At least they're not *tiara-wearing* vampires...
So apparently I'm about the only over-18 female blogger who hasn't yet commented indignantly on the Twilight phenomenon.
OK then, let's fix this right now: The Twilight phenomenon.
...Seriously, I'm just not all that interested. Also, I'm not all that qualified, given I was a tender devotee of the Sweet Valley High series at the same age. Yep, up to and including the 'Super Thriller' in which the crazed spa owner, not content with her army of beautiful zombie employees, decides to redo herself as the Wakefield twins' mom by luring her to her secret underground plastic-surgery lab.
Colin Watson once remarked that bestselling authors do not get that way by shaping attitudes; they tap into existing ones. When the sparkles clear, Twilight's popularity simply reflects the latest tempting gloss on the near-universal need, among tween girls, to validate their unremarkable selves as Secretly the Most Beautiful and Special of All. Naturally this will be intuited by a gorgeous and sensitive guy, who will whisk them far away from Des Moines or wherever that their True Love may prevail over all those nasty, jealous girls in gym class.
Eventually, the ones with an ounce of sense, which I think is the majority, grow out of the fantasy and go on to find real fulfilment. The ones who don't, of course, grow up to force their bridesmaids to wear Disney-themed dresses complete with faery wings, but they provide endless entertainment for the sensible ones in the process. It works out.
For those who feel like doing some serious hand-wringing over our nation's youth, may I suggest the following headline?
Carleton University Students Drop Fundraiser for Illness Targeting Caucasians.
Whereas Orientation week strives to be inclusive as possible;
Whereas all orientees and volunteers should feel like their fundraising efforts will serve their diverse communities;
And whereas cystic fibrosis has been recently revealed to only affect white people, and primarily men;
Be it further resolved that: The CUSA representatives on the incoming Orientation Supervisory Board work to select a new broad reaching charity for orientation week.
Be afraid. Be very afraid.
OK then, let's fix this right now: The Twilight phenomenon.
...Seriously, I'm just not all that interested. Also, I'm not all that qualified, given I was a tender devotee of the Sweet Valley High series at the same age. Yep, up to and including the 'Super Thriller' in which the crazed spa owner, not content with her army of beautiful zombie employees, decides to redo herself as the Wakefield twins' mom by luring her to her secret underground plastic-surgery lab.
Colin Watson once remarked that bestselling authors do not get that way by shaping attitudes; they tap into existing ones. When the sparkles clear, Twilight's popularity simply reflects the latest tempting gloss on the near-universal need, among tween girls, to validate their unremarkable selves as Secretly the Most Beautiful and Special of All. Naturally this will be intuited by a gorgeous and sensitive guy, who will whisk them far away from Des Moines or wherever that their True Love may prevail over all those nasty, jealous girls in gym class.
Eventually, the ones with an ounce of sense, which I think is the majority, grow out of the fantasy and go on to find real fulfilment. The ones who don't, of course, grow up to force their bridesmaids to wear Disney-themed dresses complete with faery wings, but they provide endless entertainment for the sensible ones in the process. It works out.
For those who feel like doing some serious hand-wringing over our nation's youth, may I suggest the following headline?
Carleton University Students Drop Fundraiser for Illness Targeting Caucasians.
Whereas Orientation week strives to be inclusive as possible;
Whereas all orientees and volunteers should feel like their fundraising efforts will serve their diverse communities;
And whereas cystic fibrosis has been recently revealed to only affect white people, and primarily men;
Be it further resolved that: The CUSA representatives on the incoming Orientation Supervisory Board work to select a new broad reaching charity for orientation week.
Be afraid. Be very afraid.