In this conversation it is important to understand the stages this relationship has gone through as well as where it seems to be now. In this interaction between Sam and Alex, it is evident through their communication with each other, that they display the life cycle of a relationship which involves the coming together and coming apart of interactional states. The coming together stages describe the slow growth of interpersonal relationships, which involves five stages: initiating, experimenting, intensifying, integrating and bonding. The Initiating stage “refers to the very first attempts we make at conversation with a new person” (Course Kit). In the beginning of the interaction Alex initiates relationship when he states, “Hi. Didn't I see you in English last semester?” Alex’s goal was to make contact and start a conversation that he hoped would lead to a relationship. The Experimenting stage is “the phase in which we try sample conversational topics in attempt to gain some knowledge of the other person”(Course K

enforced it might have changed the climax of this fight. In establishing this element Alex and Sam must avoid should and ought statements because they signal an unequal relationship. In fact, both Alex and Sam should acknowledge the other person’s contributions, before expressing their own. In other words they should be open and positive to each other.

which the media cultivates love. Cultures have certain beliefs in love as well as how love should be composed. However, you can argue that Alex and Sam’s relationship was terminated because of the beliefs of love that are shaped by our cultures. Nevertheless, the Harlequin Romance Novels can also examine Alex and Sam’s break-up. In these novels, romance and love are categorized and defined by our culture’s beliefs. Julia Bettinotti “highlighted some of the characteristics of Harlequin Romances that closely reflect the reality of women's everyday lives: the universal existence of male dominance over women; the relations of power within the economic system and the production process; the traditional female jobs (maid, secretary, governess, nurse, etc.), and so on.” These characteristics display how society views woman opposed to females. The Harlequin novels basically impose a stereotypical view of love. It is evident that the ways in which love is portrayed in these novels can never occur in the real world but our culture believes that they are attainable. In Alex and Sam’s relationship, we see how the dominant view that society develops becomes a reason why the love they shared faded away. Bettinotti (1990) claims that Harlequin texts are based on the fears, frustrations and hardships of being a woman in a man's world, and generally depict the same situations that are denounced in feminist analyses. “Acknowledge one another's individual identities and lives beyond the relationship. Express similar attitudes, beliefs, values, and interests. . Enhance one another's self-worth and self-esteem. Be open, genuine, and authentic with one another. Remain loyal and faithful to one another. Have substantial shared time together. Reap rewards commensurate with their investments relative to the other party”(Extra reading). This clearly outlines that romance novels

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