I actually agree with: “external sources are in the background and they raise our collective tolerance for certain negatives.” Something along the lines of sensory adaptation. I get it. But IF Twilight is having the negative affect on the human psyche like you claim, it is far too widespread at this point to go back. All we can do is talk about it with our kids, and provide them with context.

I don’t think Stephenie Meyer knew that this would happen when she penned the story. Are all creators to be censored, just in case their work becomes a success?

Also, as far allegories for and literal abusive treatment of women goes – it is a problem that has existed for hundreds of years prior to Twilight.

Vanessa G. :
Besides, there are much more serious things going on in this world – gun toting 8 year olds on the Gaza Strip, human trafficking, gay people being murdered for being gay, the crash of our financial system. And people are concerned about Twilight…seriously?

Deflecting from the initial argument doesn’t solve the issue….

“Stop blaming external sources for the unhealthy psyche of our youth.”

I’m not. But external sources are in the background and they raise our collective tolerance for certain negatives. To give an example, violence. The more violence we see, the more numb we become to it. Kind of like what you just said with all the horrible stuff happening on the news–eventually we–and children–become numb to it all, and a news report about a guy getting murdered on the local news doesn’t have the impact it would’ve in the past. To have a book become so wildly popular with a quasi-emotional abusive male lead and for people not even to see him as a poor example of a great guy…well, then I think we’re so used to this kind of behavior it just seems normal. I think by citing an example from the news you proved my point.

Also, it’s commendable that you’ve read the series with your daughter. But 99.9% of the girls who read Twilight don’t have parental guidance. And to answer E. Peterman, no, for the most part they aren’t that discerning. I work in a school library that owns multiple copies of the Twilight saga (that I ordered for the library myself), and it was so wildly popular last year because of the fourth book. Girls were too busy debating the merits of either Team Jacob or Team Edward to even stop to think critically about the behaviors of each in the book. They just don’t read that much into it. Sure, there were a few girls who roll their eyes at the whole Twilight phenomenon, but I can only think of three students off the top of my head.

Sure, lots of jerks were great literary characters. Heathcliff and Catherine–treated each other something awful. But that book didn’t have a happy ending and there’s a reason for that. So what if it’s fiction? Edward is the picture in the minds of many young women of the guy they want to someday meet. Fiction influences. Just like the nightly news does. And if that article I cited is a little off in its facts, I can show you four more articles from four different sources.

Edward is a vampire. The book is fiction.

“12-year-olds can’t pick through the plot points and assess them like you can. And parents aren’t going to read through it with their kids.”

THAT is the problem, NOT the books. I read every single book with my daughter. We had a regular dialogue about it. She was clear on the fact that Edward was a vampire, that the behavior was that of a fictional monster, and she wasn’t all that impressed by him. Parents should take the time, I did. Stop blaming external sources for the unhealthy psyche of our youth.

I read the link you posted in your reply, paralleling things from Twilight with abusive behavior. Many of the references listed from the book or movie were taken out of context or are just incorrect. I might be more receptive if the naysayers had correct information.

Besides, there are much more serious things going on in this world – gun toting 8 year olds on the Gaza Strip, human trafficking, gay people being murdered for being gay, the crash of our financial system. And people are concerned about Twilight…seriously?

I finally caved and read the first book. I don’t understand why everyone loves Edward Cullen. Why does Bella even like him? Because he pays attention to her? Really, I can’t find a reason. He’s moody, easily angered, and stalkerish. Why is this seen as the ideal man? Why are twentysomethings wishing their boyfriends were more like Edward?

Not to mention the emotional abuse. http://kar3ning.livejournal.com/545639.html As a person who works with teenaged girls I find this disturbing.

Sure, Bella’s not all bad as a character. But she’s a blank slate that any girl (well, not this one) can project herself onto. That’s just weak writing.

Perhaps characters like Bella are byproducts of the psyche of our generation. A generation that exemplifies the near extinction of stable family life in society. Neglect, substance abuse, single parenthood, and co-dependence has become commonplace. Does that make it OK? No. But bashing the expression of these facets of our existence only propagate shame thus continuing the cycle.

I was raised by a single mother with a fair weather father blowing in the wind along with a myriad of other circumstances. Somehow I managed to do well in school, participate in positive friendships, maintain my individuality, and hold true to my values.

I admit, my Achilles Heal has always been “love.” Perhaps that is why I was enthralled by Bella. I could relate to her. I remember being THAT 17 year old girl. Many of the Twi-Hards are 30 year old women such as myself…and their daughters. Perhaps the world wide phenomenon of Twilight is a wake up call to just how wide spread the break down of the family actually is. So, here is the part where I agree with you wholeheartedly: “…the point of all art, to spark conversation, debate, and lead us to evaluate our own feelings, wants, needs, and beliefs.”

This all makes me think of Carl Jung: “The most terrifying thing is to accept oneself completely.” And there is another one, um, something about only when you accept yourself as you are, then you can change. Yada yada, waxing philosophy.

I do not think that Meyer had any inclination that this would be the world wide phenom that it is. As a writer, she was creating characters and a story. I doubt the psycho-social impact of Isabella Swan’s personality was a bullet point in her outline.

Now, having said that, can we please give my girl Bella some credit? She is an excellent student, she is responsible, has a job, helps around the house willingly, she’s an avid reader of the classics, she marches to the beat of her own drum, she is intuitive, intelligent, emotionally honest, and she’s certainly not a “plastic.” I defer back to the fact that this is a work of fantasy, and should be treated as such.

Now pardon me while I continue to ignore human men as they will never be like Edward, and head to the gym to try to get a body like Wonder Woman.

Kidding.

And for the record, most boys don’t want to be Batman after the age of 13. They may admire Batman but they don’t want to live that life. Bruce Wayne is sad, lonely, withdrawn, perhaps emotionally disturbed. Deep down, most men still want to be Superman. He’s superhuman, he can fly, he’s seemingly immortal, and most importantly, he gets the girl. Lois Lane tips the scale. Especially if she looks like Erica Durance.