'The Twilight Thread' | Animals Australia Unleashed

Pegs VIC • Posts: 1538

81 6 Jul 2011

Vegetivorous said:

www.reasoningwithvampires.tumblr.com

I hate to be a hater, but frankly the Twilight series is rubbish. As an author, Stephenie Meyer has no skill whatsoever. Her plots are virtually non-existent, her characters are two-dimensional and undergo no character development whatsoever throughout the series and her writing style is not dissimilar from that of a fourteen-year-old fanfiction writer. She even breaks the number one rule of writing: SHOW, DON'T TELL.

Then there is the storyline itself, which is a load of sexist, bigoted, heteronormative crap teaching girls that they should objectify themselves and that they are helpless without a man. It also presents the notion that it is okay for a girl to manipulate the people around her in order to gain the man she wants. Not only this, but the relationship her protagonist has with Edward Cullen is psychologically unsound on so many levels it's absurd.

The films are no better.

I know that a lot of people love the Twilight series, and normally I would say that what you like is a mere matter of taste and therefore none of my business, but I truly believe that this author is presenting such dangerous notions to teenage girls that the weak excuse for literature that is the Twilight series should be banned.

Don't take this personally. I mean no offence whatsoever to those who follow and enjoy the series.

Totally agree!

I stopped reading the books because Bella was a little cow.

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Mean people wear fur QLD • Posts: 1087

82 6 Jul 2011

Pegs said:

I stopped reading the books because Bella was a little cow.

That's offensive to cows.

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rottweiler SA • Posts: 1907

83 6 Jul 2011

I normally don't like all the crap that comes out of Vampire stuff and what not. But i adore the movies, it doesn't put ill thoughts in my head and make me think AT ALL about relationships, how women should or should not be treated. I think tearing it apart, and analysing it in such a way is unrealistic- because I dont think it effects people on that level at all.. I think you put way to much thought in it, that was un neceserry.. I dont think subconciously it harms people in any way, i think it's actually a great series- book and movie. And people dont look into it that deep, that enjoy it.. They just enjoy it..

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...2 WA • Posts: 2307

84 6 Jul 2011

rottweiler said:

I normally don't like all the crap that comes out of Vampire stuff and what not. But i adore the movies, it doesn't put ill thoughts in my head and make me think AT ALL about relationships, how women should or should not be treated. I think tearing it apart, and analysing it in such a way is unrealistic- because I dont think it effects people on that level at all.. I think you put way to much thought in it, that was un neceserry.. I dont think subconciously it harms people in any way, i think it's actually a great series- book and movie. And people dont look into it that deep, that enjoy it.. They just enjoy it..

You don't have to analyse something to be affected by its content. In fact, usually analysis is what prevents a reader from being affected by the content.

I know a girl who broke up with her boyfriend (who is my best friend) because he "wasn't enough like Edward Cullen."

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rottweiler SA • Posts: 1907

85 6 Jul 2011

Vegetivorous said:

rottweiler said:

I normally don't like all the crap that comes out of Vampire stuff and what not. But i adore the movies, it doesn't put ill thoughts in my head and make me think AT ALL about relationships, how women should or should not be treated. I think tearing it apart, and analysing it in such a way is unrealistic- because I dont think it effects people on that level at all.. I think you put way to much thought in it, that was un neceserry.. I dont think subconciously it harms people in any way, i think it's actually a great series- book and movie. And people dont look into it that deep, that enjoy it.. They just enjoy it..

You don't have to analyse something to be affected by its content. In fact, usually analysis is what prevents a reader from being affected by the content.

I know a girl who broke up with her boyfriend (who is my best friend) because he "wasn't enough like Edward Cullen."

Well.. She's obviously got rocks in her head- no offence or anything to your friend.. Obviously she didn't care about him that much if she could so easily break up with him, therefore shouldnt have been in the relationship anyway. I adore edward, as cheesy and childish as it sounds i think he's amazing.. My boyfriends nothing like him, but i love him- im not naive and immature to decide not to be with him cos he's not like a tv character. That's just ridiculous and your friend needs a slap

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...2 WA • Posts: 2307

86 6 Jul 2011

rottweiler said:

Vegetivorous said:

rottweiler said:

I normally don't like all the crap that comes out of Vampire stuff and what not. But i adore the movies, it doesn't put ill thoughts in my head and make me think AT ALL about relationships, how women should or should not be treated. I think tearing it apart, and analysing it in such a way is unrealistic- because I dont think it effects people on that level at all.. I think you put way to much thought in it, that was un neceserry.. I dont think subconciously it harms people in any way, i think it's actually a great series- book and movie. And people dont look into it that deep, that enjoy it.. They just enjoy it..

You don't have to analyse something to be affected by its content. In fact, usually analysis is what prevents a reader from being affected by the content.

I know a girl who broke up with her boyfriend (who is my best friend) because he "wasn't enough like Edward Cullen."

Well.. She's obviously got rocks in her head- no offence or anything to your friend.. Obviously she didn't care about him that much if she could so easily break up with him, therefore shouldnt have been in the relationship anyway. I adore edward, as cheesy and childish as it sounds i think he's amazing.. My boyfriends nothing like him, but i love him- im not naive and immature to decide not to be with him cos he's not like a tv character. That's just ridiculous and your friend needs a slap

She's not my friend- he is.
WHY do you adore him though? Meyer repeatedly describes him as wonderful, beautiful and desirable, but she never provides reasons why or develops traits in his character to warrant it. Again, number one rule of writing: show, don't tell.

He sneaks into the bedroom of a teenage girl at night to watch her sleep. This is not sexy, this is creepy. Meyer has countless girls the world over thinking it's sweet and romantic for a boy to trespass, to command you to do things, to disapprove of your every move and treat you like a helpless child. The character of Bella Swan is nasty, bitchy, manipulative, self-depreciating and would rather attempt suicide to induce hallucinations of her ex-boyfriend disapproving of her than try to move on.

Remember that the target audience of this series is girls from about 11-15; girls who are vulnerable and impressionable to these things. I know so many young girls who talk about romance and idealize the abuse-masochism style of romance presented in these novels. It's terribly saddening.

+ 2

rottweiler SA • Posts: 1907

87 6 Jul 2011

I know have to decipher all these big words you write because although i know what they mean, english is also good haha.. I mean, i know it makes sense. Maybe because im 18 and these girls are so much younger. I know what you mean that sneaking into a room is creepy.. And about trespassing and whatever.. I get that.. But my boyfriend did that, while i was at work covered my bedroom in roses and rose petals and what not.. That's not creepy i dont think, even though we don't live together, im fine with that.. I know there's a line.. And i think people look way to far into it.. If kids are that easily manipulated into thinking different things, no one can help that.. people are gonna write about what they want.. what about tv shows about murder, and murderers getting off jail time and what not- i think a bigger issue is that kids are being taught they can stab people, rape, kill, hurt people and get off scot free because other people are- and it happens on tv.. So i think this issue takes the back seat on so many other issues

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Mean people wear fur QLD • Posts: 1087

88 6 Jul 2011

Vegetivorous said:

He sneaks into the bedroom of a teenage girl at night to watch her sleep. This is not sexy, this is creepy.

*stands up and claps extremely loudly* THANK YOU! I find that incredibly creepy but I've only met a couple of people who agree.

+ 4

rottweiler SA • Posts: 1907

89 6 Jul 2011

There's not much difference between him watching her sleep, and me watching my boyfriend sleep.. Because it wasn't actually trespassing, because he's allowed there.. I watch my boyfriend sleep all the time happy

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...2 WA • Posts: 2307

90 6 Jul 2011

rottweiler said:

I know have to decipher all these big words you write because although i know what they mean, english is also good haha..

>.< I'm not deliberately using big words. This is just how I speak.

rottweiler said:

I mean, i know it makes sense. Maybe because im 18 and these girls are so much younger. I know what you mean that sneaking into a room is creepy.. And about trespassing and whatever.. I get that.. But my boyfriend did that, while i was at work covered my bedroom in roses and rose petals and what not.. That's not creepy i dont think, even though we don't live together, im fine with that..

Yeah, but he's your boyfriend. When this happened in the book, Edward and Bella had encountered each other once, maybe twice. They hadn't exchanged more than two words.

rottweiler said:

I know there's a line.. And i think people look way to far into it.. If kids are that easily manipulated into thinking different things, no one can help that.. people are gonna write about what they want.. what about tv shows about murder, and murderers getting off jail time and what not- i think a bigger issue is that kids are being taught they can stab people, rape, kill, hurt people and get off scot free because other people are- and it happens on tv.. So i think this issue takes the back seat on so many other issues

I think teaching young girls that they should be passive, weak and unable to function without a man is pretty serious. I think teaching young girls that abusing relationships are okay and romantic is a pretty serious issue.
Yes, I also disagree with the desensitising of violence on television and such, however I do not believe that idealizing psychologically unsound relationships is something that should be accepted simply because it is less terrible than encouraging physical violence.

Yeah, people are going to write about what they want, but that doesn't mean they should be published. These girls ARE young, and they ARE easily manipulated. Until they're old enough to make their own intelligent decisions and to read texts like these without being affected by them in such a way, though, they shouldn't have these ideas thrown at them in the form of soft-porn "romance" novels specifically targeting them as an audience.

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