That's right. Today's "B" post I am dedicating to the "bromance" aka the straight male friends that always seem umm a little too friendly. Okay, this is about bromances and also about gay jokes used in comedies but the characters are straight, people just joke that they are often.
What is a "bromance"?
According to the urban dictionary online, a bromance "describes the complicated love and affection shared by two straight males."
Examples of Bromances (Found on wikipedia):
Star Trek
The Hangover
Bromance - the reality tv show
Superbad
I Love You Man
Brad Pitt and George Clooney
Boston Legal
ROFL... hahahahaha
That was hilarious. Anyways, now to my slight rant, the other part of this topic: the use of homosexuality jokes for straight characters in comedy. Ever notice how a show will make jokes about a certain male character sexual orientation but it will only be a joke and they never will "come out"? Yeah, it happens often.
Examples:
Friends (Chandler)... though there is a kiss between Ross&Joey and Chandler&Joey
King of Queens (Danny and Spence)
Everybody Loves Raymond (Robert and Ray)
Two and a Half Men (Allen, sometimes Charlie)
The Big Bang Theory (Raj and Howard)
Sure, it can be funny. I still question Chandler, lol, but at the same time it gets a little old. When are they going to actually be gay instead of just joke about it? Sure, it's good to show guys can have close friendships but where is the line? And how does one make it work in fiction?
Writing a bromance is a difficult task. Don't be surprised if there will be fan fiction of the characters where it is beyond a bromance to something more because when reader see that level of interaction, they tend to take it and do what they want to imagine. At the same time, don't be afraid to let two straight guys be close. It depends on the characters and their friendship. It always goes back to that advice doesn't it? Do what is best for the characters. Maybe give it a try. I'm sure having a bromance could make for some interesting conflict.
What do you think about bromances?
Ever write one?
7 comments:
Dawn! It's been so long since I visited your blog! How are you?
Interesting topic. I think one author who pulls off both gay romance and bromance is Cassandra Clare in The Mortal Instruments. The idea of the Parabati (sp) as well as the Magnus' character and his love for Alex. It's all subplot, but I thought it was very well done and a little daring too for YA.
I'll have to remember to "visit" you more! :)
J.D.
Interesting post. I've never written a bromance as of yet, but there are so many out there and they are interesting to see how those characters develop.
Hey Dawn, never heard of a bromance. Have I led a sheltered life or what? Now that you say, yeah, Joey and Chandler etc etc. I can see that.
Denise
Interesting topic, and something that mainstream literature should be developing in a positive light. Both in representing different sexual orientations, and in establishing strong friendships (beyond beer and pool) in their male characters. Certainly, something I will be keeping in mind. Thanks Dawn.
J.D. - omg! It has been a long time. *hugs* Hi. Thanks, but I tried reading City of Bones and didn't care for it. The gay boy is a side character, the girl didn't interest me as much and her love interests kind of annoyed me. Just it didn't feel to me as great as people tell me it is, so one that just wasn't for me.
Cheree Smith - Thanks. The bromance dynamic does make for good character development.
Denise - That is okay. it's not a usual term, I think. Yeah, Chandler and Joey had a strange hugging thing going on.
Scribe - Thanks. I like your wording of it too. It should be shown in a positive light, that it's okay to have close guy friends without worry of what others think.
Interesting topic!
I think my favourite "bromance" moment occurs in my favourite film (surely no coincidence...) - towards the end of Grease, when Kenickie (R.I.P. [sniff]) asks Danny to be his second and they hug and are then really embarrassed. It's a great moment. I heard the actors discussing how they did that scene - it wasn't really scripted, it was something they came up with themselves. It perfectly captures the essence of bromance for me: two guys who obviously care deeply for each other but who are afraid to show it, but DO show it and are then embarrassed and try to pretend it didn't happen. Joey and Chandler are the direct descendants of that scene (IMHO).
Magic27 - Nice. I haven't seen Grease in a long time, but that's interesting to know about that scene. Thanks for the comment.
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