This is America, where every phenomenon needs an interpretation. There are many proffered for Twilight, the young-adult novels and movies made from them, coinciding with the release of its movie sequel, New Moon.
Are the "Twi-Hards" a cult with teenage adherents who fixated on Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner in the way previous generations of 'tweens were on the Beatles, David Cassidy and Michael Jackson, -- because they are fantasy pinups upon whom girls can project their sexual lust in a safe way?
Is "Twilight-ism" it a metaphor of unrequited love, as this essay from Esquire suggests, stating that, "Vampire fiction for young women is the equivalent of lesbian porn for men: Both create an atmosphere of sexual abandon that is nonthreatening"?
Might "Twilight" be the gospel of "predatory sprituality," as this observer hypothesizes?
As Meyer , who is Mormon, sees it, the books are about the erotics of chastity.
As I see it from a home where there's a 13-year-old-girl, it Twi-Hards curious about romance are grateful that Stephenie Meyer's books give them a radiantly ordinary heroine who is a lust object for a Goth (Vampire Boy Edward, played by Robert Pattinson) and a jock (Teen Werewolf Jacob, played by Taylor Lautner), enabling the Twi-Hards to fantasize which type appeals to them more.
As to other religious components of the phenom, here's Rabbi David Wolpe's hilarious delightful "Five Reasons Vampires are Not Jews."
Your thoughts?
No doubt the fashion magazines will pick up on this phenomenon if they haven't done so already. Skeletal models, not from anorexia but from having had all the blood sucked out of them. And if that wasn't enough, be on the lookout for the direct-to-DVD set, "Twi-Hards Gone Wild."— californiafan- I just love it, I would say I am a bit fanatical about it I read all 4 books and saw the movie just within the last 3-4 weeks, I am in my mid-30's. It's not a cult, a religion, but I think it reminds me of my teenage years and the fantasy when your first love broke up with you or reliving that and having your dreams come true. It's Sixteen Candles with a twist. And Taylor/Jacob is not a "jock" whatsoever where is that coming from?— karbase8
- Couple things: 1. Jacob was never depicted as a "jock" so I'm not sure where that came from. 2. This isn't just a series for 13 yr old girls/high school girls. I know plenty of 20, 30 and even 40 somethings who love the series for what it truly is, a love story.— NeverSunnyInPhiladelphia
- Karbase and Never Sunny: In the movie, the Edward/Jacob contrast is made visually by characterizing Edward through his intellect and conscience and Jacob via his physical strength.— carrierickey
- I hypothesize that the crazed interest in this movie, book, franchise is not only coming from teens but beginning with adults (males in particularly)that are fascinated with sex involving young adults and the money it generates with content that identifies with that sexuality. The movie like the "Potter" series taps into a majority of Eng/American audiences having no visibly Black person to identify with in the film. This is a whole open hand slap to any concerned population of Blacks that spends their money on these films. Many Blacks that are influenced by these Eng/American made films want to be apart of it can't find any significant representations of themselves in vehicles such as this because it could cause issues from Blacks demanding conditions predicated upon that representation. Some Blacks don't care and are comfortable remaining unheard and invisible to this whole white-washing process. Black people spend a lot of zeros in this country in various industries especially the entertainment industry to escape the segregated reality of their lives for the make believe pretend life they lead in this unfair country in which they are constantly and continuously beset with exclusion due to mythological stereotypes about them that prevail all the way to the boardrooms of Hollywood movie executives where the ethnic demographic are not considered let alone a topic of discussion. But Blacks I feel,want inclusion in films such as the Twilight craze because a lot of their money is going to be spent in theaters and pending DVD sales. There are many young Black teenagers that see these movies and I'm sure would like to be represented in these films.— Fivestarpb
- Fivestarpb........yawn. So tired. "in this unfair country in which they are constantly and continuously beset with exclusion due to mythological stereotypes about them that prevail all the way to the boardrooms of Hollywood" Go see a Tyler Perry movie....— sameol
- Only one character can fix the twilight movies. An appearance by the Daywalker, Blade. Lets see the audience's reaction when Blade unsheaths his sword and lays down the law.— CharlestheHammer
- If Tyler Perry did the Twilight flicks they might be watchable— JSaq
- Personally, I hate the Twilight series. All these teen girls swarming around the theaters and book stores to see/read the movies/books are ruining it for everyone else. I'd say it's a cult, but they're devoted to the series like a religion. People need lives.— BabyMegaan
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