The Twilight craze is something I am quite familiar with by now. My aunt read the books after they first came out, and went on to convince as many family members as she could to read it. My Mother read it at her insistence, and then, to my brothers and I's horror, made us read it. By the end of their campaign, even my Grandfather had read through the first two books before declaring them a waste of his time, even if his two daughters wanted him to read them. I have grown up reading books my mother has recommended to me, some of my favorite authors are ones that she first introduced me to, but only for Twilight has she been so insistent that we all read it.
When thinking about the people I consider to be Twilight fans, I picture hysterical tween girls, obsessed with the perfection they see in Edward Cullen. My mother is clearly not a tween girl, and she rarely is able to allow herself time to sit and read the months book club book, much less unimaginative tween romance novels. So what about these books is so engaging so as to capture the attention of a market so vastly different than the one it was written towards?
In my mind the reason these books are popular with people outside the tween girl segment not because they are written particularly well, or because the characters achieve a certain level of depth that allows them to become real, but because they put a modern spin on a successful formula. Wuthering Heights is considered to be a classic, well written novel,and Twilight borrows the inner struggle for the Jacob, Edward dilemma that Bella faces. Of course, when the love triangle is no longer integral to the plot it is conveniently done away with in the last novel of the quartet.
Twilight is successful because it takes story lines first represented in novels like Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, beloved classics, and makes them easy to digest. Because of the younger audience it was written for, the language is simpler, the story quicker to digest. People no longer have the free time to sit and read the classics, to absorb the underlying meanings and discuss plot points. As students, we have the time, really it is a part of our job to read and to think about the readings, but for most people that is a luxury. It is easy for us to scoff at the simplicity of Twilight, the lack of depth and imagination, but not everyone has the time or means to involve themselves deeply. Twilight is the twenty first century airport novel version of the classics, easy to digest and something that can be read while relaxing, it is an escape, and that is all it need be.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Who Wouldn't Want a Wife?
While I was reading this passage my own mother came to mind.
I'm not saying that my father is some does nothing asshole who expects his wife to cater to his every whim, but he has his moments. I can distinctly remember many times growing up when my mom would tell me that being a mother and a wife is not an easy task. She would complain (not often and never to anyone but me) about how much she always had to do (though she would be the first to admit that some of that was her own fault for taking on too many things at once). I never really understood how hard being a mother really was. I would always sympathize with her though, reassuring her that every single thing she did was appreciated. The past few years me and my mother have gotten the closest we've ever been and now I really do realize how much she does.
In the passage there's a quote that says "I want a wife to go along when our family takes a vacation so that someone can continue to care for me and my children when i need a rest and a change of scene." This quote couldn't describe my mother better. My family takes a trip to Florida at least once a year to visit my grandparents. This past year my mother was cleaning the kitchen of my grandmother's house when my sister asked to be brought to the mall. My mom told her she was busy and that they could go later. My sister, in her obnoxious i'm 12 and the whole world revolves around me tone, told my mom that we're on vacation and she should stop cleaning and bring her to the mall. To that my mom replied that mother's don't get a vacation and she can stop being a selfish bitch and go find something else to do.
This passage was so spot on. I'm not saying that all wives do everything for their husbands. I'm also not saying that all men do nothing. There are so many different family situations out there that don't fit into this generalization. But, there are a lot of wives and mothers that fit into this and who aren't appreciated. I know my mother often feels unappreciated and she's completely valid in feeling that way. I think it's important to realize how much some parents sacrifice and take time to do for the ones they care about.
I've realized how much my mom has done for me and the rest of my family. I know I'll never be able to thank her enough or show her just how much I appreciate her.
I'm not saying that my father is some does nothing asshole who expects his wife to cater to his every whim, but he has his moments. I can distinctly remember many times growing up when my mom would tell me that being a mother and a wife is not an easy task. She would complain (not often and never to anyone but me) about how much she always had to do (though she would be the first to admit that some of that was her own fault for taking on too many things at once). I never really understood how hard being a mother really was. I would always sympathize with her though, reassuring her that every single thing she did was appreciated. The past few years me and my mother have gotten the closest we've ever been and now I really do realize how much she does.
In the passage there's a quote that says "I want a wife to go along when our family takes a vacation so that someone can continue to care for me and my children when i need a rest and a change of scene." This quote couldn't describe my mother better. My family takes a trip to Florida at least once a year to visit my grandparents. This past year my mother was cleaning the kitchen of my grandmother's house when my sister asked to be brought to the mall. My mom told her she was busy and that they could go later. My sister, in her obnoxious i'm 12 and the whole world revolves around me tone, told my mom that we're on vacation and she should stop cleaning and bring her to the mall. To that my mom replied that mother's don't get a vacation and she can stop being a selfish bitch and go find something else to do.
This passage was so spot on. I'm not saying that all wives do everything for their husbands. I'm also not saying that all men do nothing. There are so many different family situations out there that don't fit into this generalization. But, there are a lot of wives and mothers that fit into this and who aren't appreciated. I know my mother often feels unappreciated and she's completely valid in feeling that way. I think it's important to realize how much some parents sacrifice and take time to do for the ones they care about.
I've realized how much my mom has done for me and the rest of my family. I know I'll never be able to thank her enough or show her just how much I appreciate her.
Twilight
I read the first book in the twilight series because my sister insisted it was the best book since the bible. After struggling to complete the first one due to boredom, and bad writing i never wanted to read the following novels. I thought twilight was a perfect book for any middle school girl fantasizing about an exciting, and romantic high school experience. Personally the story didn't hit home. However I can understand why the twilight series and Stephenie Meyer's are having so much success. Her book incorporates and exciting forbidden love between two very opposite people, both of witch desire what the other has. In the example of Twilight Edward wants to live a simple normal life that can be concluded with death. On the other had Bella wants to live forever with the vampires she deems perfect. The struggle to achieve these wants, and maintain their seemingly perfect relationship is very entertaining. But it still surprises me that Meyer's could be compared to someone as influential to literature as J.K. Rowling's. To me this shows that any story with a good plot and proper fan base could become tomorrows next best thing. I personally will never read the other books but I truly do understand attraction behind this successful series.
The Twilight Phenomena
So many people, adults and teenagers alike, have stumbled upon the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyers in one way or another. Many heard about it from the media since this series has become such a phenomena as of recently. Others heard it from friends or just decided to read the books before or after seeing the movie adaptation of the novels. Either way more and more people are becoming obsessed with this vampire romance series.
I admit that i did read all of the novels and in a sort amount of time too. :/ I admit that embarrassedly because i was one of the girls that read them as the books were first coming out before the wave of these crazed addicts became attached to the series. And at the time i loved them. I thought they were romantic and as said in the rhetorical analysis, I felt I could relate to Bella. Or even that I was her. I fantasized about Edward and what he may look like and even Jacob at times. But I was on “Team Edward” all the way. (These were teams that were made up before the final novel came out to identify who you wanted Bella to end up with, Jacob or Edward). But as I got older my obsession died down. And when all the silly preteens started getting into the novels and the movies destroyed my own image of what the characters looked like, I stopped caring. I almost came to hate the series.
I completely agree with almost all the rhetorical analysis had put forth. I agree that Twilight has become a new craze, one to almost compete with Harry Potter. (Although I believe it will never truly overcome them.) As said before I believe Bella is such a non-dynamic and almost weak character because Meyers wanted teenage girls (the true audience for these novels) to relate more to her and almost put themselves in her shoes. Also I believe that this book truly isn’t very well written but even so people become addicted to the story line and just have to know what happens next. That’s exactly what happened to me. But I try more to be a leader than anything so when everyone else started loving the series, I stopped. However, when I did this it let me reflect on all the negatives and ridiculousness of how the series really is. I’m glad that I was one who grew out of that phase, and quickly. For many others though, I know it is just beginning.
Twilight cliche
Twilight doe not even fall into the same category as Harry Potter. Harry Potter is a world-wide phenomenon while Twilight is another love story with a predictable ending. Twilight is targeted towards young teenage girls, while anyone can enjoy Harry Potter. I did read Twilight but thought that it was filled with a lot of cliches and I also found it very repetitive. Many girls are obsessed with the idea of Twilight but I believe it is mostly because they picture themselves in Bella Swan's place as Edward's girlfriend. I do not think it is the thought of lovers that are not supposed to be, but more of the fact that there is this "perfect guy" that all these girls want. People say that Twilight was the beginning of the vampire obsession but stories of vampires has been around for so long. When I was in elementary school I read a series about vampires that was not too different from the plot of Twilight. Just because Stephanie Meyer's books became so popular, people became obsessed with fantasy and now vampires and werewolves are very popular subjects to read about.
Wives.. Changing over Time
This piece of writing is dating straight back to the days of old fashioned wives and stay at home moms that did nothing but chores, take care of the kids, and be there at the end of the day to come home to. The job that Brady describes is a full time one. Any man in their right mind would idol a wife such as the one described but the reality is that the chances of finding a woman like that are slim to none, especially this day and age. Now the world has discovered that women are just as capable if not more to do things that people imagined only men doing seventy years ago. Women now are not looking to settle right down and live at home, never leaving. They want to impact the world and use their education and brain in a positive way, that living in a house slaving just wont offer. These days it is common to have two fulltime working parents and the child of theirs is at daycare and there are cleaning services at your house during the day. Brady uses the word “I” a lot showing envy for having a wife, not to mention on who stays at home and is stuck in the 1930’s. I disagree with how Brady says men do nothing, and women do everything but the truth is that without the male working her stay at home life would never be possible. We all know that work around the house can take more strength one woman could offer (not trying to offend anyone) so therefore the male needs to come and assist and do the work that his wife did not complete or is incapable of. Marriage needs both sides to function in order to be productive and happy so whatever a wife will do, the husband needs to help and visa versa.
If you prick me, do I not NOT bleed? If the sun warms my flesh, do I not sparkle like The David sprinkled with pixie dust?
See that, up ahead? Great Merlin's beard!...it would appear to be an opportunity to spew venom and ire all over the Twilight series! Racers, start your ridicule engines.
Poor Edward Cullen. Women are smitten to pieces should he level upon them the "full force of his eyes", the unfortunate fellow just wants to be understood. If his omnipresent form-fitting deep cut v-neck t-shirt were to be lifted, all hope for coherent conversation is lost. Poor, poor Edward Cullen, arrested by his own beauty in his tireless quest for true human connection. He cannot gently caress his lovers features without risking a cranial fracture. Edward "literally too cool for school" Cullen skulks, wraithlike, back to his tastefully appointed quarters to gloomily ruminate on The Ethical Treatment of Humans, and pout. What a baby, go swim across the Atlantic Ocean, dive down and ride an orca to the Hebrides...something.
Only an eternity of immortally traversing the far-flung corners of Planet Earth can afford enough room for the vanity of Edward Cullen. In my dictionary, "humble" is not spelled with emotive, woman-wooing recitals of Debussy and rescue missions performed within the plush leather interior of European luxury sedans driven at 90 m.p.h
Now that I've indulged in the requisite amount of easy jabs against Twilight (one could pass weeks at it), let's strike a more surgical blow.
Edward and his timid, episodically depressed companion Bella are not real people. Real people are tangled, knotted, nonsensical, baffling webs of emotion and vast plains of life. No section of Twilight dares approach substantive emotional wrestling. The internal dialogue of each "character" is a reflection of the pubescent, under-construction emotions of the teenage girl.
Fear? Of rejection.
Love? With the vigor of virginal youth.
Hate? With the blinding fire of romantic jealousy.
People's emotions are dense wildernesses of horrors, and Meyer lovingly ignores exploring the deeper motivations, questions, injunctions and imperatives that would likely arise from say, I don't know, dating a 200 year old vampire. Only the surface tensions, and even then, only the simplest forms of fear, love and hate. Which are, coincidentally, the only emotional themes explored. None of the emotions presented are tempered with the resultant indecision of a life lived. Edward and Bella operate on the emotional level of Justin Bieber.
As a cultural phenomenon, Twilight is all-day-interesting. But, at the end of that day, Twilight is a tome of teenage emotion, which is as complex and unpleasant for the subject as it is the observer. Any aid in the plight, be it Twilight or otherwise, should be published in the millions.
Poor Edward Cullen. Women are smitten to pieces should he level upon them the "full force of his eyes", the unfortunate fellow just wants to be understood. If his omnipresent form-fitting deep cut v-neck t-shirt were to be lifted, all hope for coherent conversation is lost. Poor, poor Edward Cullen, arrested by his own beauty in his tireless quest for true human connection. He cannot gently caress his lovers features without risking a cranial fracture. Edward "literally too cool for school" Cullen skulks, wraithlike, back to his tastefully appointed quarters to gloomily ruminate on The Ethical Treatment of Humans, and pout. What a baby, go swim across the Atlantic Ocean, dive down and ride an orca to the Hebrides...something.
Only an eternity of immortally traversing the far-flung corners of Planet Earth can afford enough room for the vanity of Edward Cullen. In my dictionary, "humble" is not spelled with emotive, woman-wooing recitals of Debussy and rescue missions performed within the plush leather interior of European luxury sedans driven at 90 m.p.h
Now that I've indulged in the requisite amount of easy jabs against Twilight (one could pass weeks at it), let's strike a more surgical blow.
Edward and his timid, episodically depressed companion Bella are not real people. Real people are tangled, knotted, nonsensical, baffling webs of emotion and vast plains of life. No section of Twilight dares approach substantive emotional wrestling. The internal dialogue of each "character" is a reflection of the pubescent, under-construction emotions of the teenage girl.
Fear? Of rejection.
Love? With the vigor of virginal youth.
Hate? With the blinding fire of romantic jealousy.
People's emotions are dense wildernesses of horrors, and Meyer lovingly ignores exploring the deeper motivations, questions, injunctions and imperatives that would likely arise from say, I don't know, dating a 200 year old vampire. Only the surface tensions, and even then, only the simplest forms of fear, love and hate. Which are, coincidentally, the only emotional themes explored. None of the emotions presented are tempered with the resultant indecision of a life lived. Edward and Bella operate on the emotional level of Justin Bieber.
As a cultural phenomenon, Twilight is all-day-interesting. But, at the end of that day, Twilight is a tome of teenage emotion, which is as complex and unpleasant for the subject as it is the observer. Any aid in the plight, be it Twilight or otherwise, should be published in the millions.
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