Bromance history, identifying traits and the markers of authenticity

This chapter details the history of celebrity bromances. Beginning with the pre-bromance period of the Brat Pack and buddy films, it reveals that the notion of bromance culture has existed long before the term originated. It then explores the birth of bromance in relation to on-screen relationships. It examines how the term became popular and the way in which these on-screen dynamics became increasingly overt. The chapter then shifts to real-life bromances and explores the role of media and promotion. Through this investigation of bromance performances, six types of bromantic dynamics are identified - frat-boy, fake-feud, familiar, flirty, funny and familial. The chapter then builds on Dyer’s markers of authenticity, defining four markers of authenticity to articulate the representation and interpretation of bromance relationships: history, privacy, spontaneity and consistency. The history marker is broken down further in terms of how bromances are formed: pre-success bromance, industry bromance, off-screen bromance, on-screen bromance and on and off screen bromance. Through discussion of a variety of examples, the chapter not only applies the aforementioned definitions but also acknowledges that a bromance is never stagnant. As a foundation chapter, the examples applied in this chapter are then used in future chapters to develop a more detailed understanding of bromances.