My Funny (Strange, Not Ha-Ha) Valentine

Left-leaning Hollywood has done as much to undermine tolerance in this country as the Christian Right it so often seeks to pillory. The standard romantic comedy cements puritanical views of Love rather than expand upon our understanding of  its limitless permutations. Instead of same-sex, mixed race, polyamorous or unorthodox unions, filmmakers subject us to rotating couplings that continually enforce the ideal as Older-White-Man meets Younger-Adorable-White-Woman-Who-Is-Neither-As-Intelligent-Nor-Accomplished-Thus-Unequal-And-No-Threat-To-Her-Mate. Thus, we see umpteen pairings such as: Meg Ryan & Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan & Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan & Her Genetically-Altered Lips. Is it any wonder the divorce rate is as high as it is? Rather than blame a national decline in church-going or the proliferation of porn on the internet, perhaps we ought consider that men, as much as women, are repeatedly sold a stale, fairy tale version of Romance that allows for limited, healthy(!) exploration of individual predilections and paraphilic erections?

Jeannie Yandel invited me to discuss my take on traditional coupledom by offering three movies that dare swim up the mainstream to examine love affairs that defy traditional coupledom. Listen here for my spin on these Loves for which there are no Hallmark cards. (The piece aired originally on KUOW Presents, Friday, February 12th, 2010.)

Once you have listened in, please share your Valentine’s views on sweet-spirited kink, full-blown fetish and hard-core romance. Trust that I’ll love you for your candor. And, feel free to nominate your own favorite, offbeat on-screen love stories.

Happy Valentine’s Day,

Warren

Order the three movies I highlight on KUOW Presents below. They’d make great gifts for your loved ones!

LARS & THE REAL GIRL

CRASH

SLEEPING DOGS LIE