Discussion GuiDe - PBS

tabLe of ContentsCredits4 Introduction5 Potential Partners5 Key Issues5 Using This Guide6 Background Information6 Overview of the Romance Genre7 The Romance Book Buyer8 Romance Genres and Subgenres9 About Mills & Boon and Harlequin10 Selected People Featuredin Guilty Pleasures11 General Discussion Questions12 Discussion Prompts16 Taking Action17 Resources18 How to Buy the FilmWriterFaith Rogow, PhDInsighters Educational ConsultingGuide Producers and background research, PoVeliza LichtVice President,Community Engagement & Education, POVJamie DobieCoordinator,Community Engagement & Education, POVdesign:Rafael JiménezeyeballCopy editor:Natalie Danfordthanks to those who reviewed this guide:Julie MogganDirector, Guilty PleasuresRachel WexlerProducer, Guilty PleasuresLynne BlinkenbergDirector of Community Engagement,Wisconsin Public TelevisionDISCUSSION GUIDeGuilty Pleasures|3

introduCtionevery four seconds a romance novel published by harlequinor its British counterpart, Mills & Boon, is sold somewhere inthe world. Julie Moggan’s Guilty Pleasures takes this globalphenomenon seriously, even as it provides an amusing andtouching glimpse into the lives of five romance devotees.ironies abound in the contrasts between the real lives of thebooks’ readers and the fantasy world to which they escape.at its core, Guilty Pleasures explores a universal humanstruggle to reconcile inner fantasy with the tragicomic truthsof real-life relationships. it reminds viewers that everyonemust ultimately find their dreams in the real world.Cover artwork of select romance novelsPhoto courtesy of Julie MogganDISCUSSION GUIDeGuilty Pleasures|4

PotentiaL Partnerskey issuesGuilty Pleasures is well suited for use in a variety ofsettings and is especially recommended for use with:• your local Pbs station, bookstore or library• Groups focused on any of the issues listed in thekey issues section• high school students• faith-based organizations and institutions• Cultural, art and historical organizations,institutions and museums• Civic, fraternal and community groups• academic departments and student groups atcolleges, universities and high schoolsGuilty Pleasures is an excellent tool for outreach andwill be of special interest to people looking to explorethe following topics:• books• Creative writing• english/language arts• escapist literature• fantasy• feminism• Gender roles• harlequin/mills & boon publishers• Literature• Love• Popular culture• Psychology• Pulp fiction• romance• romance novels• sensuality• Women’s studiesusinG this GuideThis guide is an invitation to dialogue. it is based on a belief in the power of human connection, designed for people whowant to use Guilty Pleasures to engage family, friends, classmates, colleagues and communities.The discussion prompts are intentionally crafted to help a wide range of audiences think more deeply about the issuesin the film. rather than attempting to address them all, choose one or two that best meet your needs and interests. andbe sure to leave time to consider taking action. Planning next steps can help people leave the room feeling energized andoptimistic, even in instances when conversations have been difficult.For more detailed event planning and facilitation tips, visit www.pbs.org/pov/outreachDISCUSSION GUIDeGuilty Pleasures|5

aCkGround informationabout mills & boon and harlequin• every four seconds a harlequin or Mills & Boonromance novel is sold.• Gerald Mills and charles Boon founded Mills & BoonLimited in 1908.• Mills & Boon is now part of harlequin enterprises, aglobal company that sells more than 130 millionbooks worldwide each year.• These novels are published in 26 different languagesand sold in 109 countries.• The company has a global base of 1,300 authors.• Mills & Boon is one of the top ten adult fictionpublishers in the united Kingdom.• Mills & Boon sells 10 million books each year in theunited Kingdom; 7 million of those are romancenovels.• u.K. monthly Mills & Boon readership is more than 1.3million.• Mills & Boon series books are released in twoshipping cycles each month (the first and thirdFriday of the month) and have a one-month shelflife.• approximately 70 titles are published every monthin the united Kingdom, including more than 50brand-new series titles.• in the past 50 years, Mills & Boon characters havehad 10,325 weddings, 29,500 kisses and 35,250hugs.• “Mills & Boon” is an entry in the oxford englishDictionary given the definition “a (type of) popularromantic novel.”source:Mills & Boon.http://www.millsandboon.co.uk/facts.aspA collection of romance novelsPhoto courtesy of Julie MogganDISCUSSION GUIDeGuilty Pleasures|9

aCkGround informationSelected People Featured in Guilty Pleasuresshumita: a woman in india who hopes that her strayinghusband will return.hiroko: a Japanese housewife whose fantasies center aroundballroom dancing.shirley: a British mother of three who looks for ways to spiceup her marriage.stephen: a new York model who has been on more than 200romance novel covers.Gill, aka roger: an english pensioner who has penned manyromance novels.DISCUSSION GUIDeGuilty Pleasures|10

GeneraL disCussion QuestionsOne way to get a discussion going is to pose a generalquestion such as:Hiroko and Seiich compete in ballroom dancingPhoto courtesy of Julie Moggan• if you could ask anyone in the film a single question,who would you ask and what would you ask him orher?• What did you learn from this film? What insights didit provide?• if a friend asked you what this film was about, whatwould you say?• describe a moment or scene in the film that “spoketruth” to you. What was it about that scene that wasespecially compelling?DISCUSSION GUIDeGuilty Pleasures|11

disCussion PromPtsthe appealThe film opens with this line: “every four seconds, a harlequinromance is sold somewhere in the world.” in your view,what is the appeal of these books? What do you learn fromthe film about why these books are so popular?What do you do for escape or pleasure? how does your enjoymentof that activity compare with the reasons given bythe women in the film for their love of romance novels? hereare some of those reasons:“There was a lot missing in my life and that’s why ienjoyed reading the books,” says shirley.The books are filled with excitement—no down time.everyone wants passion. if a partner doesn’t provide it,it’s sought somewhere else.Stephen at a photo shootPhoto courtesy of Julie Mogganhiroko’s husband, seiich, says, “My wife often asks me to saynice words to her like in the novels. But i can’t really saythese words, so i think it’s okay that she reads to compensatefor what i can’t give her.” Why do you think he has troubletalking like the men in the novels and why do somewomen like the language of the novels so much?stephen says, “We’re all yearning for love.” in your view, doharlequin books satisfy that yearning?DISCUSSION GUIDeGuilty Pleasures|12

disCussion PromPtsthe GenreWhat is the distinction between fantasies involving romanceand other fantasy worlds with popular appeal (e.g., onlinegames or star Trek conventions)? What is the function offantasy in our lives?The film includes lots of “racy” passages from harlequin romances.What is the difference between romance novelssold in mainstream retail outlets and pornography, which isavailable only in adult retail outlets?in the film, we find out that author Gill sanderson is, in fact,a middle-aged single man named roger. Did that surpriseyou? Does it matter who actually writes the books?roger says, “Women are more interested in relationshipsand in talking about relationships than men. Women like tobe told things, over and over again.” in your experience, isthis true? how do the designs and marketing of romancenovels reflect and reinforce this belief about women?roger explains the romance formula, saying that in everybook, readers have “learned something about themselvesand about love.” What types of things do youRoger, who writes under the pseudonym Gill SandersonPhoto courtesy of Julie Mogganthink they learn? What are the primary messages of harlequinromances? how do the values embedded in those messagescompare to the values you would hope to convey toyoung people?the effectsshirley’s husband, Phil, says, “oh, she likes reading, but it’s aharmless pastime.” Do you agree? are harlequin romancessimply inconsequential fantasies?hiroko says, “after i’d been reading them a long time, iwanted to experience my harlequin dream world in reality.”What role did the novels play in influencing the real-life decisionsof the women in the film? What actions did they taketo bring their fantasies to life?reflecting on her failed marriage, shumita asks, “What happenedto all the promises these books made to me?” at whatDISCUSSION GUIDeGuilty Pleasures|13

disCussion PromPtspoint does healthy fantasy cross over into setting up falseexpectations for real life? What role do books play in shapingpeople’s ideas and behaviors?romance novelist roger says, “The heroes have got to bealpha-men. They’ve got to be fit, good-looking, they can’t befat. could you have a red-headed hero? never done one,never will.” Why would it be a problem to have a red-headedhero (especially for a British author)? More generally, whatassumptions about men, women and “acceptable” genderroles does this worldview reflect? is it a worldview that youshare?Shumita's former partner SanjayPhoto courtesy of Julie MogganWhat would the world be like if real life were like a harlequinnovel? Who would the “winners” and “losers” be? Whowould have the best chance at achieving success and happinessand who would have little chance?hiroko struggles with the cost of her dance lessons. Whatpercentage of your income would you spend on making afantasy come true, and what do you think you would gainfrom it?DISCUSSION GUIDeGuilty Pleasures|14

disCussion PromPtsLove and romanceroger says, “We celebrate, in every Mills & Boon book, thepower of love. and it is the emotion, i think, which governsmost people’s lives.” is that true for you? What roles do romanceand sex play in your life? What cultural or religiousmessages shape your beliefs about those roles?stephen talks about “twin flames” and “soul mates.” Do youbelieve in “soul mates”? What is the source of that belief?how does it compare to marriage and sexual partnershipsin other time periods and cultures? Why do you think thenotion of “soul mates” might be particularly popular in thisculture and time period?in the books, great value is placed on physical appearance.Yet the handsome model who literally represents the quintessentialromance novel hero is divorced and single. Whatdoes that say about the connection between good looks andsuccessful relationships?Do you notice any correlations between the characteristicsof typical romance novel heroes and the characteristics ofthe men the film’s women choose to marry? how aboutbetween the actions of romance novel heroes and theway that these men treat their wives?Stephen and partnerPhoto courtesy of Julie MogganWhere do the people in the film seek advice on finding thepassion they are looking for? Who do you look to for adviceon love and relationships?hiroko dresses up for her dance teacher and says that whenshe met him it was “love at first sight because he has thelook of the heroes in the harlequin novels.” in reality, she hasno relationship with him; she creates a fantasy around him.how do people differentiate between fantasies they wouldlike to see happen and fantasies that they enjoy but want tokeep as fantasies?sanjay says there is no chance he and shumita will get backtogether because “she’s a militant feminist.” What do youthink he means by that and why would it preclude continuingtheir marriage?Part of the romance novel formula is a happy ending. Whatwould your happy ending look like? What could you do toget there?additional media literacy questions are available at:www.pbs.org/pov/educators/media-literacy.phpDISCUSSION GUIDeGuilty Pleasures|15

Taking ActionHiroko and Seiich compete in ballroom dancingPhoto courtesy of Julie Moggan• Analyze covers of romance novels. What are their messages?What stereotypes do they reinforce? Who is the targetaudience and how do you know? Talk about what youlearned from seeing the photo shoot in the film and discussthe ways in which media shape the content of our fantasies.• Convene a book club. Read and discuss a romance novel.Then watch and discuss the film. Follow that by reading anddiscussing another romance novel and note any differencesin the post-viewing reading experience.• Using Stephen’s board as an example, create your own visionboard. Share it with people who can help transform yourvisions into reality.DISCUSSION GUIDeGuilty Pleasures|16

esourCesFILM-RELATED WEB SITESromance novelsHARLEquInwww.harlequin.comThe official website of the world’s largest publisher ofromance novels includes author blogs and readerforums. For the British division, Mills & Boon, visitwww.millsandboon.co.uk.ROMAnTIc nOVELISTS’ ASSOcIATIOnhttp://www.rna-uk.org/The website of this writers’ organization (which rogermentions in the film) includes information about activitiespromoting the genre, as well as a blog where youcan find out more about romance novel authors andtheir work.ROMAncE WRITERS OF AMERIcAhttp://www.rwa.org/This organization’s website is dedicated to advancing theprofessional interests of career-focused romance writersthrough networking and advocacy.ConcernsJournal of family Planningand reProductive HealtH carehttp://jfprhc.bmj.com/content/37/3/179.full–in this 2011 blog post, psychologist susan Quilliam critiquesthe lessons that romance novels deliver about sex.Interact with Guilty Pleasures at PBS.orgwww.pbs.org/pov/guiltypleasuresPoV's Webby award-winning website offers a broad range ofexclusive online content to enhance the broadcast of GuiltyPleasures Watch the full film online for free for a limited timefollowing the broadcast (July 13, 2012 to aug. 12, 2012),download this discussion guide, lesson plans and other viewingresources, view photos from the film, and interact with thefilmmaker through video interviews and an online Q&a soonafter the documentary airs on PoV.What’s Your POV?Share your thoughts about Guilty Pleasuresby posting a comment atwww.pbs.org/pov/guiltypleasures/Journal of international Women’s studieshttp://www.bridgew.edu/soas/jiws/nov06/Romancenovels.pdf–in this traditional academic article, “Gender, romance novelsand Plastic sexuality in the united states: a Focus on Femalecollege students,” published in 2006, huei-hsia Wuanalyzes differences in young male and female romancenovel readers.PsycHology todayhttp://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/lovesevolver/201007/how-much-do-romance-novels-reflectwomens-desiresin a post on the magazine’s website entitled “how Much Doromance novels reflect Women’s Desires?” MaryanneFisher offers a quick take on romance novel characters asrole models.DISCUSSION GUIDeGuilty Pleasures|17

ResouRcesTo order Guilty Pleasures for home use, go to shopPBS.org.To order Guilty Pleasures for educational use, go to shopPBS.org/teachers.Produced by American Documentary, Inc.and beginning its 25th season on PBS in 2012,the award-winning POV series is the longestrunningshowcase on American television to feature the work oftoday’s best independent documentary filmmakers. Airing Junethrough September with primetime specials during the year,POV has brought more than 300 acclaimed documentaries tomillions nationwide and has a Webby Award-winning online series,POV’s Borders. Since 1988, POV has pioneered the art ofpresentation and outreach using independent nonfiction mediato build new communities in conversation about today’s mostpressing social issues. Visit www.pbs.org/pov.POV Digital www.pbs.org/povPOV’s award-winning website extends the life of our films onlinewith interactive features, interviews, updates, video and educationalcontent, as well as listings for television broadcasts, communityscreenings and films available online. The POV Blog is agathering place for documentary fans and filmmakers to discusstheir favorite films and get the latest news.POV Community Engagement and Educationwww.pbs.org/pov/outreachPOV develops and implements national Community Engagement& Education campaigns. Our team works with educators,community-based organizations and local public television stationsto present free screenings of POV films and to develop anddistribute accompanying educational resource materials nationwide.Major funding for POV is provided by PBS, The John D. andCatherine T. MacArthur Foundation, National Endowment forthe Arts, New York State Council on the Arts, New York City Departmentof Cultural Affairs, the desJardins/Blachman Fund, andpublic television viewers. Funding for POV's Diverse Voices Projectis provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Specialsupport provided by the Academy of Motion Picture Artsand Sciences. POV is presented by a consortium of public televisionstations, including KQED San Francisco, WGBH Bostonand THIRTEEN in association with WNET.ORG.American Documentary, Inc. www.amdoc.orgAmerican Documentary, Inc. (AmDoc) is a multimedia companydedicated to creating, identifying, and presenting contemporarystories that express opinions and perspectives rarely featured inmainstream-media outlets. AmDoc is a catalyst for public culture,developing collaborative strategic-engagement activitiesaround socially relevant content on television, online, and incommunity settings. These activities are designed to trigger action,from dialogue and feedback to educational opportunitiesand community participation.You can follow us on Twitter @POVengagefor the latest news fromPOV Community Engagement & Education.Front cover: Phil & ShirleyPhoto courtesy of Julie Moggan25th Anniversary Partner:25th Anniversary Partner:Media Sponsor:The See it On PBS logo is a trademark of the Public Broadcasting Service and is used with permission. All rights reserved.