal for her is also exploited. When Rose goes against her parent’s wishes and chooses Jack, it adds the ‘teenage rebellion’ factor. She even risks her life to stay onboard a sinking ship with him while her parents left on a rescue boat! That is the prime example of disobeying your parents for love, and the movie makes it seem like such an attractive thing to do! When in reality, she is freezing her ass of and Jack dies anyway!

Pokemon Love.

I wouldn't really consider myself a romantic, but there's something that strikes a cord with this picture. While Pokemon is indeed a children's game, I believe this picture represents a certain type of love that plays towards the innocence and nostalgic aspects.

Anyone who is familiar with the Pokemon franchise knows that it's about little creatures with abilities. Those who have played it, and more specifically, those who were swept up in the craze when they were young know that it's about a lot more than that. It was about the faithful bond between a trainer and his/her Pokemon, the journey that they would take together and the challenges that they would face. If anything, that parallels love almost to the 't'. Assuming that the partners in this relationship were in that era, this would've given a stronger meaning to the message that was written.

"We've grown really close." I think this line is brilliant. In the game, you grow and level up with more and more experience points. In relationships, you grow closer together with the experiences you've gained together. I'll point out now that there's a Pokemon on that roster that's at level 98. The maximum level you can get in that game is 100, meaning that through the course of building the team, they poured hours upon hours and days upon days to even get that single Pokemon to such a standard, while the others are at equally respectable levels. As technical as it sounds, the interpretation that I grab from this is that they've grown together, bonded together and this is a merely a representation of their bond.

What does anything I had to say to do with innocence and nostalgia? Pokemon is often affiliated with children/childhood and thus plays itself into innocence. There is almost nothing more innocent than children running around pretending that they have little pets running around on worldwide journeys to become the best. Nostalgia lends its hand by basically reminding us of that innocence and of those bonds that we may or may not of had with our Pokemon as kids. It's difficult to explain the 'bond' you felt with your Pokemon as they grew and evolved, but some may say it's similar to growing closer to another person. Through thick and thing, they love and work with one another to be the best couple they can be.

Ron Burgundy - Romantic at Heart

Despite being classified as a comedy, the 2004 film Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy contains an excellent representation of the romantic. The selected clip embedded above shows both what the romantic is and what it isn't. Ron claims to understand love and is currently experiencing "the romantic," while Brick and Brian think they know what love is, but do not.

At the beginning of the clip, Ron exclaims to the entire station that he and Veronica had sex and are in love. Despite promising Veronica that he wouldn't tell anyone what happened between them, he ignores reason and allows his feelings and emotions to take over. When he realizes how loud he was, he shows that he cares only for his individual self by saying he "can't help it" because of how "fantastic" it is. His exuberance proves that he completely disregards the feelings or emotions of others, and is only focused on his intuition.

Following Ron's public display or romance, the other members of the news team inquire about what love is. Brian and Brick both attempt to show their understanding of love, and are quickly proven wrong. They may have a limited understanding of the romantic, but have not fully experienced it in relation to love.

After asking Ron to explain what it's like, Ron begins to sing a song to explain what love is. The song - "Afternoon Delight" is a second example of Ron's "romanticism" in action. It is not normal or culturally acceptable to sing in the workplace - and especially not when the song is as sexual/sensual as this song is. Ron again ignores reason and is overtaken by his emotions, this time in the form of a song.

All of these aspects of this scene, in addition to scenes from the rest of the movie, prove that Ron Burgundy is a romantic. The message of this example/scene, is that experiencing "the romantic" can be a different experience for each individual. Ron's experience has been equivalent to the feelings of love, and he represents many aspects of the romantic in his relationship with Veronica. He continuously ignores reason and follows his emotions, and doesn't care about anyone other than himself. Brick and Brian, on the other hand, have experienced aspects of romanticism but have not fully experienced it in relation to love. It also makes the viewer examine his/her relationships and look for romantic love.

Therefore, Ron Burgundy is a true romantic in his relationship with Veronica. This scene is representative of many aspects of "The Romantic" and proves that Ron is experiencing romance in relation to love.

To some this looks like a cold icy land, far from the warm buildings that hold the comfort of TVs, computers, and a thermostat to turn up. A land that may look foreign and unnecessary to spend time with. But to others it could be a tragic romantic view where the city is over coming the nature of the woods and populating the unpopulated. Others may old a more neutral view. This is a place were for a second they can spend in the wild around them and the next spend shopping downtown.

As I've mentioned before I am a big time runner. But besides being a running fanatic I am also a ski bunny and lucky for me one of the greatest places to cross country ski in Minneapolis is right down the street from my home at Theodore Wirth Park. I'm a romantic as well. I fantasy, I dream, I wonder, I journal, I create but most of all I'm emotional and am easily moved by the things around me.

I've been skiing the trails at Wirth for a couple years now but during my freshman year at Washburn I joined the ski team (actually we created it, there was no one to begin it) and fell in love with winter. Ever sense then I haven't gotten tired of winter, even when there's snowstorms in April. The winter literally transforms Wirth's golf courses into a winter wonderland. The blanket of snow that covers the trees and hills make me feel as if your up north trudging your way, up and down, along Lake Superior or casually moving along the flat fields in Iowa at Grandma's farm. It places you into a different world. The nature is surrounding you around every turn where it's quiet and peaceful with only the swiftness of the skis under your boots. It’s only until you come out of the woods and see the lights of the skyline, you realize you’re still in Minneapolis.

Minnesota, the land of ten thousand lakes, used to be filled with fresh, unpolluted waters and bounteous amounts of wood lands and prairies. Now is filled with industrial land, smog, houses, light rail, construction, roads, cars, ect. People in the city tend to fall away from the outdoors and nature. They are too busy with their work and lives. Is it really that difficult trek on down to Wirth, Minnehaha, the river, or the lakes and take time to enjoy that scenery? I love the city life but I need the best of both worlds to get me by. Sense we have the opportunity to go outside in the beautiful land of Minneapolis, we might as well take it. Regardless not all the Minnesotans can be like the natives or Paul Bunyans of the past.

Nothing like love at a Minnesota Swarm Game

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5tdNntGS0M&feature=related

I am a self-proclaimed (public) unromantic; I am emotional person, nature loving, and an artsy. I have a big heart and love to be in love but I really, really hate public displays of romance, especially at a sports game. To me sports are all about basic animalistic nature, tackling, chasing, and survival of the fittest. Like separation of church and state, I believe these two acts, love and competition, should remain distant from each other.

The video link above is of a proposal at a Minnesota Swarm game which I watched with one of my roommates. Our takes on it were drastically different: I felt extremely uncomfortable and awkward and my roommate started crying…because it apparently was “really cute.” We obviously have two very different constructions of romance one more private and personal, which I feel is a deeper, more intimate display. And my roommate’s view that publicly announcing your love for another is a very bold and romantic way of showing to the other person, I’m committed.

I think Emily, the girl from the video, might be in the same camp as I am as her response to the proposal wasn’t a resounding YES! But instead, “I guess I have to, don’t I?” Meanwhile, her new finance looked very proud of himself and his rehearsed speech, grinning ear to ear. The cheerleaders in the background seemed to buy into the romance of a public proposal, shaking their pom-poms while ‘aww-ing’ every time he said something cutesy.

Obviously, this man was more concerned about the individual self than the stadium packed with strangers. Luckily for him his girlfriend agreed to marry him, despite her apparent discomfort of taking a private moment so public. This man sent the message out to the world that sports and romance do mix and you can live happily ever after at a Swarm game.

But in a relationship you may want to check how the other person feels about public romance or it may turn out a little something like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFtDmtWoicY&NR=1

Posting Assignment #7 (due Sunday 11/20, 11:59 P.M.): So how Romantic are we really--and so what?

We've been working around the concept of a 'structure of feeling' as a way of getting at why some things (like movies, pictures, poems, songs, even ideas) just move us to tears or happiness or pleasure while others are just, 'like, uh, whatever.'  The key (and scary) idea here is that what we feel is as much a 'cultural construction' as anything, and that this is how 'culture gets inside us.'  It forms our feelings.  And feelings are not 'natural facts.'  And feelings are—always—tied up with ideology; they're political because they guide our actions ('what we think changes how we act' (Gang of Four)).

[Double Rainbow--Oh Wow!]

The Romantic—a short list:

• feelings or emotions over reason or fact

• the individual self over anything collective or social

• nature over civilization

• intuition over learning or knowledge

• art (big sense) over science

• rural over urban

• child over adult

• innocence over experience

• poor over rich

• 'hands' (manual labor) over 'heads' (intellectual labor)

• maybe even 'feminine' over 'masculine' (because of how they've been constructed)

Reservations and Hedges: Got to remember that no 'structure of feeling' is ever universal (lots of us don't 'like the woods').  Or better: at any one historical moment, there may be several 'structures of feeling' operating (if you're part of 'Hip-Hop Nation,' you probably don't shop at REI or NorthFace).

Scavenger Hunt:

1)  Find an example of the ROMANTIC IN ACTION—ads, songs, movie scenes (Bella and Edward got married), public spaces (parks, golf courses), and so on.  Remember that you can do the 'anti-romantic,' too—if your idea of the perfect place is a mall or a club.   Try for the small, clear and  unexpected.  Post the image, quote the words, offer a link.

2)  Analyze the RHETORIC and POLITICS.  How is 'the romantic' constructed in the example you found?  And what political / ideological position is it advancing?

3)  Based on evidence from your analysis, make an ARGUMENT about the 'message' your example conveys.  Make sure you can DEFEND every point you make with specific, detailed evidence from your analysis. 

* 300 words or more – again, you'll need some space for this.
* No keywords required -- but you're welcome to use them if they'll help you make your points.  (And whether or not you end up using words like 'intertextuality,' and 'structures of feeling' in your post, you'll want to be thinking in those terms anyway. ) '
* No text-references required — but again, you're welcome to use them if they'll help you make your points.

Happy hunting.