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Ok, I'll admit it. I used to like Twilight. Yeah, I know. I hate it now, too.
So much media focus has been on the books and movies nowadays that it's become it's own phenomenon. Personally, I don't like adding to this fuss, but it is an interesting topic that people will debate you on.
And I've all the awesome articles profiling why this series is so.... vulgar. And I totally one hundred percent agree. But, besides hearing the fangirls (and boys) scream about how “hot” Edward Cullen is, there really hasn't been a large response from fans as to why they follow the series so religiously.
Now, when I first read Twilight I was 13. And, as I began to read it, I thought the book was completely boring. It was just some random girl talking about moving, and I really didn't care. So I put the book back into my closet for about six months. The next time I picked it up was only out of boredom. I had nothing else to read, and the cover art looked cool, so I decided to give it a second chance. And then Edward happened. Which, really is self-explanatory.
I then read all the books with the same conviction as the fangirls you see with their t-shirts proclaiming their love for the characters.
But, there were others things in the book that held my interest. It wasn't just Edward all the time. Thinking back, I actually got bored of reading about Edward and Bella all the time. (I was more into Alice and Jasper myself.) I began to not care about reading what felt like the same thing over and over and over again. The plots began to seem similar, and I was much more interested in the other characters' plots.
Around the time I was 14 the books started to seem less appealing, but at the same time, I guess I felt slightly obligated to read them. I mean, these became more than characters in a book to me. I needed to find out what would happen to them.
At roughly the same time the books exploded with popularity; which really made me annoyed and jealous. After all, vampires had kind of always been my thing, and when I originally got the book nobody had heard of it. I felt almost possessive about them.
But it seemed like overnight everybody in 8th grade was reading the damn books; to the point where teachers had to specifically say “Do not read your Twilight books during class.”
They transferred me into a world where it seems to be going all peachy keen. (That is until I can pull yourself out. Then I realized how creepy and crappy they were. Although I always thought Edward was an ass.)
I've heard the awesome feminist critiques of the series (I almost did this blog as a critique of the books), but what I really want to hear is a sensible argument from the fans as to why they like the series. The whole “Edward is soooo hot ZOMG I want his babieeez” argument is getting really old. So, if there are any fans reading this post, tell me. What is it that attracts (or attracted) you to the books?
I got dragged into the books just like everyone else, and I read all four of them within 3 weeks of each other because it was so addicting (around the time the movie came out). But as I thought about it later I really started to hate the message that was put out there.
The whole Edward-Bella relationship is really messed up. I mean it consistantly perpetuates the ideals of "female purity" and abstinence. I complete support abstinence, but again if people don't want to be abstinent it is there choice. I feel that all the people that look up to the Edward-Bella dynamic are just being fed the same story. Though the novels don't go as far as to say that Bella would be worthless if she had sex with Edward pre-marraige, it definitely does glorify her everlasting commitment to Edward. She, even though she also has feelings for Jacob, does not waiver from her love of Edward. Again, great love story, but come on.. it's a pretty obvious way to promote her virgin purity and all that crap.
On the other hand, Bella does have an intesne sexual side. And I totally give credit to Stephanie Meyer for that. Bella has her own sexual desires and repeatedly expresses them. But, they are shot down by Edward and by Meyer's writing. Even though Bella is completely hot for Edward (like most teens are right now) Edward pushes her away for all this vampire reasons, and Meyer does this to perpetuate the purity shenanigans she's up to.
Also in the second book, Bella is away from Edward and completely falls apart. Granted, when you're in love with someone and have to deal with a break up it's intense. But, the way that Meyer portrays poor helpless Bella that needs to have man constantly saving her is total b/s. Bella goes from the hands of Edward to the hands of Jacob and cannot survive without one or the other. I mean come on! Give the girl some independence! Friends are great but how about if Bella could protect herself from creepy rapists or any of the other struggles she comes into contact with.
As a summary, boo to a lot of the stuff talked about and the themes that are perpetuated, but a thumbs up to the positive female sexuality displayed.