Despite the many weeks, months, that‚ Twilight‚ mania has engulfed the media it seems a countless number of people are still oblivious to this latest teen craze.‚ How is this possible?
Twilight ‚ is EVERYWHERE – there are posters at bus stops, book stores, cinemas and even on the back of public toilet doors (I kid you not).‚ Every day I see more and more hardcore “Twilighter’s” obsessively scanning the pages of one of the four books, sighing wistfully as they dream of being saved from a sadistic vampire by Edward Cullen.
Flick through any entertainment/film/teen magazine and chances are you’ll find a‚ Twilight‚ article more often than not accompanied by a photograph of Robert Pattinson doing what he does best – brooding.
So how can anyone truthfully say,‚ “Twilight? Never heard of it.”
I have become so used to declaring my allegiance to Team Edward and having friends automatically a) nod in agreement or b) hiss, pronounce me mentally unwell and then expound upon the virtues of Team Jacob, that to have others employ the hitherto unknown option c) stare back at me blankly, has come as quite a shock.
What is most frustrating, are those people who are completely unaware of the‚ Twilight‚ phenomenon but automatically hate it, simply because it is both popular and mainstream. (See Exhibit A).‚ ‚
EXHIBIT A:
The following conversation I had with two of my anti-Twilight‚ friends who, I can only assume, have been living under a rock for the past couple of months.
Friend 1: Have you heard about these‚ Twilight‚ books?
Me: Oh my god, yes I love them.
Friend 1: Urghh, my sister keeps going on and on about them. What are they even about?
Friend 2: (Interjects) I think they’re supposed to be kids’ books like Harry Potter.
Me: Geez, you guys know nothing! They’re a young adult series about….umm…well
Friend 1 &2:‚ ‚ Speculative glances
Me: Okay look the important thing is not to judge the books when I tell you the premise. I thought it sounded lame too until I actually read them. They’re really addictive.
Friend 1: Okay…
Me: Well,‚ Twilight‚ is sort of a romance story about a teenage girl….and a vampire…..
Friend 1:‚ Groans
Friend 2:‚ Snickers
Me: And it’s set in high school.
Friend 1 & 2:‚ Exchange a glance that indicates both extreme incredulity and concerns for my sanity.
Me: No, hear me out!‚ Twilight‚ is not like other vampire novels. These vampires don’t have fangs or anything.‚ ‚ So basically the girl, Bella, falls in love with Edward Cullen, who is pretty much the perfect guy. He also just happens to be a vampire. But even though he loves her too, a part of him always wants to drink her blood and so…
Friend 2: (Cuts me off) Don’t bother. You lost me at “vampires.”
Friend 1: You lost me at “romance.”
Me: (sulkily) You should probably know this though. When the film is released it’s going to be big*. And every teenage girl will be going nuts for Edward. They already are in the US.
Friend 2: Oh god no! Please tell me they’re not making a film! I hate those pissweak film franchises.
Friend 1: Who’s in it?
Me: Well, Robert Pattinson is playing Edward.
Friend 1: Who?
Me: The hot guy who played Cedric Diggory in the Harry Potter film.
Friend 1& 2: ………..
Me: Okay, never mind.
What have I learnt from this experience? I need to trade these two friends in for a new pair that are more‚ Twilight-friendly.
*Twilight is released in Australia on Dec 11. Like nearly everything made in Hollywood it takes anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 months to reach Australian shores. Maybe films are transported from Los Angeles to Sydney via carrier pigeon!
Hmmm….I’m kinda sick of twilight being catorgized as only for teens. I believe it’s for people of all ages.
Funny article. I agree with the carrier pigeon remark. No reason why these movies can’t all open up at the same time, UNLESS they are milking the premier aspect for a bigger bottom line.
I’m 35 and none of my friends are as into Twilight as I am. I’m baffled a bit why its hit me so hard, but it has and I enjoyed the movie… 4 times. 😛
Wendilynn, you are not alone. I am 42, love the books, and have seen the movie 7 times. It’s hard to put into words what has happened since Twilight came into my existence.
lol thats funny because my exact words when trying to convince a friend to read twilight and they asked what it was about were “Okay. It’s going to sound really gay, but stick with me here. They’re AMAZING!”
Thank God! I’m 33, am completely addicted to the books and have seen the movie 4 times–my husband is questioning my sanity and my friends who know the truth, call me “obsessive”. I’m not alone!!!! Woo Hoo!!!!
IM 41 YEARS OLD AND HAD ONLY READ ONE BOOK IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. I READ ALL FOUR OVER 2700 PAGES IN A MONTH AND GOT AT LEAST 10 OF MY FRIENDS ADDICTED AS WELL. NOW I HAVE CANCELLED MY SUBSCRIPTION TO PEOPLE MAGAZINE AND LOVE TO READ NOW BECAUSE OF THESE BOOKS. I HAVE READ OTHERS I HAVE ENJOYED BUT NONE THAT GOT UNDER MY SKIN LIKE THESE. I FELT LIKE I PERSONALLY KNEW EVERY CHARACTER AND I WOULD BE JUST LIKE BELLA IN LOVE WITH EDWARD BUT WOULD WANT JACOB TO ALWAYS BE IN MY LIFE. LOVE LOVE LOVE THEM.
The whole thing is wrong! It rapes vampire mythos! The author needs to die!
MY TWILIGHT PHASES:
-Hating it before I read it, for all my friends loved it and my friends are stupid (that was a joke)
-Reading it and buying Breaking Dawn before I even finished Twilight
-Loving it, though loving the ROMANCE not the fantasy, plot, or Edward/Jacob
-Getting freaking pissed off in Eclipse because Jacob is a psychopath/sexual harasser/molester
-Reading Breaking Dawn, skipping the Jacob part, getting pissed at the happily ever after
-Being neutral, but hating the Twilight questions on Yahoo Answers which is my hobby
-Getting more and more annoyed at the annoying fan girls. It’s not that great a book
-Laughing at the cutting and clever debates [though the cutting and cleverness was only on the Harry Potter fans’ sides. The Twilight just put their hands over their ears yelling “ZOMG YOUSE RONG! GET A LIFE!”
-Reading the PSA article [Twilight Sucks and not in a good way, A follow-up and a promise] and agreeing SO much, thanking God that there are still sane people left int the world]
-Now: Basically hating Stephenie Meyer, laughing at the cute-when-they’re-angry Twilighters, desperately pressing MEG CABOT books on teens [MEG CABOT actually manages to maintain a feminist view in her character, while still letting her fall in love and having a boyfriend, and the character actually has a life] who I am trying to save.
‘Women of the Year, Twilighters’? WOMEN OF THE YEAR?! THAT’S WHAT THE EXAMPLE IS? TWILIGHTERS. THEY ARE THE WOMEN OF THE YEAR.
OH, MOURN FOR THE GENERATION!
P.S: Though I am in the set demographic, 14-year-old girls, I hate it. I don’t care who reads it, you’re still mad. And MEG CABOT writes for ALL ages.
Rafal H, have you gone INSANE?!?!?!?! Twilight is one of the most amazing series EVER!!!! (Although I agree that Jacob is a partial molester) Seriously though, I have nothing against Meg Cabot. I love her Mediator series. So don’t judge me, (I am a teenage girl in love w/ Edward) because you might just be a little sick in the head to not like Twilight. Even more sick then my Team-Jacob friends. 🙂 Here’s some advice, GET HELP!!!!!!!!