It is nine days until Twilight: The New Moon storms the screens of theatres. I was sitting at home yesterday reading the latest Vogue when I came across an article named Vamping it Up which was explaining why and how all these women are obsessed with vampires recently. It made me think back to a class I had with my publishing teacher where we were discussing genres. It appears after Stephenie Meyers series Twilight, vampire books have been taking over the young adult section, and even a whole section in a bookshop. She has created a new genre, Paranormal Fiction, but how did this happen? And why her, when before her time hundreds of other series were already sitting shyly on the shelves?
I’ll tell you why, with the help of Jo Abbie, writer of the article Vamping it Up.
It’s all about Wolfgang Iser again. If any of you read my post Wolfgang Iser vs. JK Rowling
http://book-unfinished.blogspot.com/2009/07/wolfgang-iser-vs-jk-rowling.html
then you will remember that his main idea is that “It’s being able to ask not what the text means, but what the text does to the reader”
When I read Twilight, I was captured by Edward, as most of us were, but there was always the question of how this came to be. It wasn’t the chiseled features, his cool skin or his protectiveness over Bella. No, I think the main idea about Edward, which is why he appeals to women young and old, is that he is “109 years old – wise, compassionate and dangerous, eternally trapped in the body of a 17-year-old.” He offers that nostalgic feeling, whether it be reminding us of an old crush, or dreaming up this perfect guy that you wish really existed. It’s not about the blood sucking vampires that women love. We don’t actually want our necks bitten…well, not in that way! We love vampires because they’re old, while being physically young at the same time. Whether we like it or not, women love the bad boys, but we also love the wise guys and romantics, so what better way than to stick them both together to make a vampire! They’ll seduce you with their amazing sex appeal, kill you, and then read you some poetry from the 17th century. *sighs happily*
I guess what drew me in was that stupid red apple. I took a bite and there I was, in that world of Forks with Bella and Edward. Perhaps for some other people like my Mum, who is 50 years old, she was captured by word of mouth from her friends and their daughters. I find it hilarious now when adults come into the store and sneak into the young adult section claiming the next book in the series is for their daughter. I feel like going on a rant about Wolfgang Iser saying that we, the readers, decide what any text does to us in different ways, and not what the text means being in a young adult section. But instead, I sum it up by just saying “don’t worry, almost every woman in the world loves this book”
And I think I’m right when I say that, because lets face it, we all love a bit of romance. And don’t worry guys, I know that some of you out there have read and enjoyed the book just as much without being gay. My explanation for that is because perhaps, when we look at the big picture, there is a little bit of Edward in all of us.
To sum up, in the words of Jo Abbie I leave you with some wise words from her explaining why almost every woman would love Edward:
“Edward Cullen is indeed the archetypal literary hero: part Mr. Darcy, with a bit of Heathcliff’s angst and torment thrown in, and even a dash of the mills and boon-style love interest, who saves the day, replete with rippling muscles and perfect hair.”
Twilight: The New Moon is out November 19th
Go to the cinemas just to see the crowd, both young and old and you’ll see what I mean
Jinx xx
I’ll tell you why, with the help of Jo Abbie, writer of the article Vamping it Up.
It’s all about Wolfgang Iser again. If any of you read my post Wolfgang Iser vs. JK Rowling
http://book-unfinished.blogspot.com/2009/07/wolfgang-iser-vs-jk-rowling.html
then you will remember that his main idea is that “It’s being able to ask not what the text means, but what the text does to the reader”
When I read Twilight, I was captured by Edward, as most of us were, but there was always the question of how this came to be. It wasn’t the chiseled features, his cool skin or his protectiveness over Bella. No, I think the main idea about Edward, which is why he appeals to women young and old, is that he is “109 years old – wise, compassionate and dangerous, eternally trapped in the body of a 17-year-old.” He offers that nostalgic feeling, whether it be reminding us of an old crush, or dreaming up this perfect guy that you wish really existed. It’s not about the blood sucking vampires that women love. We don’t actually want our necks bitten…well, not in that way! We love vampires because they’re old, while being physically young at the same time. Whether we like it or not, women love the bad boys, but we also love the wise guys and romantics, so what better way than to stick them both together to make a vampire! They’ll seduce you with their amazing sex appeal, kill you, and then read you some poetry from the 17th century. *sighs happily*
I guess what drew me in was that stupid red apple. I took a bite and there I was, in that world of Forks with Bella and Edward. Perhaps for some other people like my Mum, who is 50 years old, she was captured by word of mouth from her friends and their daughters. I find it hilarious now when adults come into the store and sneak into the young adult section claiming the next book in the series is for their daughter. I feel like going on a rant about Wolfgang Iser saying that we, the readers, decide what any text does to us in different ways, and not what the text means being in a young adult section. But instead, I sum it up by just saying “don’t worry, almost every woman in the world loves this book”
And I think I’m right when I say that, because lets face it, we all love a bit of romance. And don’t worry guys, I know that some of you out there have read and enjoyed the book just as much without being gay. My explanation for that is because perhaps, when we look at the big picture, there is a little bit of Edward in all of us.
To sum up, in the words of Jo Abbie I leave you with some wise words from her explaining why almost every woman would love Edward:
“Edward Cullen is indeed the archetypal literary hero: part Mr. Darcy, with a bit of Heathcliff’s angst and torment thrown in, and even a dash of the mills and boon-style love interest, who saves the day, replete with rippling muscles and perfect hair.”
Twilight: The New Moon is out November 19th
Go to the cinemas just to see the crowd, both young and old and you’ll see what I mean
Jinx xx
Pass this on to Kerry:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.twilightmoms.com/
Hahaha :P
Sounds sooo dreamy! *blushes*
ReplyDeleteface it, you love it :P
ReplyDelete