“You’re all looking at me like I’m this big fuck up! Which I am!”
I’m doing my paper on this show, and this is one of the few moments when Frank admits to his faults. One of the more enjoyable moments to watch, as a fan
(Source: arrestomomentum)
Howe quoted on front page of NY Times
As a definer of our generation. This article basically goes AGAINST everything we’ve learned in this class. I was so angry while reading it! In relation to our generation’s response to Bin Laden’s death, Howe says,
“Evil is evil, good is good. There are no antiheroes, there is no gray area. This is a Harry Potter vignette, and Voldemort is dead.”
He and I need to have a chat.
Is a scandal still a scandal if you can’t text about it?” -One of Blair’s minions
– “Carnal Desire”, Gossip GirlTwilight
As a fan of the Twilight series, I found it especially interesting to look at the greater implications of Meyer’s work this week. I know that Bella’s actions aren’t exactly self-empowering. When reading the series, I allowed myself to read without a critical eye. I accepted the logic, causes, and consequences of the narrative. The fact that the book encourages the fact that Bella’s entire identity is tied to her relationship with Edward now seems absurd. The fact that Bella’s sexual urges have to be regulated by the superior Edward, which at first I saw as romantic (him protecting her virtue), I now see as almost offensive. Bella’s virtue, is exactly that, it’s hers. Why does Edward pressure Bella into something she does not want to do in order for her to be able to realize her sexual desires (marriage)? I don’t think it’s fair at all. I don’t see Edward’s actions as romantic and chivalrous, I see them as overly protective and manipulative. Bella is such a frustrating character! We see the out-dated and oppressive traditions of the past as romantic and old-fashioned in this series. Yes the counter-arguments are present, but the outcomes are ultimately not empowering.
For example, Bella wants to have sex and sees marriage as completely unnecessary for that to happen. She wants to have sex while still human. Even though Edward is scared he will kill her if they do, he promises to do it if she will marry him. Edward does not want to turn Bella, or have sex with her while she is human. So that situation offers the abstinence versus sexually active arguments. The outcome is that Bella reluctantly agrees to marry him and fulfills her sexual desires in the virtuous confines of marriage. Here Edward is the one pushing for the conservative ideal.
In another example, Bella is the one pushing for a less-than-modern ideal. As soon as Bella falls in love with Edward she wants to become a vampire like him. She doesn’t even want to wait to graduate high school to do so. She doesn’t even want to graduate high school before dedicating her life to a man??? Edward wants her to continue with her life, go to college, and have human life experiences. So, here Edward is pushing for the modern day rational ideal and Bella is pushing for the terribly out-dating, impractical choose. And Bella wins that argument.
The entire novel presents these decisions in the name of true love. The novel presents the couple’s situation as exemplary. BUT STILL. Millions upon millions of women and girls are reading these books (myself included) and falling in love with this story that ultimately disempowers Bella in some critical ways. Edward is incredibly experienced, educated and cultured, not to mention over 100 years old. Bella is an 18 year old girl. This story is all kinds of messed up. This story presents our protagonist making life choices I would normally balk at. But because the context is so extraordinary, I find myself suspending my disbelief and blindly accepting the choices Meyer encourages for the characters.
Leogrande even mentions that Edward and Bella’s relationship looks like it has the potential to be abusive. How do we not find Edward’s extreme protectiveness creepy? He sneaked into her bedroom for weeks and weeks before she knew. McGeough mentions the fact that Bella is continually disconnected from her sensuality and mind, furthering the ideology discussed in the objectification theory.
Granted, this is only one story about one girl. Who, within the logic and context of the story, makes the right decisions for herself. Her situation is exemplary. That is not my biggest issue with this story. The fact that millions of girls, who are not in exemplary and fantastical situations, are projecting, relating to, and emulating this character worries me. However, I shouldn’t assume that the readers are mindlessly absorbing the material without critiquing it and forming their own opinions and understandings of the material.
Got this from News for TV Majors. It’s “a new service called Trendrr ranks shows weekly by their social media buzz.”
