The "Big Lie"

The facade illustrated by romance novels and films is the notion of "happily ever after."  There is a strict storyline that romance novels and films follow that doesn't always coincide with real life.  The idea in romance narratives is one of heteronormativity.  It is the idea that women seek their one true love their whole life and eventually find him.  The two may go through a few trials and tribulations, but when all is said and done, they live "happily ever after."  This repetitive plot found in many mainstream films (and multitude of novels) makes an unspoken promise to women that this is how life is; and if one's life does not correspond with that sort of narrative, then it must not be true love.  The unspoken promise aforementioned results in a society of women looking for the picture perfect romance.  This can have some pretty negative consequences, one being on one's self-esteem if "true love" is not found or doesn't play out the way it's "supposed" to.  This can also result in a mixed up world, especially if the fact that men get their ideas about relationships from porn reigns true.