Comments on: ‘New Moon’ Opens Everywhere Tomorrow

By: No_Big_Gov

No_Big_Gov — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:06:14 +0000

It was the cultural norm at the time I am sure, but they were so… over the top. Example: Char 1:"May I beg your utmost undivided attention, and if it pleases you, speak with you for a few moments?" Char 2: "Of course you may, my most wonderful friend and companion."

By: tublecane

tublecane — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:44:53 +0000

"The point is that it's disturbing behavior that young women are seeing portrayed as harmless"

Here's the thing, I think. The author wants the story to be relatable and representative of all teenage romance. But when you use monsters, eventually the logic breaks down. Surely, vampires are mysterious, powerful, and timeless. But they're also old, violent, and bloodthirsty. They have a knack for developing a hold over their victims, which is that "stalkerish" quality people talk about.

That's the risk you make trying to transvaluate monsters. Ultimately, monsters are monsters. Vampires are killers, not to mention dead (eww). I prefer the old-fashioned tales.

By: tublecane

tublecane — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:39:57 +0000

"From the volume of comments you have on this thread, I'm guessing you're a big fan"

No, just in a posting mood, I guess.

By: tublecane

tublecane — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:35:14 +0000

"I'm guessing you're a big fan."

Lord, no. I just got in a posting mood, I guess.

By: tublecane

tublecane — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:34:40 +0000

"The point is that it's disturbing behavior that young women are seeing portrayed as harmless."

Here's what I think the problem is. The author obviously intended the characters and the love story to be relatable, and there is indeed that one solid hook–i.e. the power of teenage lust and the danger of the consequences of teenage sex–that fit perfectly with chosing to write about vampires. However, vampires are monsters, and no matter how fully you humaize them, they still do bad things. Because otherwise they wouldn't be vampires, and if you humanized them too much, it'd defeat its own purpose.

That's where you run into trouble. The analogy to a teenage love affair can only take you so far. Sooner or later readers have to deal with the fact that he's really old, he has this weird power over her, he's violent, and his lust is little more in fact than him wanting to literally devour her.

That's the risk you run in transvaluating monsters. You grab for the power and mystique, but you're stuck with the ugliness. That's why I like more traditional vampire stories.

By: SQT

SQT — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:06:31 +0000

I don't exactly have statistical data, but I think it's a valid observation (that I quoted from another source). The point is that it's disturbing behavior that young women are seeing portrayed as harmless. It's a tad naive to think that pop culture isn't going to affect the way young women see romantic relationships.

From the volume of comments you have on this thread, I'm guessing you're a big fan.

By: tublecane

tublecane — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:05:26 +0000

"The actors will make this film a smash – not the book."

You do realize the books were smashes, too, before the movies ever came out.

By: tublecane

tublecane — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:02:35 +0000

"If anyone had actually read Dracula, the basis of much modern Vampire storytelling"

Yes, it is the basis of much, but Stoker didn't invent vampires. And there's always been a strong connection between them and fear of being out in the day, up to and including being burnt to a crisp.

By: tublecane

tublecane — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:01:12 +0000

"Plus the pleasantries between the characters of the book were just disgusting."

That is a strange comment. Do you think they're historically or regionally innaccurate, or do you just hate pleasantries?

By: tublecane

tublecane — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:58:54 +0000

Which is not to say, by the way, that kids shouldn't spend (/waste) time reading Harry Potter or Twilight. Just that we shouldn't pat them on the head for reading at all. Simply reading doesn't amount to much. They do that in public school and on the internet, and look what it gets them. Not much.