We’ve heard about bot poetry that almost mimics the real deal to the point where the public has difficulty separating between artificial and human intelligence. When the website first appeared, the public had a hard time determining whether the curious words strung together were the work of an avant-garde wordsmith or a computer program that had observed too many of these already. Surprisingly, one thing that happened was that, while most assumed that the oddly-combined words were the product of the synthetic mind, the AI proved to be more conservative in its verses since it had data from plenty of classical authors.
But most of us are a little afraid or intimidated by poetry. We’re scared into believing that this genre is one that constantly looks down at us when we pass by it at the bookstore or library. There are many meanings to consider, various word choices and rhymes, metaphors, similes, and just about every other literary device that needs to be considered. The real question would be, what would happen if we played a game of “Guess the Bot” with a genre we’re more used to? Preferably one that is so over-the-top that we’re constantly impressed by how crazy the titles, plots, and book covers continue to get. You guessed it: romance novels.
Elle O’Brien, a computational scientist, did an interesting experiment, combining a neural network with over 20,000 Harlequin Romance novels. The titles that resulted are not only funny, but also present an interesting commentary on what the romance genre seems to constantly present and portray. It also seems oddly appropriate for an AI to look into a literary genre so focused on keeping with the formula. Because, let’s not forget, these plots are timed for a raunchy sex scene by a certain page, a painful breakup caused either by one character’s fear of commitment or a misunderstanding by a particular chapter, and the imminent happy-ending scene that includes a marriage, a proposal, or a pregnancy announcement.
Yes, I have to admit I haven’t read enough of these to know all there is about steamy romance novels. I have, however, looked at their covers while waiting in line at the supermarket. I’m always surprised at the utter objectification of the characters involved in this. It used to be a blond pirate copping a feel with a half-dressed damsel. But lately, I’ve noticed the trend is just some shirtless man, almost always white, just staring broodingly at the would-be buyer. This is usually when I make a face, look away, and move on.
But for today, I’ll entertain this a bit and look at some of the recurring themes that the neural network spat back out. Curiously, I could totally see these next to the celebrity magazines at the checkout.
The Baby Doctor Seduction
O’Brien explained that the words “baby” and other references to pregnancy are so common in the romance genre, that the bot provided plenty of combinations like this. First off, I was not at all aware that there was an entire subgenre that should be called trimester porn. Trust me, it’s not just the bot or the fake covers created to match these titles. I searched online and came across plenty of images of these paperback couples caught mid-seduction, usually with the guy copping the gal’s belly. I don’t know if this is a sign of our society still having some obsession with pregnancy sex being a taboo, or if this is proof that we’re still carrying these standards and relationship expectations from the Victorian era. Let’s forget for a moment the notion that a happy ending always includes a baby. Does anyone consider a scenario where two people might understand and love each other but also don’t want or cannot have children? This one-size-fits-all love story mindset is the reason why so many feel there’s something missing in their life, even when they’re surrounded by people who care for them.
The Prince’s Virgin’s Virgin
I read my first romance novel when I was in high school. It was at the library. I picked up what I thought would be a novel about a woman dealing with the death of her father and inheriting her family’s company. However, by the end of the second chapter she was having a wild encounter in the back of a limo with a Ukrainian carpenter. I wish I was kidding. If you’re so inclined, just look up Ukrainian brothers romance novel and you’re sure to find the whole series. But the reason why I’m bringing this up is because something bothered me when I read it, even though I was only 17 back then. There was always a need to show a virginal or frigid woman who warms up to a strong man. Why was the woman always the one with the problem? And why was it a problem? Also, there always seemed to be a class structure going on. Someone’s rich and someone’s poor. It all seemed so old-fashioned and archaic despite the apparent openness to sexuality.
The Billionaire’s Marriage Valley
Another common topic is the idea of a marriage of convenience that leads to or becomes true love. Should I mention that we’re continuing down the same path of perpetuating old power structures and archetypes? You might laugh and say that nobody takes these stories seriously. They’re chocolate cake and mac and cheese on a rainy day. They’re silly words that bring some light into our life after a breakup. But, if you think about it, these are the stories that make us feel better because they give us hope. The problem is that, relying on these types of books means we hold on to the wish that someone will sweep us off our feet and take care of all our problems. Why do we need a billionaire to save us, when we can be the heroes of our own story?
In the Mountain for the Tender Seduction
Can we talk a bit about how these novels objectify men in the most bizarre manner? It’s not just that they’re always shirtless and broody on the book cover: the working-class male is seen as a sex toy for the rich city girl. But don’t worry, she gets objectified too with this two-dimensional character portrayal. Because it takes a man who’ll seduce her in the barn for her to find out what really matters in life. If you don’t believe these plots, you don’t have to read these novels to see for yourself. There are plenty of movies out there based on these works. The film versions are particularly cringy for their overuse of makeover sequences.
I don’t know if O’Brien did this experiment with this commentary in mind. But as I chuckled through the list, which you can peruse on her blog, I started to think of so many constructs that I continue to struggle to shake off, ones that were engraved in my mind since childhood. I don’t think it’s wrong to read a formulaic book on a bad day. Actually, I can’t judge anyone’s reading list. But it’s important to watch out for ideas that keep us believing in certain expectations.
