Researcher ORCID Identifier
0009-0008-0359-0911
Graduation Year
2025
Date of Submission
12-2024
Document Type
Campus Only Senior Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Government
Reader 1
Jon Shields
Terms of Use & License Information
Rights Information
© 2024 MariaEduarda Jereissati
Abstract
This thesis explores the relationship between evolving American norms around love and the institution of marriage as reflected in the romantic comedy genre from 1950 to 1999. Utilizing Stephanie Coontz’s framework on the historical shift of marriage, it argues that the transition from socio-economic partnerships to love-based unions weakened the institution of marriage by introducing heightened emotional expectations.
By analyzing the fifteen most commercially successful romantic comedies (three from each decade), this thesis highlights how these films mirrored and influenced societal anxieties surrounding love, individualism, and marital stability across five decades.
Recommended Citation
Jereissati, Maria Eduarda, "Hollywood Heartbreak: Modern Love-Based Relationships Versus the Institution of Marriage" (2025). CMC Senior Theses. 3786.
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/3786
This thesis is restricted to the Claremont Colleges current faculty, students, and staff.