Twilight Bitching to Follow
I've discussed my dislike of the Twilight series with various people, but only recently have I actually written down some of my thoughts. I think I could probably write a very long paper about why and where and how and what and who Stephanie Meyers fails with her writing, but I don't particularly care to do that anytime soon, if ever, because Twilight's a fad, and it will pass. Maybe not anytime soon, but it will indeed fade into oblivion with the next generation. If it sticks around at all, I think it only will as it's the stuff that VH1 makes fun of in their hour-long "documentaries" of Best of decades.
Anyway, here are two separate but not entirely unrelated rants:
In response to Sarah's LJ rant:
I read all 4 books in quick succession, and the only thing I can honestly say about the series that's positive and not backhanded in any way is that they read quickly. The problem with the series, though, comes when you stop and think about it, and you're like, wait...did that really just happen? Did Meyers really just set up for some huge conflict...and then do nothing with it? What's so interesting about the series is all the seeming conflicts that are in it. What's infuriating about it is that Meyers either treats them as ideal when they are clearly not (i.e. Edward's stalking and Bella's shallow nature), or she deus ex machina's it away, thus making a huge issue into a non-issue...which only makes it an even bigger fucking issue (i.e. the werewolves turning out to be "spirit wolves", and Jacob imprinting on Bella and Edward's kid). Twilight is the perfect premise for a work exploring the psyche of demented characters in demented situations, but Meyers fanfics the fuck out of it, and I'm of the opinion that many of her readers just don't know how to read past the narrator's viewpoint and distinguish 1st person perspective from a socially shared objective reality.
In a Facebook message to Melissa:
I never got around to seeing the second [Twilight movie] in theatres or out, partly because I don't want to contribute any more money to the franchise after buying the books, and mostly because I heard it wasn't as campy (and therefore not as fun) as the first. If both you and Maddy plan to bitch about it after seeing it, though, I think I would feel less upset to have lost $10 on it. That is, if you wouldn't mind me tagging along. lol
Also, I already know all your kids are cool, but Maddy definitely earns awesome points for recognizing just how trashy the Twilight series is. What's her main beef with it? What's yours? At first I strongly disliked them for being so terribly unfulfilling and yet so popular. After a year of working on my writing, though, I'm less offended by the books, and more offended by Stephanie Meyers for being such an irresponsible writer. Her books may have shitty characters and execution, but that's less of a concern than their shitty morals/worldview. And because Meyers is such an irresponsible writer, it's hard to tell how much was intentional, and how much bullcrap got past the radar in the most offensive and/or lamest way possible.
For example, the whole imprinting thing with the "spirit wolves" (which is just a ridiculous and unnecessary "plot twist" that doesn't change anything that has happened, and only serves to make the reader doubt everything we're given to know is "fact" within the story). Star-crossed lovers destined to be together. It's kind of a theme first with Bella and Edward, and other [severely undeveloped] relationships in the books are meant to forward this idea as well. But the whole destined-to-be-together bit, while romantic on paper, takes out all the choice of both partners. But the way Bella lets Edward walk all over her in the name of their love? And the way the only time she has a backbone around him is when she's insisting on becoming a vampire and giving up her entire mortal life, family, etc. to devote herself to him? That forwards to young girls the idea that they literally have to make huge changes to be and stay with the guys they like (and if the guys are stalkers like Edward is, that's another huge problem). And realistically/ideally, both parties should be willing to make changes for their other half. But there are extremes and middle grounds in everything, and because of Twilight's fantastical premise and Meyers's handling of it, there are nothing but extremes presented. There are no morals, just loads of crazy. And at every narrative opportunity for Meyers to present some of that middle ground, or to explore the consequences of extremism, she waves the issue away with a deus ex machina or character derailment.
Basically, she tells the story she wants to tell, but whenever it gets too hard/confusing thematically, she takes the easy way out. And young girls are supposed to find a heroine in Bella? And true love between her and Edward? And resolution for Jacob's character because he "just-so-happens" to imprint on Renesmee? I call BS on all of it.
Sure, the books have a lot of young girls reading. But if they're not questioning what they read, then what's the point? Reading doesn't actually do anything for a person if he/she isn't actually using his/her brain to analyze the text/narrative/characters/whatever. The only good Twilight can do, as far as I'm concerned, is to start discussions about the issues they [mostly unintentionally] present. It takes a really smart young mind (and an appropriately mature older mind) to look beyond the page, however. The books' wish-fulfillment aspect is fairly entertaining at first, and it either draws the reader in deeper and deeper, or ultimately disillusions him/her with its utter disregard of both the established reality and the notion of consequences. I worry that the books only serve to draw young fans, but not to refine or challenge young minds. And young adult books--whether they have literary aspirations or not--should do that. If Meyers's wants to write wish-fulfilling fluff novels for adults, that's one thing: most adults [who read] can recognize shit for shit, whether or not they enjoy reading it. With younger audiences, though, the minds are very impressionable. Many young people will assume the work is right-and-holy-in-all-ways because they like it. They wouldn't be fans and spend their money on it otherwise (though perhaps there's a certain amount of peer pressure in this particular franchise as well--both pro-Twilight and con). I think many young readers are smart enough to question these books as well as the others that they read. But for untrained/inexperienced readers, I think this particular series does more harm than good, and I fault Meyers for not being response to her audience.
...
Those are my main frustrations, anyway. I can still bitch about the series for hours, though. I've never come across a more enjoyable (and worthy) Hatedom. lol
Now if only my mom would get back from the store, so we can go to my cousins' for the 4th.
Anyway, here are two separate but not entirely unrelated rants:
In response to Sarah's LJ rant:
I read all 4 books in quick succession, and the only thing I can honestly say about the series that's positive and not backhanded in any way is that they read quickly. The problem with the series, though, comes when you stop and think about it, and you're like, wait...did that really just happen? Did Meyers really just set up for some huge conflict...and then do nothing with it? What's so interesting about the series is all the seeming conflicts that are in it. What's infuriating about it is that Meyers either treats them as ideal when they are clearly not (i.e. Edward's stalking and Bella's shallow nature), or she deus ex machina's it away, thus making a huge issue into a non-issue...which only makes it an even bigger fucking issue (i.e. the werewolves turning out to be "spirit wolves", and Jacob imprinting on Bella and Edward's kid). Twilight is the perfect premise for a work exploring the psyche of demented characters in demented situations, but Meyers fanfics the fuck out of it, and I'm of the opinion that many of her readers just don't know how to read past the narrator's viewpoint and distinguish 1st person perspective from a socially shared objective reality.
In a Facebook message to Melissa:
I never got around to seeing the second [Twilight movie] in theatres or out, partly because I don't want to contribute any more money to the franchise after buying the books, and mostly because I heard it wasn't as campy (and therefore not as fun) as the first. If both you and Maddy plan to bitch about it after seeing it, though, I think I would feel less upset to have lost $10 on it. That is, if you wouldn't mind me tagging along. lol
Also, I already know all your kids are cool, but Maddy definitely earns awesome points for recognizing just how trashy the Twilight series is. What's her main beef with it? What's yours? At first I strongly disliked them for being so terribly unfulfilling and yet so popular. After a year of working on my writing, though, I'm less offended by the books, and more offended by Stephanie Meyers for being such an irresponsible writer. Her books may have shitty characters and execution, but that's less of a concern than their shitty morals/worldview. And because Meyers is such an irresponsible writer, it's hard to tell how much was intentional, and how much bullcrap got past the radar in the most offensive and/or lamest way possible.
For example, the whole imprinting thing with the "spirit wolves" (which is just a ridiculous and unnecessary "plot twist" that doesn't change anything that has happened, and only serves to make the reader doubt everything we're given to know is "fact" within the story). Star-crossed lovers destined to be together. It's kind of a theme first with Bella and Edward, and other [severely undeveloped] relationships in the books are meant to forward this idea as well. But the whole destined-to-be-together bit, while romantic on paper, takes out all the choice of both partners. But the way Bella lets Edward walk all over her in the name of their love? And the way the only time she has a backbone around him is when she's insisting on becoming a vampire and giving up her entire mortal life, family, etc. to devote herself to him? That forwards to young girls the idea that they literally have to make huge changes to be and stay with the guys they like (and if the guys are stalkers like Edward is, that's another huge problem). And realistically/ideally, both parties should be willing to make changes for their other half. But there are extremes and middle grounds in everything, and because of Twilight's fantastical premise and Meyers's handling of it, there are nothing but extremes presented. There are no morals, just loads of crazy. And at every narrative opportunity for Meyers to present some of that middle ground, or to explore the consequences of extremism, she waves the issue away with a deus ex machina or character derailment.
Basically, she tells the story she wants to tell, but whenever it gets too hard/confusing thematically, she takes the easy way out. And young girls are supposed to find a heroine in Bella? And true love between her and Edward? And resolution for Jacob's character because he "just-so-happens" to imprint on Renesmee? I call BS on all of it.
Sure, the books have a lot of young girls reading. But if they're not questioning what they read, then what's the point? Reading doesn't actually do anything for a person if he/she isn't actually using his/her brain to analyze the text/narrative/characters/whatever. The only good Twilight can do, as far as I'm concerned, is to start discussions about the issues they [mostly unintentionally] present. It takes a really smart young mind (and an appropriately mature older mind) to look beyond the page, however. The books' wish-fulfillment aspect is fairly entertaining at first, and it either draws the reader in deeper and deeper, or ultimately disillusions him/her with its utter disregard of both the established reality and the notion of consequences. I worry that the books only serve to draw young fans, but not to refine or challenge young minds. And young adult books--whether they have literary aspirations or not--should do that. If Meyers's wants to write wish-fulfilling fluff novels for adults, that's one thing: most adults [who read] can recognize shit for shit, whether or not they enjoy reading it. With younger audiences, though, the minds are very impressionable. Many young people will assume the work is right-and-holy-in-all-ways because they like it. They wouldn't be fans and spend their money on it otherwise (though perhaps there's a certain amount of peer pressure in this particular franchise as well--both pro-Twilight and con). I think many young readers are smart enough to question these books as well as the others that they read. But for untrained/inexperienced readers, I think this particular series does more harm than good, and I fault Meyers for not being response to her audience.
...
Those are my main frustrations, anyway. I can still bitch about the series for hours, though. I've never come across a more enjoyable (and worthy) Hatedom. lol
Now if only my mom would get back from the store, so we can go to my cousins' for the 4th.