Certainly not. Twilight is complete trash, compared to real literature. But that's been the trend for a long time. If we look at three of the best selling authors of consecutive recent generations: King, Rowling, Meyer; it clearly gets worse, and it wasn't that good to begin with. The trouble is, higher critically acclaimed status usally doesn't mean meaningful work either. Even journalism and politics play important role, rather than some true mastery.
Yeah, but you do realise, that to people like me, typing as such makes me imagine you speaking with the voice of a two year old reading in that PAINFUL, cringy way?
Shaven head?
Dear God, thats such a turn off.
So we agree on their arrangement. My point was just that there may be a tendency for people to get excited about a (random) piece of work, which in its own time would even seem unworthy of publishing, for various reasons.While I wouldn't call JK Rowling's work literature, I certainly wouldn't compare it to Stephanie Meyer. She has much more skill as does Stephen King, though his work is getting progressively worse.
I wouldn't go so far as to press any judgment upon the nature of Twilight fans or their level of intelligence or maturity, nor do I think the quality of writing, plot and characters are the merits on which the books appeal. Psychologically, they address the common want of unconditional love, intrigue and "specialness." The fact that Bella and Edward are bland, two-dimensional characters with a two-dimensional relationship is essentially the biggest hook. Readers are able to project themselves and their desired relationships upon these two protagonists. The fact that these books are written in first-person just makes that aspect all that easier. If anything, I would dare say that the mass popularity of Twilight is a measure of what people feel is lacking in their daily lives. Adventure, excitement, true love, devotion, acceptance, meaning, a unique place in their world, etc.
It just saddens me that instead of attending to the details of their daily lives, a lot of these people are spending a large portion of their precious time identifying and being "Twihards," and in doing so, are acknowledging their belief that the things that they so desperately desire can only be found between the pages of a novel, amidst vampires, werewolves, and other creatures/males of pure fantasy.
I dislike Twilight because I'm neither interested in vampires or romance, and because the thinly disguised 'damsel in distress' motif is hardly my cup of tea. Oh, and yeah... because the sheer insanity of this ridiculous fandom scares the living bejeesus out of me. The almost cult mentality behind this phenomenon is enough to give me pause. Does anyone else agree?
I wouldn't go so far as to press any judgment upon level of intelligence or maturity in Twilight fans, nor do I think the quality of writing, plot and characters are the merits on which the books appeal. Psychologically, they address the common want of unconditional love, intrigue and "specialness." The fact that Bella and Edward are bland, two-dimensional characters with a two-dimensional relationship is essentially the biggest hook. Readers are able to project themselves and their desired relationships upon these two protagonists. The fact that these books are written in simple literary language and in first-person point-of-view just makes that aspect of projection all that easier. If anything, I would dare say that the mass popularity of Twilight is a measure of what most people feel is lacking in their daily lives. Adventure, excitement, true love, devotion, acceptance, meaning, a unique place in their world, etc.
It just saddens me that instead of attending to the details of their daily lives, a lot of these people are spending a large portion of their precious time identifying and being "Twihards," and in doing so, are acknowledging their belief that the things that they so desperately desire can only be found between the pages of a novel, amidst vampires, werewolves, and other creatures/males of pure fantasy.
I dislike Twilight because I'm neither interested in vampires or romance, and because the thinly disguised 'damsel in distress' motif is hardly my cup of tea. Oh, and yeah... because the sheer insanity of this ridiculous fandom scares the living bejeesus out of me. The almost cult mentality behind this phenomenon is enough to give me pause. Does anyone else agree?
I think it does show emotional immaturity for a reason you listed."Readers are able to project themselves and their desired relationships upon these two protagonists." Living in such a fantasy to avoid what one is lacking in their own life is far from healthy. If they feel they are lacking love and emotion then they should find a way to achieve it, and Twilight is not the guide. Real life is not a fairy tale. There comes a time in life when you have to learn to separate fantasy and real life. We learn Santa isn't real and we can't grow up to be a princess, however some people don't out grow the idea of a fantasy relationship where the "perfect" man comes and sweeps them off their feet. It doesn't work that way. Relationships aren't fairy tales and couples don't live happily ever after. There are ups and downs. Sadly, I have met many women who are still looking for "prince charming" and are in their 30s. There is no Edward and you are not Bella. Just like I'm not Arwen and Aragorn isn't real. It's a wonderful story (Lord of the Rings, not Twilight), but it is fantasy and nothing more.
Only with this part I disagree. It shouldn't matter whether a crowd of leprous zombies likes something. In theory, it still could have merit. Otherwise you're right, though this is only the female reader perspective. As a male reader, I just found the thoughts of the Bella character growingly amusing (she's so silly, yet so integral). If there's anything that I respect about Twilight - it's unpretentious and pure. It's very honestly bad, as in "i wrote this piece of (poor) fanart between cooking and washing". The average reader can easily imagine their sister writing it. That's kind of surprisingly appealing.The almost cult mentality behind this phenomenon is enough to give me pause. Does anyone else agree?
Only with this part I disagree. It shouldn't matter whether a crowd of leprous zombies likes something. In theory, it still could have merit. Otherwise you're right, though this is only the female reader perspective. As a male reader, I just found the thoughts of the Bella character growingly amusing (she's so silly, yet so integral). If there's anything that I respect about Twilight - it's unpretentious and pure. It's very honestly bad, as in "i wrote this piece of (poor) fanart between cooking and washing". The average reader can easily imagine their sister writing it. That's kind of surprisingly appealing.
I am not offended by anything anyone has said.
I like the series alot. I don't judge people for not liking it, so you shouldn't judge people for liking it, nor belittle their intelligence.
I am also well aware that there are people who have taken their fandom to the point of insanity (ie, the woman stealing the Edward cut-out), and look to them with concern.
I don't think the wriiting itself is of the best quality, but I do indeed find it a nice escape.
The only thing that really annoys me is people not reading the novel and judging it.
To each his/her own
Good day
i've read everyone's posts on this thread.
I am not offended by anything anyone has said.
I like the series alot. I don't judge people for not liking it, so you shouldn't judge people for liking it, nor belittle their intelligence.
I am also well aware that there are people who have taken their fandom to the point of insanity (ie, the woman stealing the Edward cut-out), and look to them with concern.
I don't think the wriiting itself is of the best quality, but I do indeed find it a nice escape.
The only thing that really annoys me is people not reading the novel and judging it.
To each his/her own
Good day