# data[].attributes.body
I asked several different students what their favorite love song was and there was only one that came up with the song,""Let me Love you by: Mario and that is the song that i decided to pick for my project about love music

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Mario - Let Me Love You (Official Video)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
I love romantic comedies/romantic movies period and have taken a much more forgiving stance on them over the past few years after seeing how much oppressive hate the genre receives. Considering the majority of the targeted audience is women this seems all the more troubling as it's another outlet that is made fun of that infuses itself with gender bias. Are we making fun of movies or gendered stereotypes? Do we think the narratives are silly or, because they're associated with a female audience? The problem isn't the genre or the audience, it's that few filmmakers or studios are putting in the time or effort to make something great. Every once in a while we get something that reminds us of why we love the genre such as this last year's Obvious Child but again, they're a rarity. We're more likely to see a film like The Ugly Truth than Bridesmaids.
Even more absurd is that a genre marketed towards females often turn out to be some of the biggest offenders of sexism.

This is why it benefits so much when women direct these stories. They understand the balance and the need to find nuance and intimacy in their female leads. Sure the audience wants grand sweeping romances, unrequited and tragic love stories and people who are perfect for one another getting their moment of true bliss. However, we also want to see a female lead who gets her own journey and is able to grow without her significant other being the only stake worth keeping.

Enter Gina Prince-Bythewood and her film Love & Basketball which I adore.

Released in 2000, the romantic drama starring Omar Epps and Sanaa Lathan tells the story of Quincy and Monica. They're next-door neighbors in L.A. who are both chasing their dream basketball careers as they simultaneously fall in love. Spanning roughly thirteen years of friendship, romance, heartache and rekindled love affairs the childhood sweethearts turned soul mates is a marvelous duo.

Two kids meet when they're young, they grow up and bond over their mutual love of basketball and from there forth they endure trials of emotional and physical hardships that try and get in the way of their mutual happiness. Simple and graceful while also allowing time to progress and show how our two characters mature throughout their respect for one another, along with their love. Sure, it's mildly melodramatic at points but that's also part of the keys factors of certain romances. Romance is looked at as a larger than life issue so why not play with it when you have the chance. Movies are our escape pods where we can be launched into worlds and scenarios that aren't are own and sometimes big gestures and

Quincy and Monica both have personal plights to fight back against. One of the most riveting is the relationship between Monica and her mother who disproves of her chosen career path. Monica is always strong willed and passionate about what she's pursuing but fallible as well. Quincy gets to also be more than the sum of his parts and his and Monica's relationships and how their insecurities and weaknesses play on one another is unlike many other romances. They were written with respect and Epps and particularly Lathan play the parts with committed energy with chemistry that flies off the screen.

In 2014 a film called Beyond the Lights played under the radar to many (even I didn't get a chance to see it in theaters) and it's another strong film from director Bythewood. Make sure to support it by buying it on DVD or VOD because the more we support creative talents like her the more likely were are to get films that display femininity and masculinity in ways not often seen through a males gaze as well as movies that play into the fun and passion of romance.

Female filmmakers aren't as likely to get second chances as movies like their male counterparts. A film starring a woman or directed by a woman can either bomb at the box office or be critically written off and there's a huge likelihood that their chances for a future movie is reduced because studios are writing it off as something that audiences don't want to see. However then we see Ryan Reynolds who can deliver box office disappointments for a year and yet he still get's invited back.

We want to see more of Bythewood and I'd like more romantic comedies or romantic dramas or movies are just pure, gooey romances. There is an audience for them, they just want films of better quality.

Love & Basketball isn't a groundbreaking film despite some themes being mentioned about gender that don't often get a critical eye elsewhere. However, it's a charming film, the two leads and their relationship is sexy, there are some real emotional stakes and directing that is fun and intimate. Watch films by women, watch films by women of color and support filmmakers who don't get chances due only to their gender.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Women In Film Wednesday: Love & Basketball (2000)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
I love romantic comedies/romantic movies period and have taken a much more forgiving stance on them over the past few years after seeing how much oppressive hate the genre receives. Considering the majority of the targeted audience is women this seems all the more troubling as it's another outlet that is made fun of that infuses itself with gender bias.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Black love: often perceived as a drama-filled relationship between two or more people loaded with ongoing arguments, infidelity, and a lot of children. Black love is rarely shown in a positive light because of the stereotypes that have been formed around it. Black men and women go into relationships with premeditated thoughts that cloud their judgement right from the start.

We as women expect the guy to "play games", to have a high "body count", and honestly we as Black women expect the worst when getting to know a guy. Even though we expect the worst, we embrace it and expect the guy to change for us. For the men, they think the same way, but double standards definitely kill the vibe. They want a woman who is a pro in bed, but she's a hoe if she has more than two sexual partners, They don't want to properly claim their girl, but expect her to be "down" with him and only him, even if he is messing around with someone else simultaneously. At the end of the day "we aren't together" right?

Society has made a mockery of what black love is supposed to be because we (both males and females) let our egos get in the way rather than letting love do its work. This is why everyone from the outside looking in has their perceptions of what Black Love is. Love is imperative to keep the black community going; every neighborhood has those couples where everyone is like "damn, ya'll still together?" It's definitely more than an idea; it's simply a beautiful part of life.

Before anyone can declare their undying love for anyone, they have to first be able to love themselves. Self hate is a leading factor of the black community downfall because for hundreds of years we have been taught to hate ourselves; we were never good enough for anything, even love. From the days of slavery, we were told that we were ugly, useless and that our lives were meaningless. Slave Owners didn't want us to get married because they knew how strong of a bond a Black man and woman were capable of.

Young kings and queens are still being raised in present time to love a lighter shade of what they are instead of loving what they have right in front of them. This isn't just a problem in America, this a problem all over the world. People are still bleaching their skin and chemically altering their hair to fit in. Men and women are being conditioned to look a certain way or look for someone who looks a certain way without knowing it.

Black men are being taught to go after the Latina because of her looks and to go after a white woman because she's more easy going compared to that of a Black woman. Who made this up? I know Black men who are wonderful shades of black/brown, but fear that their children will come out darker than them if they decide to procreate with a Black woman. I have girlfriends that have ignorantly said (unknowingly) that they hope they have a child with a light skinned guy so that their babies will have "good hair". What is good hair? Black people are created beautifully and it's only up to you to truly know that; to actually feel your beauty. We don't know our worth because we pride ourselves on looking like everyone else's race, but our very own.

I truly believe that black love is looked at as dysfunctional because of the false expectations and the self hate. As a Black woman can you say that you have never looked at a guy and judged him right away? Black people judge books by the cover the same way other races judge us. Why are we judging ourselves to begin with? The opposing races are out to get us and all we do is help them. As a Black man can you say that you have never compared a fairly dark girl to a lighter one? We are ruining ourselves with ignorance, and it's being handed down from generation to generation.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Black love: often perceived as a drama-filled relationship between two or more people loaded with ongoing arguments, infidelity, and a lot of children. Black love is rarely shown in a positive light because of the stereotypes that have been formed around it.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
H. Jackson Brown, Jr. Quotes - BrainyQuote

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Enjoy the best H. Jackson Brown, Jr. Quotes at BrainyQuote. Quotations by H. Jackson Brown, Jr., American Author, Born 1940. Share with your friends.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Enjoy the best Lao Tzu Quotes at BrainyQuote. Quotations by Lao Tzu, Chinese Philosopher. Share with your friends.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Enjoy the best George Sand Quotes at BrainyQuote. Quotations by George Sand, French Novelist, Born July 1, 1804. Share with your friends.

# data[].attributes.body
-The urge to fall in love is, like sex and hunger, a primitive, biological drive.

# data[].attributes.body
- Breaking up with someone you love triggers activity in the same part of the brain responsible for physical pain.

# data[].attributes.body
In conclusion my research has shown how love can change you and make a difference in your life. If you are ever having difficulty with love put on some kind of music that will lift your spirit and see how it changes  you for the better and then you´ll realize that listening to music is a good coping skill for any situation.

# data[].attributes.body
- Falling in love is as addicting as cocaine or nicotine.
- Love can literally make u crazy
- We are attracted to those who and/or smell similar to one of our parents
- We tend to fall in love with someone who looks like ourselves.
- It takes only 4 minutes to decide if you like someone or not.
- cuddling releases natural painkillers
-

# data[].attributes.body
In my essay i will be talking about how love songs change people. Music can have a powerful message and can change peoples mood. Music can help certain people concentrate  on what they are doing. It can also help people stay calm change their crappy mood to a good mood or just help them get through the day. One of my favorite love songs is called Let me Love you by Mario.