by the way fandom functions i tend to engage with a lot of romance-related content on here: it is interesting to me that there is a certain amount of commentary about the frequent framing of romantic fantasies as conservative/assimilationist fantasies (neutrally stated, this can work or not work for me, it depends) but that elements considered for this kind of analysis are usually limited to shifts in socio-economic status determined by a change in external circumstances. i would argue that the persistent interest of both media production and fandom in establishing "increased personal health" as a goal to be achieved through the romantic relationship is in itself an elaboration of the bourgeois ideal of self-betterment towards increased functionality. and yet it slips under the radar of socio-political commentary as an intrinsic, natural attribute of romantic sentiment
