I love reading these. Fantastic! Sadly, though, most people do love this "cliched shit", because they sell pretty well - look at Twilight (though I admit I was entirely caught up in it for a time). Your points are very interesting, and it's making me think about all the romantic stories I've tried writing (and luckily have not attempted posting here). :)

Ha, that was amazing! I didn't read everything, but even skimming this chapter made me laugh! SO RIGHT! Not that I'm one to say, I don't know much about politics. And I love that quote from Danny Phantom. ^^

~Arti

Hi there. It's funny, because I actually just wrote an essay about this same topic a few days ago. I come from Canada, but I described in general how Western teens have this attitude identical to the one you have described. The only things I would point out are that:

1) In one of the paragraphs, you said "effected", when it should have been "affected." Very common mistake, nothing to worry about.

2) When you argue that something is "gay", I'm not sure if I would write that. Perhaps it would be better to find a more objective adjective that is a bit more eloquant.

Well, my gym class is a bit harder, but you are right, it could be an easy class if you take advantage of the teacher

Well, though in California you now need to past this fitness test.

There is one writer I know in particular that has a very unique view with romances, and life in general. Her main genre is philosophical fiction. People say she’s hard to read, but you might want to try her. Her name is Ayn Rand. Mind you, her romances are twisted, somewhat. The ones I’ll particularly point to are Fountainhead, and Atlas Shrugged.

To be honest, I don't actually agree with this rant on the romance genre at all. Almost all great novels will in some way involve love or romance; just think of Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh, which focuses first on the love between Charles and Sebastian and then on the love between Charles and Julia, or Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf, where Clarissa's former love for Sally has shaped her whole life or even Nineteen Eighty Four by George Orwell, where the party's brutish power is displayed by their ability not only to crush the love between Winston and Julia but the desire as well. Did none of these books "stand out" to you?

Also, although I do agree with you on the point about the culmination of Romeo and Juliet not feeling right, I cannot think of a single Shakespeare play in which love or romance is not involved in some way. In Hamlet, for example, considered by many (and certainly by me) as his greatest work, I think it is one of the most stomach churning moments when Hamlet realises that the freshly dug grave he has stumbled upon belongs to Ophelia and then speaks angrily to the funeral goers of his love for her.

I think your statement that it is unrealistic or "cliched" for unrequited love stories to end up in suicide or something equally tragic is a little unfair. You might find it unrealistic because you have not experienced those kind of emotions, but its obvious that many people have, which is why it is something that rings true in romances. To be honest, to me you seem more like a crime and detective novel buff, which is possibly why you don't enjoy the romance genre.

Ahm. I'm with you 100 percent - American students are lazy. God knows I'm lazy. BUT: Good points are made. Numbered points are confusing. Credibility is repeatedly destroyed. Calling a quotation "gay" really does nothing to promote the image of intelligence that you're trying to sell.

P.S.- Using "valedictorian" to replace the phrase "number one kid" would make the ending more concise and powerful. In my book, at least.

I think I love you.
Great essay.

Your argument is well stated and fresh. You do tend to generalize people, but I assume that's for the dramatic impact.

I completely disagree though.

Yes, I agree.