Comments on: Are the New Moon Headlines Taking a Swipe At Girl Culture & Female-Driven Box Office Success?

By: Rachel Simmons

Rachel Simmons — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 10:36:15 +0000

I see what you’re saying, Brian, though I tend to agree with Lanie that there are still teachable moments in material that we don’t entirely agree with. In fact, my experience working with teens is that they are more likely to pay attention if you work with the material they find most compelling. But your point about porn is a good one — and funny .

By: Brian Dean

Brian Dean — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:45:53 +0000

What you are saying is exactly what is WRONG with this movie.

Here are some questions for you

1) Will Megan go to college, and if so, what will she major in?

2) After high school, or college, what kind of job will Megan get?

3) Does Megan have any interests in her life besides doing potentially dangerous things just so she can be with Eddie?

As far as her relationship, what kind of sane woman would get on a motorcycle with a stranger for the purpose of seeing visions of a guy she loves? As a psychologist, what would you say to a female patient who got on a motorcycle because when she did so, she saw her boyfriend appear telling her not to do it? If a female patient is emotionally upset because her boyfriend left her, would you, as a psychologist, advise her to get on the motorcycle of a stranger?

As far as teenage girls being teenage girls, what about teenage boys being teenage boys? Would you tell the boys to go ahead and watch porn because there are relationships in the porn they are watching. Or would you tell them that perhaps there are more constructive things they could be doing instead?

By: Rachel Simmons

Rachel Simmons — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:42:09 +0000

Lanie, sorry for a late reply to this very insightful comment. Am hoping you saw my more recent post (which you may take some issue with, based on what you’ve written here) as well as a response in Salon: http://www.salon.com/mwt/broadsheet/feature/2009/12/02/new_moon_girls/index.html

I’ve got my holiday reading list, and Twilight’s #1 on it. Hope to hear from you again.

By: Lanie

Lanie — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:12:59 +0000

I believe some of the power of the Twilight series is analagous to the discussion going on here. Teenage girls are tired of adults judging them for being emotional and romantic. Stephanie Meyers manages to remember their experience and describe it in non-judgmental terms. As a psychologist who works with teenage girls and boys there is much to talk about in the books that is important and powerful. How to manage friends and a relationship, should we love our friend or the guy we feel passionate about, should we be allowed the freedom to have guy friends, how do we manage feelings of possessiveness and jealousy, and the anger of teenage boys that can feel so threatening. Not every teenage girl experiences this intense passion and obsessiveness. But many do. And knowing that others are struggling with those feelings too, and that this heroine can fall madly in love and find herself and her power too, is meaningful to them. I believe we need to stop mocking teenage girls for being teenage girls. That may be one of the messages behind the success of the Twilight books and movies. And yes, I read and saw them all so far.

By: carol traynor

carol traynor — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 02:15:43 +0000

I hope that passion to read sparks discussion, about the strengths and weaknesses of the characters and their actions, and that readers can cut through the media glamorization of it. Unfortunately it is hard to get the images of the actors separated from the book now, so that internal reflection is somewhat affected. It’s hard to condemn a guy that is so damn beautiful!

By: Rachel Simmons

Rachel Simmons — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:32:44 +0000

Hi Carol, good point! I guess what I’m happy about here is box office success driven by women. I haven’t read the Twilight series, but I did really enjoy the first book. I’m seeing New Moon on Saturday…and from what I hear, it’s a very different Bella we see in this installment. Also, even if I cringe at how Bella acts in this relationship, I love watching girls all over the world raid libraries to read! So it’s a mixed bag. Thanks for making that point!

By: carol traynor

carol traynor — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:16:16 +0000

After reading your books I am surprised that you support the Twilight series in any way. From all that I have gathered it depicts a weak heroine figure caught in an abusive relationship. Some compare it to Wuthering Heights, but at least that was well written and Kathy had some fire and spirit. How do you reconcile Bella’s character with being an authentic girl?

By: Pacified Monk

Pacified Monk — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:19:07 +0000

1. Okay, but I still don’t think “the establishment” feels threatened by the success of a female-driven market, especially if you don’t perceive success as masculine. I would guess that most NYT readers are not teenage Twilight fans, but instead are probably elitists who get off on looking down on what they perceive as the success of lowbrow culture. I wonder whether it’s not a “we see the world not as it is, but as we are” sort of thing, and if we take the sexism goggles off the headlines aren’t nearly so malicious.

By: Rachel Simmons

Rachel Simmons — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:33:45 +0000

Thanks for clarifying my meaning of the term “butch,” Rochelle, and for the feedback on the term, I.M. To be honest, I wasn’t entirely sure what I meant when I used it…it was more along the lines of Rochelle’s interpretation, a term to describe something female and tough that would serve as a counter point to what I felt were belittling descriptions of New Moon’s box office success. And I must agree with Rochelle that “retarded” shouldn’t be used synonymously with stupid (though I also must confess to have been guilty of this myself in the past – so please don’t read this, I.M., as a judgment).

By: Rochelle

Rochelle — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:14:43 +0000

1. I think she was referring to the fact that such incredible success in our society is often perceived as more masculine or “butch” not neccesarily calling it that herself.
2. I personally think that Twilight is overrated but to call it porn for women is going a bit overboard. Especially considering it’s about a chaste relationship. And if you’re referring to the shirtless werewolf scenes I can’t see the difference between that and the countless blockbusters that completely sexualize women (hello, Transformers, The Hangover, Superbad, the list goes on..)
3. One more thing, retarded is NOT synonymous with stupid and to use it as such is incredibly offensive