Romance Lit 101

or What you need to understand about Tagalog Romance

hmm… come to think of it, this doesn’t just apply to Tagalog Romance. it applies to the genre.

let me qualify, too, these are not gospel truths. these are just my thoughts, inferred from being exposed to the realm of this particular type of pop literature.

BELIEF: Romance novels are a girl thing.

FACT: While it’s true that majority of the readers are women, it’s not to say that men do not read them or will never read them or will not have any appreciation for them if and when they do read them.

BELIEF: Tagalog romance are for economic class lower B, C, D and E thing just as English romance are for Class A and upper and middle B.

FACT: Romance novels whether English or Tagalog traverses all classes. It does not follow that since Tagalog Romance novels are priced such that readers belonging to the C, D and E economic bracket can afford them, these readers are automatically labeled baduy.

Oh, and FYI, economic bracket does not equate being baduy or sosyal. So if you’re pang-masa, it only means you’re mainstream. Nothing wrong with it, nothing to be embarrassed about.

BELIEF: Romance novels are predictable.

FACT: This is true and there is a very good reason why. Romance, by its nature, follows a given formula. Boy meets girl, they fall in love, they separate due to a conflict, and they get back together and live happily ever after. Romantic plots, too, are very limited. There are but seven (7) main plots that the multitude of writers work with. Definitely, there will be similarities. The challenge for every writer is to create unique scenes that will bring his/her characters from one level to the next. This is what makes the stories interesting. Or boring.

BELIEF: Love stories and romance are one and the same.

FACT: Every romance story is a love story but not all love stories are romance stories. Love stories have a wider scope which includes having a non-happy ending. Romance stories always have a happy ending. For more explanation on why such is true for romance stories, see fact about predictability.

Any more thoughts?