I have a confession to make. Somewhere in the dark recesses of my mind, I thought I could keep this a secret, but the first step to recovery is admitting that you have a problem, and this - this is definitely a problem. So here goes.
I've read Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga. Not just the first book, mind you, but all four of them - Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn. I even read the illegally leaked chapters of Midnight Sun, the now-shelved fifth novel, which is (was?) essentially Twilight told from Edward Cullen's point of view.
It gets worse.
I enjoyed them. All of them. Honestly. Except for the last hundred pages or so of Breaking Dawn (you know what you did, Stephenie), I enjoyed every word on every page. I wouldn't say I'm a die-hard Twilighter (or Twitard, if we're being mean), but I would be lying if I said that I didn't buy Breaking Dawn at midnight the day it was released. And I would really be lying if I said that I wouldn't let Edward Cullen do just about anything he wanted to me. (Although, to be fair, that particular obsession does have something to do with the painfully gorgeous Robert Pattinson, the actor who portrays Edward in the movie.)
Here's the thing - I know I shouldn't enjoy the novels. I know I shouldn't even call them novels. Meyer's writing style is simplistic at best, and at times, incredibly immature. Edward is described as "beautiful" no less than 70 billion times (citation needed), and the saga's heroine, Bella, is little more than an empty mold that every female reader "can, like, totally relate to". The relationship between the two protagonists is anything but healthy: Bella is essentially dependent on Edward, who is controlling to the point of obsession. The books are riddled with confusing and at times contradictory abstinence propaganda Twilight, to put it simply, is just not a good book.
So what's wrong with me? What's wrong with us? Twilight has sold about 17 million copies worldwide, with the series as a whole selling over 70 million. The movie adaptation of Twilight grossed $7 million for midnight showings alone, and almost $36 million on opening day. The series has spawned a plethora of websites and fan-fiction; it is nothing less than a cultural phenomenon.
My goal for this project is to figure out why. Why do we care so desperately about the goings-on of the Cullen clan? Why are we projecting the label of a "perfect relationship" onto a couple that is anything but? Why has Twilight made the societal impact that it has?
And who, in the name of all that is holy, thought that this would be a good idea?
Let's find out together.
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Thanks for the confession and the link. I'm lol-ing on the day back to work after vacation... a feat that is not that easy. So kudos!
ReplyDeleteAgreed, there's something formulaic about these types of media that tap into the "I love it but I don't want to love it" drive. It's manipulative and deliberately so... And we all get pulled in. I guess that is why I refuse to read the books or watch the films. There's nothing worse than that feeling that you've been trapped and yet you LIKE that you got trapped. Yikes. I hope you find an answer.
I would consider when other trends like this one have emerged. I was thinking Harry Potter, but the books are generally accepted as being very inventive and well-written. I am going to suggest that you look into scholarship about "chick lit." Think Bridget Jones or Confessions of a Shopaholic. There's too many feminist or independent minded women who adore these stories about bumbling and helpless women finding romance. (I should admit that I love the first Jones flick... yikes!!).
Perhaps you will find something there. Also, I have a literary scholar friend who is researching this topic. Perhaps you should meet her at some point about this one. Let me know and I can arrange a meeting.
This was a great post! I loved the voice and overall self deprecating look at this phenomenon that has taken the world by storm. I myself have not a clue what Twilight is, yes I guess i've been living under a rock. It is good to know that it is a book series and soon to be film series involving someone named Bella and Edward. I have been wondering what all the promotional stuff being shoved down our throats today was about.
ReplyDeleteSo I guess I am wondering how this series is so popular. I read something about Steven King where he said the difference between JK Rowling's Potter series and the Twilight is the workmanship. From your post, and Becca's response I am gleaning that these are not particularly good books in any way. Simple plot, amateur writing (or so says S.King). Why do we love this so much? Does our fascination come because of the simplicity and lack of invention? I would assume that this is not the first time a book has been written about vampires( thank you google for the info just now), so is it the love story that plays out? And would there be this much attention if it were not optioned into a film? And does the obsession come from the supernatural vampire theme, much like the HP wizard aspect?
It should be interesting to see where you take this since it is such a new cultural artifact of the time period.
Courtney, you have nothing to be ashamed of. Well, actually you might. It’s kind of like the case of the gutter-punk who has Blink-182 on his top ten playlist...but doesn’t want his friends to know. Anyways, no worries, really––I don’t mind if you’re a “twitard” (which I suppose could also be slang for a teen who has rendered him- or herself a vegetable from chronic twitter-update-checking, but that would probably have another t in the middle) because my girlfriend is a “twitard” too, as are 90% of her friends. And while they may not be as literarily adept or observant as you, they also realize how ridiculous these books are. Yet something somewhere in the far reaches of their inner girly-ness makes them enjoy the stories and love the characters. I don’t see anything wrong with this and it is not less “scholarly” to analyze the phenomenon by any means.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I have run into in my research, which you may encounter also, is having to get over some of the personal biases or fondnesses toward the artifact under review. In a few of the articles in the huge pile I have come to accumulate about Mark Twain, some authors have said things that I haven’t necessarily agreed with or that I have thought to be completely uninformed drivel or overly-opinionated scholar-banter that has no use to anyone, least of all their readers. However, a lot of these authors are much better read and better educated in Twain (and everything else for that matter) than I am, so I shouldn’t be so hasty to dismiss their opinions just because of their presumptuous tone or my initial reaction to them. I.e. don’t let your fandom of the artifact inhibit your freedom of thought––not that you have or anything; it’s just a friendly suggestion.