I took a sociology class this semester and was given free-reign on my final project... and decided to get credit for researching my favorite fangirl crush of the moment (oh - Rob's thrown in there, too!). It comes in at about 6,900 words but I'm really proud of it and would love some feedback from fans of the series.

I've posted the essay at my personal journal, here, but you can read the abstract first to get a feel for the paper and see if you'll even enjoy reading it.

The following essay is a socio-cultural interpretation of the appeal of character Edward Cullen from Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series. It proposes that Edward is romantically and sexually attractive to female readers because he embodies three general stereotypes weaved into the former’s romantic upbringing: the rebel, the gentleman, and the sexual predator. Due to this amalgamation, Edward is far more reliable and appealing than real-life partners and is consistently used as the exemplar with which females compare potential mates. Incorporated within this idolation of Edward is Rob Pattinson, the actor who portrayed Edward in the 2008 feature film, and fans' reading, writing, and publication of Twilight fanfiction. It analyzes the character, his relationship with Bella Swan, reader response, and the series as a whole in a relatively positive manner.

Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen


written by lavitaestbella; graphic by spread_the_fun

A ~Visual Essay~ including:
+ Commentary on the Fandom
+ Scene Analysis
+ "Guest Appearances" by Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner
+ Basically, why Robert Pattinson is the greatest Edward Cullen ever

READ IT HERE!

Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance Cycle has been criticized as a Star Trek-politics rip-off. Stephen King’s Dark Tower series has been dubbed ‘sheer absurdity’, and of course we know how that Mallory woman fought fang and talon to have the Harry Potter books removed from libraries because of their devilry, and she’s snot (typo intended) alone in that mindset. I like to call this bandwagon allergy. While I respect every reader’s right to their little red wagon of opinion, it’s rather obvious when people are just being snobs.

Readers are far more intelligent than their couch potato counterparts, yes, but that doesn’t mean we don’t read for pleasure and delight. Twilight delivers both (At least, when the reader is receptive). And so it’s up there in the top ten of the NYT Bestsellers. How many times will it have to be said? A good story, not necessarily great writing do a bestseller make.

With the film's imminent release, we’ll want to have our fondness for Twilight defended in our minds, a defense ready to spout at a moment’s provocation (But do not go on a hissy fit or pick fights just because the cashier at the bookstore/cinema has a disdainful eyebrow lift. It may be a facial tick).

First off, Twilight is not really YA, methinks. Sure, it’s there in Reluctant Young Readers lists, teen picks, etc., but what it foremost is, is a romance. It’s a love story. Many, many critics—or dare I say all of them—miss or dismiss this fact. This is why it ‘reads like fan fiction’. Because Stephenie Meyer likes her romance and went all out, the way we do with our favorite characters in fanfic archives!

I blame the books’ beautiful covers. Should have depicted Edward and Bella instead and have done with it. LOL. The symbolisms hint of depths, which, though not necessarily deterring in their absence, are nonetheless absent. The point of the books is Bella getting to stay with Edward. No large-scale battles or ramifications or realizations. Just happily ever after, his and hers. There are no underlying messages. I didn't look for or see any. For underlying messages, I read Ursula K. Le Guin, Katherine Paterson, Toni Morrison, to name a few.

IMO, Meyer just wrote a romance. And there's nothing wrong with that.

I love this part of Cat Rambo's review:

"Okay. Lemme just start with the soul mate thing, because I hate this idea so much. Because what it does is give people the idea that there is this one true love thing that happens and everything is magically swell because you and your partner are twue woves. While in reality relationships are work. They take work and patience and humor and cooperation and a willingness on both sides to accept the various farts and burps and personal quirks the other has. And that willingness and hard work seems more meaningful than being insta-partnered with someone because they’re the metaphorical key to your figurative lock."

Now, *nodding and giggling* the only thing I can say to this is most other romance authors since the Regency era and even in the Regency romance genre are already too aware and very educative about this. The werewolves' imprinting and Bella and Edward's tenacity in their twue wove is actually refreshing. ^_^

( Read more... )

I read the Midnight Sun draft, yes I did. My thoughts (with spoilers) on MS, and how it has affected my reading of Breaking Dawn are under the cut. If you've read MS, I'd love to know what you got from it, too (apart from, of course, the "moar"). And because one almost cannot think of one without the other, I also wrote my view of the Meyer response to the MS leak. You can skip that part, if you wish.

darker, more desperate, more agonizingly conflicted, more blackly humorous, deeper

Some time ago I posted my thoughts on Edward Cullen’s character (see here), with a matching playlist. Here are my thoughts on Bella, which finally came together after my reading of Breaking Dawn. I warn readers that it is longish. I don't know whether people spend enough time mulling over Bella (I never really did, until now); I do know that people gripe and complain a lot about her character. You may not agree, but would love to hear what people think of her, now that her story is done.

There are *SPOILERS* to all four books in the essay.

My review of Breaking Dawn:

Tittle: Breaking Dawn: Not Epic Win, Not Epic Fail; Just Right
Words: No idea, but it's pretty long.
Warning: MAJOR SPOILERS IN THIS POST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Authors note: I did like the book and I have no oposition to anyone criticizing or expressing their opinions on it, but please be go nicely about it. :)

HERE!!! 

Feel free to discuss!!! :)

Title: Broke Down: An Exploration of Why Breaking Dawn Failed
Characters: Edward and Bella focused
Word Count: 3090
Warnings: Spoilers for all four books including Breaking Dawn. No outside editor.

I'm participating in a Debate in one of the communities. The topic is Why/ Why isn't Edward good for Bella. I'm obviously doing the topic why Edward is good for Bella. I'm on a bit of a writers block and I'm totally crashing!!! I was wondering if any of you awesome girls/guys could help me out with this! I'll make sure to give you all major credit if you do and it would be completely appreciated. The deadline is Tuesday, so anything by Monday, would be awesome!

Most of the community members whose profiles I've seen also have 'harry potter' in their list of interests. I think I won't be wrong in assuming many of us are Harry Potter fans before, or along with, being Twilight fans. There's no denying it's Harry Potter who highlighted for the world what can be got from reading... And here we are, sighing after such a find as Twilight.

I won't be commenting on either series's qualities. I'm just here for their main girls.

There are quite a few parallels that had me smiling all night:

1. Both have Shakespearean names: Hermione from The Winter's Tale, Isabella from Measure for Measure.

2. Both are born in September! Hermione on September 19th, Bella on September 13th (Hermione is older than Bella by 8 years).

3. Both have two boys. Both lean toward one, but can be so easily 'shipped with the other. Now, unlike Bella, Hermione has not professed love to Harry, but their interactions throughout the series are more than enough fuel to flame in the minds of Harmony delusionals. *grins*

4. Both are rather low-key girls, plucked into notoriety by 'stars'. And these 'stars' have names that are alliterations: Krum and Cullen. *giggles*

5. Both have exuberant hair. And both have brown hair and eyes.

6. Both went dancing in purplish hues of blue. Periwinkle for Hermione, hyacinth for Bella.

7. Both have unpopular traits. Always beating her classmates in schoolwork for Hermione; always beating (literally) her classmates in gym for Bella.

8. Both love books. Scholarly ones for Hermione (contrary to fanon, never once in the HP series has Hermione mentioned or been mentioned reading novels. She studies) and novels for Bella.

9. Bella: I punched a werewolf in the face.
Hermione: I slapped a ferret in the face.

10. Bella: had a pivotal damsel-in-distress moment-- with thugs.
Hermione: had a pivotal damsel-in-distress moment-- with a troll.

PS: Oh, and yes, both characters also have bashers in their respective fandoms. Even so, both are darlings (And I didn't want to spoil the perfect-ten list ^_^).

Hi Twilighters I was added some scientific explanation to my theory Who Wants to Live Forever? For the ones who are interesting in the theory is here:

http://doxys.livejournal.com/92799.html


Peace
Doxys

This is something I have been working on for quite a while. I wanted to get as many thoughts together as I could before posting. There are spoilers for all three books, but none for Breaking Dawn, so don't worry if you're trying to stay spoiler-free until August.

This is dedicated to all of my fellow Edward/Bella shippers.

An Edward/Bella Shipper's Manifesto - Disputing The Major Arguments
Or: No, We Really Don't Ship Edward/Bella Just Because Edward Cullen Is Hot

Dear Twilighters:

This is my first post for me to share with you my theory (essay) for Breaking Dawn. It is called: Who Wants to Live Forever? And it contains book quotes, literary references, ethimologies and author quotes. So everyone who wants to give another point of view a chance, here is the link:


http://doxys.livejournal.com/92799.html#cutid1


Peace
Doxys

   So I joined lion_lamb a while ago, and around that time I started working on an essay that is extremely pro-Edward/Bella. I sort of left it for a while but then someone I posted one here recently and it was really good and inspired me to add more to mine and post it. It's pretty long, four and half pages on Word, I have an Introduction in there. If you have some free time and are up for some serious Bella/Edward love than you're totally welcome to read [and comment :)]. I did my best to back everything up with canon evidence and i think I covered all of the major stuff.

here, at my journal

Well, I did it. I'm aware it could probably be better, but it's long, and hopefully good, and full of Edward/Bella rants and some unbiased "why Edward > Jacob". So, here, for your reading pleasure:

FASCINATION: An Edward Cullen/Bella Swan Shipper's Manifesto

Comments are very much appreciated :)

I haven't found a well thought out essay that rebutted this claim so I decided to write one. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to rebute all accusations. Some of them I don't know and I need to get other things done.



( ”5 )

hello, I'm Jessi, and I was hoping I could have some feedback on a new essay of mine.
in my English class, we've been focussing on Romeo and Juliet for quite a while.
and an assignment came up, where we have to compare characters to books/movies/etc. 
I chose to compare Romeo and Juliet to...
*drumroll*
Edward and Bella, of course.  :)!
I've posted my essay here and I'd very much appreciate any grammar corrections, suggestions, criticism, or anything along those lines.

I apologize if this post is...well, not allowed in some way. though, I figure it is, since it is Edward/Bella related. ;)
also, not sure about the tag, haha. hopefully the tag I put in works just fine~!

so, please and thank you!! :)

Everyone pretty much seems to be assuming now that we are going to see Bella turned into a vampire in Breaking Dawn. I wrote an essay talking about why I think her staying human is still a possibility and would be better, and I'd love to hear anybody's thoughts.

"Real Endings"
[why breaking dawn should and could end with bella still human]

I've stumbled across enough evidence for a Twilght/Little Mermaid comparison essay!

♥ You can find it here.

Cross-posted.