What's wrong with the Twilight series??

[NotUrsula]

Yes she [Ariel] did. She even gave up her VOICE. Lots of fun analyzing do be done with that. Of coruse, the movie was vastly better crafted than these books are. However, from a basic standpoint I sget your point. I agree that most Disney females are terrible role models. They are fun stories though and as others have said you do not have to only have strong women in your entertainment. That said--I hate the Disney tendancy to pull what little personality some of the girls have away and present them all together in a lump as jsut The Princesses.

The thing is, the Little Mermaid was written in 1836! Like most Disney princess stories, it is in the public domain because it is either a folktale or very OLD. The original "role model" part of the mermaid, though it wasn't in the Disney adaptation, is that part of why she wants to be human is to acquire a soul, and that actually *is* her reward in the end (yep, in the original she does NOT get her man.) There are also lots of discussions of the rewards given in heaven for good behaviour on earth; it's a straight-up Victorian moral tale meant to frighten children into being good.

The Twilight series is completely new, and Bella is STILL a damsel in distress most of the time. Besides that, the writing is just plain dreck. Like most librarians, I've read them, but it wasn't easy (and I should qualify that I read "fluff" all the time. There is well-written fluff and awful fluff, and I personally have to put Meyer squarely in the awful category.)

 

[themilesfamily]

This reminds me of when my dh told me about how when he was young, his parents wouldn't let him watch things like Bewitched & movies such as Bedknobs & Broomsticks!
They still strongly believe true Christians don't watch/read anything alongs these lines.

Growing up, I knew a family who wouldn't let their kids watch Mork & Mindy because there was a man and woman (Mork & Mindy) living in the same apartment, unwed.

 

[laurie31]

Growing up, I knew a family who wouldn't let their kids watch Mork & Mindy because there was a man and woman (Mork & Mindy) living in the same apartment, unwed.

I guess Three's Company was out, too!

 

[themilesfamily]

I guess Three's Company was out, too!

Oh, I'm sure.

My question always was, can an alien from the Planet Ork even GET a marriage license?

I do have to say, though, that family was incredibly, incredibly nice. They were really sweet people and I'm sure they had the best of intentions for their kids. I guess we all parent the best way we know how. I just always thought the Mork & Mindy ban was funny.

 

[NHdisneylover]

The thing is, the Little Mermaid was written in 1836! Like most Disney princess stories, it is in the public domain because it is either a folktale or very OLD. The original "role model" part of the mermaid, though it wasn't in the Disney adaptation, is that part of why she wants to be human is to acquire a soul, and that actually *is* her reward in the end (yep, in the original she does NOT get her man.) There are also lots of discussions of the rewards given in heaven for good behaviour on earth; it's a straight-up Victorian moral tale meant to frighten children into being good.

The Twilight series is completely new, and Bella is STILL a damsel in distress most of the time. Besides that, the writing is just plain dreck. Like most librarians, I've read them, but it wasn't easy (and I should qualify that I read "fluff" all the time. There is well-written fluff and awful fluff, and I personally have to put Meyer squarely in the awful category.)

yes I am well aware that Hans Christian Andersen and the Brother's Grimm were writing down the stories that became most of the Disney classics many years ago when the values were quite different. It does make the discuccions of the modern versions shown in movies marketed at current young people any less interesting to me. Disney changes LOLTS of details in these strories but then generally leaves in marrying as a teen and plenty of other stuff we no longer find acceptable in modern society. I love most of the movies and think it is okay so long as those are not the only (or main) messages a child is getting. I do nto know what I posted to give you any other idea.
As I said, in the quote you used, I agree that the books are very poorly written. I think the are terrible and not worth being fluff. Others seem to enjoy them though so that is good for them. I imaigne someone could argue that the moral in this series is that you can overcome your evil urges and do good even when you feel you are compelled to do otherwise (because the CUllens don't eat human blood). It doesn't really work anymore than the moral of The Little Mermaid still works for our society--but you can make a moral out of it if you really want to.

 

[NotUrsula]

Yes, well, I wrote that quickly and obviously not well (there's irony for you.) I never meant to imply any ignorance on your part.

I was actually agreeing with you. What I was trying to say was that, as in the case of Disney's "princess" stories, the essential plot was drafted well over 100 years ago, the tenor of the story should naturally be expected to reflect that, even though Disney will always tinker enough to create a happy ending and add some peripheral characters for comic relief. I just don't expect as much in the way of empowered female characters when the story is really old as when it is, shall we say, newly hatched.

 

[jamimb]

I think for the most part the Twilight books are either something you absolutely love or absolutely hate. I have to give a big Kudos to Stephenie Meyer!! Before Twilight no kidding I could count on one hand how many books I had read my whole life. In the 20 months since I have read the series I have read about 70 books. I now devour books. I literally crave them. Not only did she ignite in me a passion for reading but opened me up to an entirely new genre of books (YA)

 

[NHdisneylover]

Yes, well, I wrote that quickly and obviously not well (there's irony for you.) I never meant to imply any ignorance on your part.

I was actually agreeing with you. What I was trying to say was that, as in the case of Disney's "princess" stories, the essential plot was drafted well over 100 years ago, the tenor of the story should naturally be expected to reflect that, even though Disney will always tinker enough to create a happy ending and add some peripheral characters for comic relief. I just don't expect as much in the way of empowered female characters when the story is really old as when it is, shall we say, newly hatched.

Aww--thanks for clarifying. Sorry I misunderstood. I shouldn't DIS so late

 

[AtlantaSue]

I think you would find that if your DDs aren't boy crazy already this will not turn them so. Most kids are not that open to suggestion.

I didn't mean to suggest that, actually--what I meant was more along the lines of when she DOES start to notice boys more, then she might use Edward and Bella's relationship as some sort of reference point. Again, I'm not necessarily even saying that I would not allow her to read the books if she asked; I'm just not super fired up about my 10 year old (in particular, more than the 12 year old) reading the series for that reason, and thought I'd share that as a reason that others might possibly feel the same. I am not big on censoring AT ALL--it's just that given where my daughter is maturity wise, I'm not sure if this series would be my first pick for her.

On a side note, this thread has reminded me that when I was in 6th grade, "Forever" was being covertly passed around the class thanks to an older sibling....oh my!

 

[bananda]

i hate twilight. it makes me very uncomfortable. i probably cant say why on the DIS, but it does make me uncomfortable.

but i will say that bella is a terrible role model. there is more to life than your "true love" and if you are that absorbed, you have issues. edward is a creepy, jealous stalker. jacob harrasses bella. neither of these two "guys" seem to respect her at all. i hate to think that young girls are aspiring to that kind of life.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I didn't mean to suggest that, actually--what I meant was more along the lines of when she DOES start to notice boys more, then she might use Edward and Bella's relationship as some sort of reference point. Again, I'm not necessarily even saying that I would not allow her to read the books if she asked; I'm just not super fired up about my 10 year old (in particular, more than the 12 year old) reading the series for that reason, and thought I'd share that as a reason that others might possibly feel the same. I am not big on censoring AT ALL--it's just that given where my daughter is maturity wise, I'm not sure if this series would be my first pick for her.

On a side note, this thread has reminded me that when I was in 6th grade, "Forever" was being covertly passed around the class thanks to an older sibling....oh my!

Oh that makes sense. I do think that is a big reason people do not want their kids reading them. I would never recomend the books, mostly because I plain don't like them, but I like that since DD read them she decided for herself that it was a terrible relationship. Hopefully she remembers that if/when she discovers boys