NY Magazine: Teenage vampires and the mothers who love them
Posted on 17. Nov, 2009 by Amanda31 in News
New York Magazine ran a feature article from Em & Lo (read the slightly longer version on their Web site) on a very popular topic – middle-aged women who love the Twilight saga.
The unkind observer might say that a Twilight mom is the worst combination of cougar and deluded teen fan. But, then, the unkind observer probably hasn’t read the books. Don’t let the Y.A. label fool you: Author Stephenie Meyer, a mother herself, has said she didn’t have a specific demographic in mind when she started writing. And, as it turns out, a large percentage of devoted fans of Meyer’s four novels and two films (the second, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, opens on Friday) are smart, sophisticated, well-read mothers. Perhaps because the love story at the crux of the saga is unconventionally adolescent.
“Bella [Twilight’s female lead] is a responsible caretaker—she cooks, she cleans, she takes care of her family. Those are maternal traits that a lot of moms can relate to,” says Kirsten Starkweather, media director of TwilightMoms.com, a fan site with 34,000 registered members. And while Edward, Bella’s bloodsucking soul mate, has the moony eyes of a 17-year-old, he’s actually over 100. “His impeccable manners, his sense of morality, his way of speaking, they’re all old-fashioned,” says Starkweather. “More like a man in a nineteenth-century novel than a modern teenage boy.”
Read the rest of the New York Magazine feature, including quotes from two of our wonderful TwilightMOMS – admin Kirsten and Gabby (dazzledforever), here.
3 Responses to “NY Magazine: Teenage vampires and the mothers who love them”
Spidermonkey
17. Nov, 2009
Nice article. I think something similar was on CNN, talking about the older female fans. Then I make the mistake of reading some of the comments to these articles. I am appalled by how truly nasty, insulting and critical some of them are. Many give the air that they are superior intellectually because they haven’t fallen for the Twilight series, implying that anyone who loves the books must have the mentality of a ten year old. I will say right out that I am old enough to be a grandmother, have read the books multiple times because I love them, have a college degree in philosophy and comparative religion, have a full time job with a good salary, and have a lot of friends who are also Twilight lovers and in a similar demographic. So there.
forevercullen
18. Nov, 2009
Spidermonkey, your post is very well put! I too am a college educated woman with a good job that loves The Twilight Saga. I get so frustrated with people who think that as you said I “must have the mentality for a ten year old” because the story touched me so deeply. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
Mina Angotti
19. Nov, 2009
Fantastic responses from Spidermonkey and forevercullen. Proud to be a part of your space.
After my twelve years old daughter finished reading the books five times, each book, I began reading them. My daughter also introduced the books to her aunts. The series are beautifully written books that are a joy to read.
Like Stephenie Meyer, we are university educated women in different disciplines, many married, with nuclear families. What a concept. Although I respect the freedom of people to criticize or express their point of view, I would like us to continue to stay focused on the meaning or purpose of this worldwide craze.
Educationally, the fans are reading and are passionate about their own perspective of the books. My daughter selects these books for her reading credits at school-and the tests are very detailed. To receive good grades on the tests you must be very prepared.
We escape into the fantasy of the romantic story. The unconditional love in the series is something we all hope to achieve. It is also interesting to hear other people’s ideas on the saga-making for great conversations around the world..
Finally a series that makes it acceptable and admirable to make pre-marital sex something to resist-if the will is strong enough. Imagine someone only wanting YOU forever. Is that frightening or awe-inspiring? You be the judge.
At the end of the day, we are introduced to amazing actors and directors that want to share a story and entertain us. I hope that we continue to try to minimize the frenzy of the fans-to respect the actors privacy, and to thank all involved for a job well done.