When author and Wesleyan University professor of film studies Jeanine Basinger decided to write a history of marriage at the movies, she remembered that her friends had been so skeptical of her own, back in 1967.

As General David Petreaus’s marital infidelity comes to light and his storied career comes to an end, questions have arisen about his marriage, his life in the military, and whether members of the military are — or should be — held to a higher standard than the rest of us.

Matt Richtel, New York Times reporter, discusses new ways to think about marriage--as time-limited contracts.

Amy Sohn, author of Motherland: A Novel, talks about marriage and parenting in New York City through the lens of her new novel.

Joe Blair talks about his memoir, By the Iowa Sea, an unsentimental account of a family crisis and a natural disaster. After setting aside his dreams, Joe found himself middle-aged, with four kids, including a severely autistic son, and a marriage on the rocks. His memoir is the story of the changes his family went through to stay together.

On Wednesday's show, we asked you to text your answers to a four-part survey about attitudes towards living together before marriage. Almost 600 responded, here are some of the results. We'll post more data as we continute to crunch the numbers. Highlights:

• 58% of our respondents were female; 42% male
• Average age of respondents: 39
• In response to the question "In general, do you think people should live together before getting married?" 
• 84% of all respondents said YES.  
• 93% of men said YES
• 80% of women said YES
• 84% of those under 30 said YES, 87% over 30 said yes

Below, some charts showing the living situation breakdown for our respondents.

Like canoeing?  How about trips to the outer boroughs? Well, these and other routine-breakers may hold the key to a long-lasting relationship, says Dr. Art Aron.   

A Pew Research Center report released Wednesday shows 51 percent of all adults in the United States are now married — a record low. In 2010, a survey also conducted by Pew found that four in ten Americans thought marriage had become obsolete, but found that most people who had never married (61 percent) would like to do so someday.

Throughout the course of American history, a lot has been said about marriage in the African-American community. From scientific racism to the Moynihan Report to Tyler Perry, the way we discuss marriage in black America can be difficult and often controversial. The marriage rate has declined for all Americans over the past forty years, but it’s declined much faster in the black community. Why is this?

The most telling thing about “The Winter’s Tale,” currently in repertory with the Royal Shakespeare Company at the Park Avenue Armory, is what it does not show. We eagerly anticipate the moment when all will be revealed.

This weekend, gay couples in the state of New York will begin legally tying the knot. While most gay rights supporters have been vocally celebrating this milestone, there are others who don’t see legal same-sex marriage as a triumph. 

Governor Andrew Cuomo has made clear that clerks who do not wish to perform same-sex marriages should find other work. This Sunday, when same-sex couples statewide line up for the first day, clerks will perform the service that they were elected to do.

"You don't get to say, 'I like this law and I'll enforce this law, or I don't like this law and I won't enforce this law'—you can't do that.” Cuomo stated. “If you can't enforce the law, then you shouldn't be in that position."