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Wednesday, November 25, 2009

i am woman, hear me swoon.

I admit it. I laughed with glee throughout this entire article... Preach it, sista! Ladies and Gentlemen, meet my new hero, Tara Hallam.(article featured in today's 24hr Vancouver newspaper)





(click on  article to enlarge)

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

hmmmm no comment :)

I think this article missed the point of why people think Twilight is a bad influence on girls.

In some way it has influneced girls to realize that they deserve to be treated better, like how Edward is constantly respectful, opening doors etc. But the book is also showing a very young girl infactuated with a guy so much that she puts her own LIFE at risk so she can be with him (riding the bike and climbing onto a motorcycle with a weird gang!) and at the end she gets saved by Edward by doing all this stuff. But in real life...that doesnt always happen.

I realize this is just a book, but its art, movies, music and literature that shape peoples lives. I personally would not want my 12 year old daughter reading this book and idolizing men like this...or worse...thinking maybe, just maybe he will care about me and come back if im in the hospital!!??

Jsut my two bits :)

afterthoughtcomposer said...

Well, Anonny :) It sounds to me like you've read the book and seen the movie?

You make a valid point about her infatuation level (totally unhealthy!) - but it's a book, like you mentioned. And like Tara mentioned: it's a romance novel to boot; it isn't really meant to reflect reality. Of course it exaggerates reality! It's a book! :)

Like millions of books before it, (not excluding the DaVinci code series, which I haven't read) - it's being taken far too seriously by it's opposers. Nothing about Twilight Fan-mania is new. Think The Beatles, Hanson, or Leonardo DiCaprio in his Titanic days. And for movies/books think about Harry Potter's influence, Lord of the Rings, STAR WARS, or maybe even Pride&Prejudice and the near-cult following that IT has; an older crowd, but just as (dare I say it?) obsessed.

I would argue that this book/story, like any other piece of ART, is an excellent catalyst for conversation, rather than something to be shut out completely.

You were right - every piece of art/media has the power to shape opinions and challenge beliefs. But I think that might be the point of it?

I'm not saying that all parents should let their children read things/watch things they aren't comfortable with, not at all. But I do hope that my own daughters (should I ever have any) will form their self-confidences strong enough in Reality and through real life, so that when they read a book, they won't be swayed to follow suit and hop on the motorcycle of a gang member, just because the main character did it. :)

afterthoughtcomposer said...

ps - the article was a response to the feminist-type opposers, not at all relating to the influence on girls, but I do appreciate your comment!