Article submitted by Elizabeth Perille, Koelbel Library
All of us are aware of the increasing popularity of teen vampire literature, particularly the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer (now hailed as the "next J.K. Rowling"). What makes these stories appealing? Here is one individual's take on this topic.
Author Donna Freitas attributes much of the interest to the romantic tension that exists between Bella and Edward, stating it reflects the experience of those who choose to wait for physical involvement. In her words, the book "has (girls) demanding that young men behave like gentlemen" and "waxing poetic about what sounds a lot like abstinence."
http://wsj.net/public/article_print/SB121815501342422553.html
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
I think that this article has a point- that the chemistry between these two characters is greater because they can't have physical intimacy. This actually reminds me a lot of the TV show "Pushing Dasies"- the two main characters are in love, but the protagonist can't touch the heroine because he will cause her to die if he does. There is so much more longing if the two characters cannot be intimate.
When I first read the article, it seemed weird to be that a teen romance was promoting abstinance, but I think that I agree with the article now.
I remember reading something similar long ago. Who remembers The Mary Tyler Moore Show? Who remembers one of its spin-offs, Rhoda? Some essayist or other wrot about the show Rhoda, positing that the show's popularity was short-lived because Rhoda got married--all the romantic tension was gone and viewers didn't care about what MIGHT happen anymore. (The author had other examples that supported his theory, but I can't remember them.) That's when so many movies end, too, once Guy Gets Girl Back. So I can see that a teen romance promoting abstinence would make more compelling reading than one in which the relationship is already settled.
For those of you who don't know: The Mary Tyler Moore Show was popular in the 1970s. Mary Tyler Moore played Mary Richards, a single working woman, which was uncommon at that time. I don't actually remember her dating all that much--most of the episodes took place at her work and dealt humorously with the tensions there. Rhoda (played by Valerie Harper, do you all know of her?) was her upstairs neighbor, and they talked about single-woman things together until Rhoda was popular enough on her own to move to a different city in a spin-off, which only lasted a season or two. (Trivia: Julie Kavner, Marge Simpson's voice, acted as Rhoda's sister.)
Post a Comment