Aziz Ansari, best known for his fast-talking, sarcastic, hip role in the sitcom Parks and Recreation, turns his comedic talent to the subject of courtship and love in Modern Romance. Ansari has teamed with New York University sociologist Eric Klinenberg (Heat Wave) to explore the dos and don'ts of today's dating scene, particularly the benefits and pitfalls of online dating, using online surveys, in-person focus groups from Los Angeles, Tokyo, Buenos Aires and Qatar, interviews and personal experience using apps like Tinder, Facebook and Twitter.
Most mid-20th century singles were content to find companions "good enough" for marriage from their own community, but many modern singles are defined by the "soul mate" revolution--the desire to find the perfect person, even one halfway around the world. The methods employed by modern singles have also changed, creating new challenges. As Ansari relates, finding romance is hard, especially given the interconnectedness of a person's presence on social media. Dating is also complicated, both by human nature and by the fact that today's singles tend to hold out for something better that may come along a few swipes of the screen later.
Modern Romance is wicked and witty, slapstick in its silliest moments, but completely serious in its efforts to dissect the intricacies of our romantic lives. What Ansari and Klinenberg discover is that underlying goals of the dating game have changed, and that a one size solution won't fit all when it comes to modern romance. --Nancy Powell, freelance writer and technical consultant