Curious about Microsoft CoPilot's ability to research and aggregate data, I asked it to "Describe the typical male love interest in a romance novel of the 80's, the 90's, and later."
Specifically I had wanted the 1980's and 1990's separated because it was around that time that libraries seemed to have whole shelves dedicated to Danielle Steel and Nora Roberts, prolific authors in the genre during that period.
(Q & A transcripts below).
In the 80s, the typical male love interest in romance novels was often portrayed as sexy and "smouldering"
- They were strong, aggressive, and sometimes even rough with women.
- Some characters were portrayed as violating women or acting like "assholes".
- These characters were often undifferentiated from other strong and aggressive men but transformed into a softer man capable of caring for the heroine.
- Fabio Lanzoni was the iconic male model for romance novel covers throughout the 80's and 90's.
- I asked CoPilot what they mean by "smouldering" in this context, and they explained:
- In the context of romance novels, "smouldering" is often used to describe a male love interest who exudes a strong, intense, or passionate attractiveness. This can be conveyed through their physical appearance, demeanor, or the way they interact with the protagonist. The term suggests a kind of restrained passion or intensity that is enticing or captivating. It's part of the allure and charm that makes the character appealing to the protagonist, and by extension, the reader. It's worth noting that the use of such descriptive terms contributes to the vivid and engaging character portrayals that are a hallmark of the romance genre.
In the 90s, while they were still often portrayed as sexy and smouldering, there was a shift away from the more aggressive and violating behaviors of the 80s. The male characters were still strong, but they were also portrayed as being more respectful towards women.
In the 2000s and later, male characters are often portrayed as being nurturing, kind, and humorous. Even if they have a tragic backstory, they are portrayed as becoming the "sunshine" rather than turning toxic.
At this point I should pause and say that AI is not infallible, and their protocols on research and judging data sources are unclear. Therefore despite how authoritatively they might "speak" in presenting answers, we should be cautious about the data and any interpretations.
Nevertheless here is what CoPilot had to say about my interpretation:
Question
Regarding the portrayal of male love interests in romance novels, is it fair to say:
"There are a lot of ways to interpret this high-level overview, but perhaps we can observe that in the 80s, men were fantasized as sexy, passionate, maybe even lustful, but also aggressive. Aggressiveness was toned down in the 90s but sexuality was retained. By the 2000s aggression and apparently the strong sexual overtones were stamped out.
This might be seen as in-line with the desires of the female protagonist, where the aggressive man had to be tamed and civilized through the trials in the novel. By the 2000s much of that work was apparently already done by society."
CoPilot Answer
Yes, your interpretation aligns with the general trends observed in the portrayal of male love interests in romance novels over the decades.
In the **1980s**, male characters were often depicted as strong, passionate, and aggressive. This could be seen as a reflection of the societal norms and expectations of the time, where masculinity was often associated with dominance and assertiveness.
In the **1990s**, there was a shift towards less aggressive and more respectful portrayals of male characters. This could be seen as a response to changing societal attitudes towards gender roles and relationships.
By the **2000s and later**, male characters were often portrayed as nurturing, kind, and humorous. This shift could be seen as a reflection of the increasing emphasis on equality, respect, and emotional connection in relationships.
Your observation about the "taming" and "civilizing" of the male love interest through the trials in the novel is also insightful. This narrative arc can be seen as a metaphor for the broader societal shift towards more egalitarian and respectful gender relations.
However, it's important to note that these are broad trends and there is a lot of variation within each decade. The romance genre is diverse and includes a wide range of characters and storylines.
Original Question
Describe the typical male love interest in a romance novel of the 80's, the 90's, and later.
CoPilot Answer
[1]: https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/comments/u8hzjp/how_men_are_portrayed_in_romance_books/ ""
[2]: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/48076.Best_Romances_of_the_Early_1990_s_1990_1995_ ""
[3]: https://blog.harlequin.com/2023/04/90s-romance-books/ ""
[4]: https://blog.harlequin.com/2022/03/9-must-read-romances-from-the-90s/ ""
[5]: https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/comments/pv5ye5/what_type_of_male_love_interest_would_you_like_to/ ""
[6]: https://www.jprstudies.org/2022/05/confluent-love-and-the-evolution-of-ideal-intimacy-romance-reading-in-1980-and-2016/ ""
[7]: https://fictionobsessed.com/romance/80s-romance-novels/ ""
[8]: https://blog.harlequin.com/2022/07/8-must-read-romance-reads-from-the-80s/ ""
[9]: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/48247.Best_Romances_of_the_Early_2000_s_2000_2005_ ""
[10]: https://www.tckpublishing.com/popular-romance-tropes/ ""
[11]: https://www.shereadsromancebooks.com/romance-tropes/ ""
Sure, here's a general overview of how the typical male love interest in romance novels has evolved over the decades:
**1980s**:
- In the 80s, the typical male love interest in romance novels was often portrayed as sexy and smouldering¹[1].
- They were strong, aggressive, and sometimes even rough with women¹[1].
- Some characters were portrayed as violating women or acting like "assholes"¹[1].
- These characters were often undifferentiated from other strong and aggressive men but transformed into a softer man capable of caring for the heroine²[6].
- For example, in the novel "Wolf Mackenzie", the male protagonist is described as having a permanent chip on his shoulder and being possibly the most angsty and angry male character³[7].
**1990s**:
- In the 90s, the portrayal of male love interests in romance novels began to change¹[1].
- While they were still often portrayed as sexy and smouldering, there was a shift away from the more aggressive and violating behaviors of the 80s¹[1].
- The male characters were still strong, but they were also portrayed as being more respectful towards women¹[1].
- For example, in the novel "It Happened One Autumn", the male protagonist is described as being strong but also caring and respectful⁴[2].
**2000s and Later**:
- In the 2000s and later, the portrayal of male love interests in romance novels has continued to evolve⁵[5].
- Male characters are often portrayed as being nurturing, kind, and humorous⁵[5].
- Even if they have a tragic backstory, they are portrayed as becoming the "sunshine" rather than turning toxic⁵[5].
- For example, in the novel "The Duke and I", the male protagonist is described as being strong but also caring and respectful⁶[9].
Please note that these are general trends and there can be a lot of variation within each decade. The romance genre is diverse and includes a wide range of characters and storylines.
Source: Conversation with Bing, 2024-04-23
(1) How men are portrayed in romance books : r/RomanceBooks - Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/comments/u8hzjp/how_men_are_portrayed_in_romance_books/.
(2) Confluent Love and the Evolution of Ideal Intimacy: Romance Reading in .... https://www.jprstudies.org/2022/05/confluent-love-and-the-evolution-of-ideal-intimacy-romance-reading-in-1980-and-2016/.
(3) 15 Best 80s Romance Novels To Add To Your Reading List. https://fictionobsessed.com/romance/80s-romance-novels/.
(4) Best Romances of the Early 1990's (1990-1995) (96 books) - Goodreads. https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/48076.Best_Romances_of_the_Early_1990_s_1990_1995_.
(5) What type of male love interest would you like to see in romance that .... https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/comments/pv5ye5/what_type_of_male_love_interest_would_you_like_to/.
(6) Best Romances of the Early 2000's (2000-2005) (172 books) - Goodreads. https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/48247.Best_Romances_of_the_Early_2000_s_2000_2005_.
(7) 9 More Romance Must-Reads from the 90s - Harlequin Ever After. https://blog.harlequin.com/2023/04/90s-romance-books/.
(8) 9 Must-Read Romances From The ’90s - Harlequin Ever After. https://blog.harlequin.com/2022/03/9-must-read-romances-from-the-90s/.
(9) 8 Must-Read Romance Books from the 80’s - Harlequin Ever After. https://blog.harlequin.com/2022/07/8-must-read-romance-reads-from-the-80s/.
(10) 14 of the Most Popular Romance Tropes with Examples. https://www.tckpublishing.com/popular-romance-tropes/.
(11) 100 Romance Tropes Readers Love: The Ultimate List. https://www.shereadsromancebooks.com/romance-tropes/.
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