Twilight

I wonder if this has been posted before. And If I'm pushing my luck 2 threads in one day I'm gonna get flamed :P

ANYWAY

I read 3 of the 4 twilight books over christmas, and really really enjoyed them. I felt very mushy. I'm going to see the film tommorow and i looked up some reviews. I'm starting to feel I may be forfeiting my right to calling myself a budding feminist here :P The term "ths series is pure evil" is being used. Now I spotted the hopelessly sexist nature of the book and i think part of it made me like it a little bit more. Something about the classic romance roles felt lovely and nostalgic to me in the way an old fashioned romance would. I would never go so far as to call it dangerous, much like id never tell young girls reading romeo and juliet was dangerous (although shakespeare gave us a far more compelling female lead maybe thats the wrong comparison) I liked it but i'd never model my own relationships on it. Anyway I was wondering what other people who have read it/heard about it/seen it may think. I know theres alot of strong women on these boards and I'd love to hear your opinions.

Incidentally I only read the books because i read an article in the paper about them being absolutely damning to feminism and modern women. Hardly surprising they're so popular really (sorry sidetracking myself here) since in class the other day (this is a university drama class of predominantly women) i was the ONLY person to put my hand up and say i was a feminist, some said they didnt really know what one was, and one girl said she really wanted a man to take care of her (which i actually found very funny and sweet, in the circumstances of the conversation)  Sorry anyway just wanted to add that it seems slightly relevant. Maybe :P

Okay, just from what I have heard.....pure hearsay, mind you:

The movie will be not that great, if you have read the books because the people in the movie will probably not be anything like the people in your head (images of the characters while reading the book).

As far as the feminist p.o.v. I have heard others being upset in how powerless the main female character is/is portrayed.

Thats all I know.

I am so embarassed that my generation hasnt been taught what feminism is. (Im sure all of your classmates would have raised their hands if they knew the true goals of feminism.) Dont worry, you can totally read this series and still be a feminist.

As for Twilight: read it, loved it, also simultaneously hated it. The religious stuff nearly ruined it for me and the long mushy lets-talk-about-our-feelings parts were boring.

After reading the third book, I am officially a Jacob fan. Edward is too controlling. He acts like a father-figure: literally having her babysat when he goes out of town.

I love Twilight even though I consider myself a raging feminist.  You can enjoy a book without having to model your life on it.  Twilight is a fantasy and a fairy tale, and I think people who get angry about how the female lead is portrayed are just taking things a bit too seriously.

But I see that you've only read 3 of the 4 ... you may want to withhold judgement until you read the fourth book.  The fourth one is by far the most controversial.

Oooh - I just picked the first book up at the airport when coming back home, due to the coverage on the film etc...thought it might be a nice light read.  Given the comments above, I'm now really looking forward to reading it!

Ok...well...

I'm a self proclaimed Twilight addict...as most people know. LOL

but in regards to the feminist side, or lack there of...I have to say that the author made Bella a bit of a push over...like when Edward leaves her and goes to get himself killed much later because he thinks she's dead...she's so happy to be back with him she totally lets him off the hook for the downright torture he put her through by walking out.

Personally I think she should have ripped him a new one for doing that...I mean, COME ON! I would have been like "What the ^%$$% were you thinking? you put me through HELL and somehow turned it into my coming to rescue your sorry ^%$## because you can't live without me? well you LEFT....Moron"

Ah, I'm a bit bitter about that...gotta admit....LOL But I digress.....the movie is well done, although I think that they lost alot of the connection between Edward and Bella...they basically took one small conversation they had in the book and stretched it through the woods scene, the resturant scene and the scene were Alice takes Bella to hide....if you read the books you'll see that...and that ANNOYED me to no end....

However...I enjoy it, I watch it daily and I've seen it in the theatre 3 times...just enjoy romance for romance sake...it's better that way...

I read all four of the Twilight books and saw the movie.  I have an 18 year old daughter and I teach High School, so I thought I would see what all the fuss was about.

I agree with aacovert, it is a fairy tale, albeit a very well written one.  I think you can definitely hold onto your feminism and still enjoy a good tale.  The books are very easy to read and they also present an opportunity for different generations to talk about male and female roles in society. 

My daughter and I are also rooting for Jacob.  I think there is definitely enough material for a 5th book.

Enjoy the books, it does less damage than treating yourself to icecream.

di

Ummm...for the record...Edward wins...LOL

Sorry to spoil it, but the 5th book, Midnight Sun, just starts the story over from Edwards point of view...but Bella ends up with Edward....so...

Just sayin'

:)

seratuki, I thought they weren't going to publish Midnight Sun because a draft was leaked on the internet?  I was totally bummed by that news because I, too, am a proud member of Team Edward and was really looking forward to reading his POV (I read the part of the draft that was leaked and really enjoyed it).

Aacovert.....

According to the research I've done, Stephanie does intend to finish Midnight Sun. she's gotten thousands of demands from readers and came back to say she WILL finish it eventually...she asked that we not read the leaked version because it was really not complete...but she does intend on finishing it...

I'm thinking she will even more now because of the movie release...there will be even more of a demand for it, to be honest...it's kinda her fault it got leaked. She gave a copy to a friend of hers and they leaked it....why oh, why...would she give out a copy to someone? ANYONE? I mean...ugh...

But she does intend on finishing it, from what I hear....I'm looking forward to reading Edwards POV, since we don't get too deep a glimpse into it originally....

Team Edward...I like that... :)

I too loved all of the Twilight series books.  To the point where my boyfriend was a bit jealous because I spent days just reading the novels.  I even said that when I have a daughter I might call her Bella.

However, I hated the movie.  Even though they have received a lot of acclaim for their acting most of the acting was not very good.  The best role in the movie goes to Charlie.  I did enjoy his little quirks and comments.  My least favorite seen was the baseball game where they meet the bad clan.  All of the vampires just started hissing at each other like a group of feral cats.

I'm sure I will go see the other movies as they are released and I am happy the next one has a new director.  Maybe he can pull some acting skills out of the "stars".

Jessica....that baseball scene ROCKED! :) I can not look at normal baseball the same. LOL But they did fall short and lost alot in the movie translation....I just enjoy it mostly for the looks Edward gives Bella in the lunchroom and the biology class...Robert Pattinson sure does that "smoldering" look well....*sigh....

Original Post by seratuki:

Aacovert.....

According to the research I've done, Stephanie does intend to finish Midnight Sun. she's gotten thousands of demands from readers and came back to say she WILL finish it eventually...she asked that we not read the leaked version because it was really not complete...but she does intend on finishing it...

I'm thinking she will even more now because of the movie release...there will be even more of a demand for it, to be honest...it's kinda her fault it got leaked. She gave a copy to a friend of hers and they leaked it....why oh, why...would she give out a copy to someone? ANYONE? I mean...ugh...

But she does intend on finishing it, from what I hear....I'm looking forward to reading Edwards POV, since we don't get too deep a glimpse into it originally....

Team Edward...I like that... :)

This just made my day :-D

And I totally loved the baseball scene too... coolest part of the movie.

lol...glad I could make your day... :)

If I hear anything else I'll let you know...I'm constantly on the lookout for news about Midnight Sun.. :)

I initially read the first Book because my daughter was so into it.....   I love to have "real" stuff to talk to her about..  Teenage girls can be so.. "talk to the hand"  but just mention Edward or Bella and off we go...  it's good for at least a twenty minute conversation.   Needless to say I too enjoyed all four of the books, they are an easy read and entertaining..

By itself I would say the movie was "okay"  I've paid to watch much worse than that.   The true joy of the movie was watching it with an audience full of teen girls..  Their giggles and oooo's  and  ahhhsss...  made it all worth while.  It truly warmed my heart.

If any of you mom's out there have daughters that have read the books and you haven't...  shame on you !    go for it and have a great time

Shanonna, I think you can be a feminist but enjoy entertainment that is not. You said you recognized the sexist nature of the books, and that you wouldn't model your own relationships on it, so that sounds healthy. I think we can critique a work from a feminist standpoint, be it "Twilight" or "Romeo and Juliet",  without saying it is pure evil and must be shunned at all costs. I do feel there are a lot of differences between the two, but that's a whole 'nother post.

Personally, I find Edward hilarious as an overwrought, melodramatic character. Bella is too much of a wimp and a "Mary-Sue" stand-in character. Me and my friends got drunk and went to the film for a laugh, and honestly, the whole audience in the showing we saw was cracking up from the minute he appeared onscreen. 

It's kind of sad, actually, how many people seem to think "feminism" means denying themselves some type of enjoyment, whether it's reading "Twilight" or shaving your legs. I remember a friend of mine once saying "Before I met you I thought feminism meant you had to hate men and never wear makeup." The idea that feminists despise makeup seems especially prevalent, though I've only ever met one older second-wave feminist who was like that. I think it serves to both make the movement seem unappealing and trivialize it, as if that's what we're sitting around worrying about.

wow thanks for the replies guys

Coffincritter I think its exactly those ideas that put alot of girls in my class off feminism. Personally I never felt like I had a choice in the matter it's just who i am I went to an girls school and I don't know but especially during my sixth form education, feminism, feminist ideas seemed to permeate the teaching and the ethos of the school. And I never came across the idea that to consider yourself equal to all men no matter what to believe that you have every right to make the same choices as men and the same oppotunities in life somehow meant I had to BE a man. I will always rememebr a quote I read "I'll be a post feminist in post patriarchy" I still believe we live in patriarchal society. I don't believe my right to respect should be in anyway affected by my desire to be attractive. anyway.

Twilight. I hated it when Edward locked her up but I liekd that she refused to obey. She escaped and rebelled I think there are moments in the books when she can be really strong. I was reading someone woman saying she was saddened that thousands of teenage girls will model their ideas of romance on this but, and maybe I'm just too strong willed, I can't imagine ever trying to model myself on a story for my ideas of how I should conduct myself in a relationship.

Twilight is essentially a 'damsel in distress' tale. Bella is helpless, foolish and average, which is heightened when compared to the super-abilities and intelligence of Edward. Whenever Bella makes a decision for herself, she ends up putting herself in danger (being deceived by evil vampires, intentionally risking her life) or sending mixed messages to Jacob. Edward should make all the decisions for her, because she's so inept.

I adore Twilight, but that's my take on it.

I don't like Jacob because he kept forcing himself on Bella.

You gotta remember Edward was protecting Bella from a vampire(s) who could snap her in half in split of a second. Also the trust at the time between the wolves and the vampires weren't as strong as they were at the end of the 4th book. So he didn't feel Bella was safe with Jacob.

The movie was meh...the actor who played Edward looked like he wanted to cry the entire movie and when he shouted I heard his english accent slip up.

lol...actually I think his english accent would have made the charecter seem older and more..I don't know....mature? which I think would have worked in the movie simply because he was supposed to have been born in 1901....

but, I admit to having a thing for men with accents...so... :)

I actualy got my BF to read the entire series when I told him how much I liked Edward's charecter...I think he thinks I'm nuts, but every once in a while he'll thow a quote from the book into an every day conversation and it makes me all....I guess....mushy inside...LOL

Nothing is better than finding a letter next to my pillow with the words "Take care of my heart, I've left it with you' on it when he went to get some things at the store when I was still sleeping.... :)

But then, he knows I'm a sucker for romantic books..so...LOL

Original Post by cptbunny:

I don't like Jacob because he kept forcing himself on Bella.

You gotta remember Edward was protecting Bella from a vampire(s) who could snap her in half in split of a second. Also the trust at the time between the wolves and the vampires weren't as strong as they were at the end of the 4th book. So he didn't feel Bella was safe with Jacob.

The movie was meh...the actor who played Edward looked like he wanted to cry the entire movie and when he shouted I heard his english accent slip up.

Huh. Well if Jacob is forcing himself on Bella than perhaps Edward is right to feel she's not safe with him! It sounds like both male characters are problematic, with Edward perhaps being the lesser of two evils.