Comments on: You Asked for It: How to Talk to Girls About the Messages of New Moon, With a Free Activity Plan for Educators http://www.rachelsimmons.com/2009/12/you-asked-for-it-how-to-talk-to-girls-about-the-messages-of-new-moon-with-a-free-activity-plan-for-educators/ Leadership for Life Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:02:13 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Shaping Youth » Media Vamping: Twilight Talking Points, Bite Me Brouhaha http://www.rachelsimmons.com/2009/12/you-asked-for-it-how-to-talk-to-girls-about-the-messages-of-new-moon-with-a-free-activity-plan-for-educators/comment-page-1/#comment-1199 Shaping Youth » Media Vamping: Twilight Talking Points, Bite Me Brouhaha Sun, 11 Jul 2010 01:50:47 +0000 http://www.rachelsimmons.com/?p=1849#comment-1199 [...] new questions with Eclipse and keep those talking points goin…Thanks, Rachel for this great media literacy guide to launch some wise and worthy conversations! How to Talk to Girls About the Messages of New [...] [...] new questions with Eclipse and keep those talking points goin…Thanks, Rachel for this great media literacy guide to launch some wise and worthy conversations! How to Talk to Girls About the Messages of New [...]

]]> By: Teenage Girls & Twilight Movies: What is Going On? http://www.rachelsimmons.com/2009/12/you-asked-for-it-how-to-talk-to-girls-about-the-messages-of-new-moon-with-a-free-activity-plan-for-educators/comment-page-1/#comment-1182 Teenage Girls & Twilight Movies: What is Going On? Mon, 05 Jul 2010 13:09:03 +0000 http://www.rachelsimmons.com/?p=1849#comment-1182 [...] it is not hard to see how the key themes of this love story tap into an adolescent worldview. Rachel Simmons sums up the affinity female teens have with Bella Swan because she is a character who personifies [...] [...] it is not hard to see how the key themes of this love story tap into an adolescent worldview. Rachel Simmons sums up the affinity female teens have with Bella Swan because she is a character who personifies [...]

]]> By: Alyssa Best: In Twilight: Eclipse, I’ll Vote for Team Bella | Super Hot Topics http://www.rachelsimmons.com/2009/12/you-asked-for-it-how-to-talk-to-girls-about-the-messages-of-new-moon-with-a-free-activity-plan-for-educators/comment-page-1/#comment-1141 Alyssa Best: In Twilight: Eclipse, I’ll Vote for Team Bella | Super Hot Topics Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:41:26 +0000 http://www.rachelsimmons.com/?p=1849#comment-1141 [...] is a Team Bella shitting afoot–noted by added writers such as Kate President in Salon and Rachel Simmons, who provides communicating questions for attractive girls in a grave psychotherapy of the texts. [...] [...] is a Team Bella shitting afoot–noted by added writers such as Kate President in Salon and Rachel Simmons, who provides communicating questions for attractive girls in a grave psychotherapy of the texts. [...]

]]> By: Domingueiras « Batata Transgênica http://www.rachelsimmons.com/2009/12/you-asked-for-it-how-to-talk-to-girls-about-the-messages-of-new-moon-with-a-free-activity-plan-for-educators/comment-page-1/#comment-462 Domingueiras « Batata Transgênica Sun, 07 Feb 2010 16:14:25 +0000 http://www.rachelsimmons.com/?p=1849#comment-462 [...] das mensagens de Lua Nova, com um plano de atividades livres para educadores: blog da escritora Rachel Simmons, autora de Garota Fora do Jogo: A cultura da agressão oculta nas [...] [...] das mensagens de Lua Nova, com um plano de atividades livres para educadores: blog da escritora Rachel Simmons, autora de Garota Fora do Jogo: A cultura da agressão oculta nas [...]

]]> By: The Twilight Lesson Plan - Times Online (blog) | BuzzingTwilight.com http://www.rachelsimmons.com/2009/12/you-asked-for-it-how-to-talk-to-girls-about-the-messages-of-new-moon-with-a-free-activity-plan-for-educators/comment-page-1/#comment-426 The Twilight Lesson Plan - Times Online (blog) | BuzzingTwilight.com Sat, 30 Jan 2010 01:01:56 +0000 http://www.rachelsimmons.com/?p=1849#comment-426 [...] To be blunt, Ms Simmons is not a fan of Twilight’s Bella. She writes: [...] [...] To be blunt, Ms Simmons is not a fan of Twilight’s Bella. She writes: [...]

]]> By: Sarah Ebner http://www.rachelsimmons.com/2009/12/you-asked-for-it-how-to-talk-to-girls-about-the-messages-of-new-moon-with-a-free-activity-plan-for-educators/comment-page-1/#comment-423 Sarah Ebner Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:37:26 +0000 http://www.rachelsimmons.com/?p=1849#comment-423 Thank you for this. I have mentioned it on my blog today. It's great fun... Thank you for this. I have mentioned it on my blog today. It’s great fun…

]]> By: Rachel Simmons http://www.rachelsimmons.com/2009/12/you-asked-for-it-how-to-talk-to-girls-about-the-messages-of-new-moon-with-a-free-activity-plan-for-educators/comment-page-1/#comment-284 Rachel Simmons Mon, 21 Dec 2009 04:40:38 +0000 http://www.rachelsimmons.com/?p=1849#comment-284 Thanks for writing. Such an interesting point about Wuthering Heights, and great to hear from someone who has read the books. To your point about Jacob's change after Edward's return, it seems to me that he becomes stereotypically "masculine" once he gets around Edward -- doing that thing guys do when they can be authentically sweet around a girl and then put on their guy persona in front of other males. I love the question of how her relationship with Edward differs from her relationship with Jacob! Going to add it. Thanks for writing in! Thanks for writing. Such an interesting point about Wuthering Heights, and great to hear from someone who has read the books. To your point about Jacob’s change after Edward’s return, it seems to me that he becomes stereotypically “masculine” once he gets around Edward — doing that thing guys do when they can be authentically sweet around a girl and then put on their guy persona in front of other males.

I love the question of how her relationship with Edward differs from her relationship with Jacob! Going to add it. Thanks for writing in!

]]> By: Leilanea http://www.rachelsimmons.com/2009/12/you-asked-for-it-how-to-talk-to-girls-about-the-messages-of-new-moon-with-a-free-activity-plan-for-educators/comment-page-1/#comment-273 Leilanea Wed, 16 Dec 2009 01:26:55 +0000 http://www.rachelsimmons.com/?p=1849#comment-273 No, she is NOT in any way a stronger character in the books!!! In fact even weaker- Kristen Stewart tried to portray her stronger (she admitted how annoyed she was by some parts of Bella and how damaging this could be to girls in an interview). Everyone here should read this blog, which presents chapter by chapter, book by book everything that is wrong about the series: http://markreadstwilight.buzznet.com/user/ No, she is NOT in any way a stronger character in the books!!! In fact even weaker- Kristen Stewart tried to portray her stronger (she admitted how annoyed she was by some parts of Bella and how damaging this could be to girls in an interview).

Everyone here should read this blog, which presents chapter by chapter, book by book everything that is wrong about the series:

http://markreadstwilight.buzznet.com/user/

]]> By: Lan http://www.rachelsimmons.com/2009/12/you-asked-for-it-how-to-talk-to-girls-about-the-messages-of-new-moon-with-a-free-activity-plan-for-educators/comment-page-1/#comment-263 Lan Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:19:28 +0000 http://www.rachelsimmons.com/?p=1849#comment-263 This is a really great work of writing and very informative. I read this to my fiance who is soon to become a high school English teacher; he's bemoaning the fact that he's going to have to read Twilight eventually because it's what the students are reading. I think this a great way to use popular fiction to facilitate class discussion. I read all four books and saw the first movie, and personally found myself disgusted. I personally found Bella to be very flat and uninspiring. She has zero personality; she defines herself entirely through Edward. Contrary to what Kristin above said, I don't think Bella has a deep love for reading books, just simply ONE book: Wuthering Heights. If you think about it, that's another book which revolves around a couple with an equally, actually more, destructive relationship. They'd make interesting companion pieces. I can see how New Moon in some ways, accurately captures the loss and despair teenage girls feel after a break up (the whole world is over; I'll never find love again). But the level of obsession, to the point of danger, that Bella has is disturbing. I really dislike the way she treats Jacob. I personally think he was better for her; their relationship seemed more playful and intimate than the control, distance, mixed with intense, obssessive passion that characterized her and Edward's relationship. However, after Edward comes back Jacob turns into a total jerk. You could also discuss issues about sexual activity. To me the whole book reads like tract on on abstinence. Bella just throws herself at Edward, not concerned the least bit about the consequences emotional or physical. Also comparing Twilight to other "high school" or "teenage" vampire novels to see how they treat similar issues could make another great lesson. This is a really great work of writing and very informative. I read this to my fiance who is soon to become a high school English teacher; he’s bemoaning the fact that he’s going to have to read Twilight eventually because it’s what the students are reading. I think this a great way to use popular fiction to facilitate class discussion.

I read all four books and saw the first movie, and personally found myself disgusted. I personally found Bella to be very flat and uninspiring. She has zero personality; she defines herself entirely through Edward. Contrary to what Kristin above said, I don’t think Bella has a deep love for reading books, just simply ONE book: Wuthering Heights. If you think about it, that’s another book which revolves around a couple with an equally, actually more, destructive relationship. They’d make interesting companion pieces.

I can see how New Moon in some ways, accurately captures the loss and despair teenage girls feel after a break up (the whole world is over; I’ll never find love again). But the level of obsession, to the point of danger, that Bella has is disturbing. I really dislike the way she treats Jacob. I personally think he was better for her; their relationship seemed more playful and intimate than the control, distance, mixed with intense, obssessive passion that characterized her and Edward’s relationship. However, after Edward comes back Jacob turns into a total jerk.

You could also discuss issues about sexual activity. To me the whole book reads like tract on on abstinence. Bella just throws herself at Edward, not concerned the least bit about the consequences emotional or physical. Also comparing Twilight to other “high school” or “teenage” vampire novels to see how they treat similar issues could make another great lesson.

]]> By: Elin Stebbins Waldal http://www.rachelsimmons.com/2009/12/you-asked-for-it-how-to-talk-to-girls-about-the-messages-of-new-moon-with-a-free-activity-plan-for-educators/comment-page-1/#comment-247 Elin Stebbins Waldal Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:26:32 +0000 http://www.rachelsimmons.com/?p=1849#comment-247 Thank you for a fabulous post, what a terrific resource. Twilight is not going away, it is how we help the readers process the information that will outlast the current mania. Thank you for a fabulous post, what a terrific resource. Twilight is not going away, it is how we help the readers process the information that will outlast the current mania.

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