--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: With 'Carol,' I was just really looking…" description: "\"With 'Carol,' I was just really looking at and thinking about the love story as a genre, not the domestic melodrama.\" — Todd Haynes" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf8/todd-haynes-2626_genre_with-carol-i-was-just-really-looking-at_482772.jpg" --- # With 'Carol,' I was just really looking at and thinking… ![“With 'Carol,' I was just really looking at and thinking about the love story as a genre, not the domestic melodrama.” quote by Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf8/todd-haynes-2626_genre_with-carol-i-was-just-really-looking-at_482772.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf8/todd-haynes-2626_genre_with-carol-i-was-just-really-looking-at_482772.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf8/todd-haynes-2626_genre_with-carol-i-was-just-really-looking-at_482772.jpg) > “With 'Carol,' I was just really looking at and thinking about the love story as a genre, not the domestic melodrama.” [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The director views the narrative as a genre study of love rather than a simple domestic drama. **In simple terms:** Focus on love as a genre, not just family drama. Key Takeaway Analyze love stories beyond surface plots. Themes genre analysis love cinema Mood thoughtful analytical Type critical interpretive When to use this quote - film criticism - screenwriting - relationship studies Key Concepts Narrative theory genre conventions Questions to Reflect On - How does genre framing change perception of love? - What aspects of domestic drama are missed? A Different Perspective May overlook personal emotional depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Domestic Melodrama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/domestic-melodrama-4149109/) [Genre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/genre/) [Looking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Love story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love-story/) [Melodrama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/melodrama/) [Story](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story/) [Story Genre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/story-genre-750455/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thinking love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking-love/) ## Related quotes > [I don't belong to any school or clique or ghetto. I don't have any preconceived ideas. I'm trying to serve a story and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xavier-dolan/i-don-t-belong-to-any-school-or-clique-or-ghetto-i-don-t-have-any/) [Xavier Dolan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xavier-dolan/) > [William Shakespeare was the most remarkable storyteller that the world has ever known. Homer told of adventure and men at war, Sophocles and Tolstoy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marchette-chute/william-shakespeare-was-the-most-remarkable-storyteller-that-the/) [Marchette Chute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marchette-chute/) > [I came to this project and 'Far from Heaven' from completely different vantage points. 'Heaven' was of course about the Douglas Sirk films of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/i-came-to-this-project-and-far-from-heaven-from-completely-different/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [Melodrama is sometimes broadly applied and sometimes derogatorily applied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/melodrama-is-sometimes-broadly-applied-and-sometimes-derogatorily/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [I love how 'melodrama' is a denigrated term - a lower-class citizen to other genres. And yet that's what life is, man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/i-love-how-melodrama-is-a-denigrated-term-a-lower-class-citizen-to/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [I felt 'Brokeback Mountain' re-imbued the love story with an authentic and unquestionable series of obstacles that these men faced. I think that's certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/i-felt-brokeback-mountain-re-imbued-the-love-story-with-an-authentic/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [I'm always interested in what classic crime writers got into when they stepped away from the genre stuff they were known for. That's why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/i-m-always-interested-in-what-classic-crime-writers-got-into-when/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [When I was younger, I used to vacillate between thinking love was this great and glorious mystery and thinking it was just something a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/when-i-was-younger-i-used-to-vacillate-between-thinking-love-was-this/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [That's why I called it Dangerously In Love. It's basically all of the steps in a relationship from when you first meet a guy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-s-why-i-called-it-dangerously-in-love-it-s-basically-all-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm into the law of attraction and quantum physics. Like cosmic ordering. It's all about thinking lovely things that you would like in life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-sawalha/i-m-into-the-law-of-attraction-and-quantum-physics-like-cosmic/) [Julia Sawalha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-sawalha/) > [The fact that same-sex marriage is still an issue is insane. Thinking love knows a sex is ridiculous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garret-dillahunt/the-fact-that-same-sex-marriage-is-still-an-issue-is-insane-thinking/) [Garret Dillahunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garret-dillahunt/) > [I am thinking of you in my sleepless solitude tonight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariah-carey/i-am-thinking-of-you-in-my-sleepless-solitude-tonight/) [Mariah Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariah-carey/) > [I still find each day too short..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burroughs/i-still-find-each-day-too-short/) [John Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burroughs/) > [Have you ever been so in love with someone, that you fall in love with the little things about them? The way they look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iddk/have-you-ever-been-so-in-love-with-someone-that-you-fall-in-love-with/) [Iddk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iddk/) > [I keep thinking of how much I love talking to you.. How good you look when you smile. How much I love your laugh.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-moman/i-keep-thinking-of-how-much-i-love-talking-to-you-how-good-you-look/) [Jessica Moman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-moman/) ## More by Todd Haynes > [I had really loving parents and a happy childhood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/i-had-really-loving-parents-and-a-happy-childhood/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [I don't know if I ever entertained an academic career, nor did I ever think I'd become a feature film-maker in the market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/i-don-t-know-if-i-ever-entertained-an-academic-career-nor-did-i-ever/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [Feminist theory has left an indelible mark on my own critical—and creative—thinking . . . For me, everything I questioned about what it meant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/feminist-theory-has-left-an-indelible-mark-on-my-own-critical-and/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [I don't think there's any more synesthetic medium than film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/i-don-t-think-there-s-any-more-synesthetic-medium-than-film/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [I'm used to always having struggles getting finances together and keeping precarious budgets alive in the independent film world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/i-m-used-to-always-having-struggles-getting-finances-together-and/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [It's funny: I don't feel like I have any particular privileged feeling for the Fifties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/it-s-funny-i-don-t-feel-like-i-have-any-particular-privileged-feeling/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [I'm drawn to female characters; not all of them are strong characters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/i-m-drawn-to-female-characters-not-all-of-them-are-strong-characters/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [Looking at photographs of New York in 1952, you find a powerfully pre-Eisenhower era - sagging, tired, distressed - and the palette is slightly dissonant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/looking-at-photographs-of-new-york-in-1952-you-find-a-powerfully-pre/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [I think many of the ideas that opened up in the '60s got implemented in the '70s and that certain minority voices that were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/i-think-many-of-the-ideas-that-opened-up-in-the-60s-got-implemented/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > ['Evil Urges' has some stuff in it that's unbelievable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/evil-urges-has-some-stuff-in-it-that-s-unbelievable/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [Films like 'The Godfather,' 'Chinatown' and 'The Exorcist' brought a realism and currency and understatement to their genres that we wanted for 'Mildred Pierce.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/films-like-the-godfather-chinatown-and-the-exorcist-brought-a-realism/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [There were interesting ways that queerness could hide out and get played out pre-Stonewall. It is part of a vast history that is getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/there-were-interesting-ways-that-queerness-could-hide-out-and-get/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [It's very funny because every time I make a movie, and I've heard this re-echoed by other filmmakers and actors I have worked with,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/it-s-very-funny-because-every-time-i-make-a-movie-and-i-ve-heard-this/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [What was so interesting about the glam era was that it was about bisexuality and breaking down the boundaries between gays and straights, breaking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/what-was-so-interesting-about-the-glam-era-was-that-it-was-about/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) > [My films have often looked at the whole dilemma of identity as a straitjacket for people, for societies, for cultures, for historical moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-haynes/my-films-have-often-looked-at-the-whole-dilemma-of-identity-as-a/) [Todd Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) [Explore all 157 Todd Haynes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-haynes/) ## More Genre quotes > [I really like a lot of American country stuff, so my music has that influence, but I don't like to be set within a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-bird/i-really-like-a-lot-of-american-country-stuff-so-my-music-has-that/) [Jade Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-bird/) > [ He \[ the son\]'s grown up listening to all types of music, and the natural form of rebellion is to find the one genre… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solange-knowles/he-the-son-s-grown-up-listening-to-all-types-of-music-and-the-natural/) [Solange Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solange-knowles/) > [I don't really think in terms of genre, I think in terms of story and character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rudd/i-don-t-really-think-in-terms-of-genre-i-think-in-terms-of-story-and/) [Paul Rudd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rudd/) > [I've just always loved really good projects. The things that draw me into a new project have very little to do with genre and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jewel-staite/i-ve-just-always-loved-really-good-projects-the-things-that-draw-me/) [Jewel Staite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jewel-staite/) > [As a rule, I don't worry about genre. I just want to tell a good story, with characters that interest me and my readers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/as-a-rule-i-don-t-worry-about-genre-i-just-want-to-tell-a-good-story/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Trombone virtuoso and innovative composer, Papo combines the best of jazz and Latin music to create a genre that is unique and wild. He's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-brecker/trombone-virtuoso-and-innovative-composer-papo-combines-the-best-of/) [Michael Brecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-brecker/) > [Gothic in its purest sense is actually a very powerful, twisted genre, but the way it was being used by by journalists - 'goff'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siouxsie-sioux/gothic-in-its-purest-sense-is-actually-a-very-powerful-twisted-genre/) [Siouxsie Sioux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siouxsie-sioux/) > [The great thing about the arts, and especially popular music, is that it really does cut across genres and races and classes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-raitt/the-great-thing-about-the-arts-and-especially-popular-music-is-that/) [Bonnie Raitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-raitt/) > [“What we've done is make the categories of science fiction and fantasy larger, freer, and more inclusive than any other genre of contemporary literature.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/what-we-ve-done-is-make-the-categories-of-science-fiction-and-fantasy/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [I knew what kind of genre 'Casa de mi Padre' was going for. But my character, specifically, I think is very real.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genesis-rodriguez/i-knew-what-kind-of-genre-casa-de-mi-padre-was-going-for-but-my/) [Genesis Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genesis-rodriguez/) > [In television, women can really run anything. It can be a comedy, it can be a drama, it can be genre, it can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-michelle-gellar/in-television-women-can-really-run-anything-it-can-be-a-comedy-it-can/) [Sarah Michelle Gellar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-michelle-gellar/) > [I'm not a fan of any genre but am a fan of movies that are intelligent and/or funny. 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