deromanticization
Deromanticization refers to the analytical or cultural practice of removing or challenging romanticized, idealized, or naive portrayals of people, relationships, events, or cultures. The term signals a shift from embracing narratives of love, heroism, or cultural purity to revealing complexity, ambivalence, and the structural constraints that shape behavior and perception. Deromanticization can operate on multiple levels, including individual relationships, media and literature, and broad cultural or historical narratives.
The word combines de- with romanticization and is used primarily in cultural studies, literary criticism, and
Common applications include critiquing romantic comedies for masking inequality or coercive dynamics; examining colonial or nationalist
Critics of deromanticization argue that excessive skepticism can erase genuine emotion or moral meaning, while proponents