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[CCBC-Net] Twilight, better reads, and sex
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From: Christina McTighe <christina.mctighe>
Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:09:31 -0400
I work in a children's bookstore, and I am amazed that we have DRACULA in the 9-12 section. Dracula!!! Clearly, whoever made this decision did not have Tamar Heller as a Victorian Literature professor like I did. Not that I think a 9 year old is going to quite grasp Lucy's "forced penetration" as it was termed here, or the four men in love with her all "donating" their
"blood" to her, etc, but all the same.
Frankly, the sex in TWILIGHT grosses me out--Bella's injuries the day after her wedding night with Edward? Seriously, how any mother could squeal over their "romance" alongside her daughter is quite beyond me.
Love means never having to say you're sorry, kids.
Christina
On Wed, Jul 15, 2009 at 1:45 PM, James Elliott <libraryjim at embarqmail.com>wrote:
> There have been studies for some time now that says that vampire novels,
> starting with Dracula, substitute the Vampirism for sexual promiscuity. You
> have the hypnotic power of the V. over women, illicit penetration, etc.,
> usually in a bedroom setting. Especially in Victorian England where a frank
> discussion or portrayal of sexual activity was frowned upon or driven
> underground.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Maia Cheli-Colando <maiacheli at gmail.com>
>
> ***
> Beyond specific book-talking.... From my understanding of Twilight,
> Meyer is conflating sex and violence. Sex and danger. Many elements
> in our media, religion, and music do this as well. While sexual
> objectification is shoved down everyone's throats, especially in
> advertising, girls are simultaneously told that sex is bad and
> dangerous for them. And, by implication, that they are bad and
> dangerous if they engage in sexual expression. So something like
> Twilight makes a lot of sense in terms of its appeal, because it is
> articulating a strong underlying message that most American girls hear
> and feel - the desire, the danger, the forced resistance, the forced
> obedience.
>
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> CCBC-Net mailing list
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> Visit this link to read archives or to unsubscribe...
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Date: Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:09:31 -0400
I work in a children's bookstore, and I am amazed that we have DRACULA in the 9-12 section. Dracula!!! Clearly, whoever made this decision did not have Tamar Heller as a Victorian Literature professor like I did. Not that I think a 9 year old is going to quite grasp Lucy's "forced penetration" as it was termed here, or the four men in love with her all "donating" their
"blood" to her, etc, but all the same.
Frankly, the sex in TWILIGHT grosses me out--Bella's injuries the day after her wedding night with Edward? Seriously, how any mother could squeal over their "romance" alongside her daughter is quite beyond me.
Love means never having to say you're sorry, kids.
Christina
On Wed, Jul 15, 2009 at 1:45 PM, James Elliott <libraryjim at embarqmail.com>wrote:
> There have been studies for some time now that says that vampire novels,
> starting with Dracula, substitute the Vampirism for sexual promiscuity. You
> have the hypnotic power of the V. over women, illicit penetration, etc.,
> usually in a bedroom setting. Especially in Victorian England where a frank
> discussion or portrayal of sexual activity was frowned upon or driven
> underground.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Maia Cheli-Colando <maiacheli at gmail.com>
>
> ***
> Beyond specific book-talking.... From my understanding of Twilight,
> Meyer is conflating sex and violence. Sex and danger. Many elements
> in our media, religion, and music do this as well. While sexual
> objectification is shoved down everyone's throats, especially in
> advertising, girls are simultaneously told that sex is bad and
> dangerous for them. And, by implication, that they are bad and
> dangerous if they engage in sexual expression. So something like
> Twilight makes a lot of sense in terms of its appeal, because it is
> articulating a strong underlying message that most American girls hear
> and feel - the desire, the danger, the forced resistance, the forced
> obedience.
>
> _______________________________________________
> CCBC-Net mailing list
> CCBC-Net at lists.education.wisc.edu
> Visit this link to read archives or to unsubscribe...
> http://lists.education.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/ccbc-net
>
-- Christina McTighe christina.mctighe at gmail.com 440-328-5194Received on Wed 15 Jul 2009 01:09:31 PM CDT
