Do We Owe 'Twilight' Fans an Apology?
Filed under: Romance, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fandom, Remakes and Sequels, ComicCon
Well, we've all had our fun and made our jokes, but I think that the fans of the blockbusting vamp romance Twilight have had just about enough of us. At least, that seems to be the case in an editorial titled Enough with the 'Twilight' fan-bashing media antics already, over at The Examiner. The editorial was a response to a piece on The Frisky about Twilight conventions that was full of the usual cheap shots and snark that accompanies all Twilight news. But The Examiner isn't the only one defending the Twi-hards -- here's an editorial from our own Erik Davis over on Movies.com about how Twilight actually saved fandom.
I'll be the first to admit that, yeah, I was one of those people taking cracks. I made jokes about toothless sparkly vamps, and all the rest. But I've started to wonder if us writers have crossed the line of gentle teasing and into 'bullying'. So what makes Twilight jokes any different than cracks about Trekkies or a geek who lives in their mom's basement? For me, it was the idea that these girls (or women) were just silly little hormonally charged chicks looking for a glimpse of Robert Pattinson rather than honest to goodness fans of the series (however flawed it may be).
When it came to Twilight, it seemed that the general consensus was: Girls like it, so it must be stupid. Well, I've had enough conversations over my lifetime about how something is a 'dude thing', that I'm fully versed in the idea that certain stories appeal to men and women sometimes. But what has me ticked is the idea that when you pull the dude card, it's in a tone that says, "You just don't understand, it's a dude thing". Whereas when it comes to us girls, it's more along the lines of disdain as in: 'Eww, that's a chick thing".
After the jump: will I mend my Cullen-bashing ways?...
But here's the thing: just because I'm going to try to avoid slinging mud at the Twi-hards doesn't mean that my opinion of the franchise has changed. The same complaints I had about the story of Edward and Bella are still there, but I'm also open-minded enough to admit that things could change as the franchise continues. That said, even I've noticed the snark was getting out of control when I read about Comic Con protests that had just a tinge of misogyny with complaints that a bunch of squealing girls were going to ruin the event for everyone.
But it isn't just the boys taking shots at fans -- plenty of female journalists have made remarks and called fans everything from anti-feminist to sexually repressed losers. I'm not saying that we shouldn't all have our opinions, and as a writer the last thing I want is someone telling me what I can and cannot say. But perhaps we should just try to remember that fandom can be a funny thing and we all have our personal kinks -- so maybe we should try and treat each other with a little bit more respect.
So what do you think? Has the media been too hard on Twilight fans? Or, should these guys and gals just get used to one of the tenets of geek culture -- flaming. Sound off below...
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
8-25-2009 @ 5:17PM
H said...
No; knowing several Twilight fans myself, I don't think you have anything to apologize for. I have been to anime conventions where there were more normal, well-adjusted people than the night I mistakenly went to the local multi-plex when Twilight first premiered.
I would take random "glomps" by strangers over the girl who screamed in my ear when she spotted the life-size Edward cardboard cut-out.
The fans have completely killed any interest I originally held for the series.
For the demographic record - I am a female who enjoys the occasional romance and I LOVE fantasy.
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8-25-2009 @ 6:29PM
cowpengal said...
I'm not sure you're a good judge at what normality should be when you preface your statement with "I have been to anime conventions."
8-25-2009 @ 6:42PM
H said...
My point was that the average anime fan is MORE normal than the average Twilight fan - not that anime fans are normal.
It's relativity. If I had said "I've been to the Symphony where there are more normal, well-adjusted people..." it wouldn't have had the same impact, would it?
Plus, since the article references Comic-con I'd say my comment was rather in-context.
8-26-2009 @ 2:18AM
Stef said...
For the record most of the girls I know that are obsessed with rob pattenson or whatever his name is weren't even into the books. This is from my experience. I love the books but honestly the movie was horrible and I don't know if I even wanna see the next though I probably will. Those girls scraming in peoples ears are just probably little girls filledwith hormones that rather look at 'cute guys' than actually pick up and read a book.
8-26-2009 @ 11:28AM
Jo Groenewoud said...
I agree what is normal just as long as everyone enjoys the flim then its alright.Just as long no goes over board thats the most important thing.But the heck, just look at Star Trek we now have people walking around dressed as Klingons, Romulans and even an occassional Andorrian so what difference would it make with a few Vampires.
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8-25-2009 @ 5:31PM
Sissifromfrance said...
Why should you apologize to hysterical fans that would frighten even the toughest?
I'm an average age women fan of the twilight thing and of Robert Pattinson, but I would never go anywhere with those screaming teenagers that wouldn't know what to do with the guy if he was sitting next to them ;o) Guess that I would know !!!
Every generation has its weirdness...
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8-25-2009 @ 5:39PM
Joseph Finn said...
I don't think I've taken any shots at the fans, but I will not budge on my opinion of the books as creepy stalker Mary Sue fiction.
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8-25-2009 @ 5:39PM
jim said...
I've read the whole series. Take my word for it: T DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER.
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8-25-2009 @ 11:07PM
Drewbacca said...
You fared better than me! I made it through 1/3 of the way through "Eclipse" before I HAD to quit. (Or risk gouging out my own eyes with something dull and rusty)
The books are crap, the writing is crap and the movie - you guessed it! (Crap)
8-26-2009 @ 5:26PM
julie said...
and yet, you read the entire series. Hm.
8-26-2009 @ 5:31PM
jim said...
For my wife's sake.
8-25-2009 @ 5:40PM
Kate said...
Seriously? No. I wish I knew more people who didn't like 'Twilight'. The books are really badly written, the movies are just barely an improvement on them, and I wish I could understand the appeal because they're just awful. There is a certain amount of misogyny with Twilight-bashing, but I'm more annoyed by people who assume that because I'm a chick and going to Comic Con, I'm only going for 'Twilight'. I've only seen unabashed love for 'Twilight' in the media, and the editorial calling for an end to Twilight-bashing is a little insulting. How on earth is this the thing that "saved" fandom? How is 'Twilight' the major fandom that brought girls into sci-fi and fantasy? I've been involved with it since I was ten. One half of my friends who are 'Twilight' fans were already fans of 'Star Wars' or 'Sailor Moon' or 'Harry Potter', and the other half will never get into fantasy series because they're just not into it. Egh. I'm just going to keep going, but every fandom has to eat shit. 'Twilight' is no exception. And seriously, they do need to put that panel as the very first in Hall H at Comic Con.
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8-25-2009 @ 5:48PM
Sia said...
In my opinion some of the Twilight bashing was brought on by the ridiculous over the top twi-hards, I like to fondly refer to as Twitards. I use to be a champion for Twilight and defended the stories for days on end, but I'm finished. The majority of the fandom I have witnessed are embarassing. I will still recommend the books as a fun, easy read, but I do not rave for something that doesn't deserve raving. People have blown Twilight into this fantasical story and worse yet too many people call these book literature. And the movie? Well, I think it speaks for itself. I hope New Moon brings something more to the franchise because Twilight the movie only fueled the fire for all the mocking.
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8-25-2009 @ 5:51PM
Carina said...
I think we need to take Twilight for what it is: a romance geared to teenagers. I have no problem with fangirls. As an adult woman, I am a little perplexed by some of the Twilight hysteria in my generation.
I have a friend who was dumped by a girl once because he "wasn't enough like Edward." That's just crazy. If a hypothetical man were to dump a woman because she wasn't "enough like 7 of 9" I would label that crazy as well.
There IS a thread of misogyny in the Twilight haters, but to be fair, the book and the movie were pablum (and pablum is meant for babies.)
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8-25-2009 @ 6:06PM
serendipity said...
have you nothing else to write about but to put people down over something they enjoy? sad really...
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8-25-2009 @ 6:13PM
scoville said...
This is like someone pulling the race card. The reason for the bashing isn't because girls like it, but because it's not worth the scads of "fangirls" is has created.
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8-25-2009 @ 6:12PM
Ryan said...
I will continue to hate on the twihard phenomenon. Why? Because this is a war. For those lovers of quality; who got behind Star Wars, not because of its subject matter but because of its quality; who've thrown our support behind successes like The Lord of the Rings and "failures" like Firefly, not because they're any random fantasy or sci fi, but because they're the best; for those of us who give support as a means of encouraging positive material more than just rooting for our team, these twihards are a disgrace. They fail to understand even the most rudimentary requirements for good fantasy. They are no more fangirls (or boys) than the readers of trashy romance novels. That is, to an extent, forgiveable. But they masquerade as hardcore fans. They attack things they don't understand, and do it with such a tenacity that they must be met with a force that their minor subject matter would normally not warrant. They pack comic con with total disregard for trends ten times their better, threatening to ruin the event and forcing rescheduling. There are websites that document actual, physical attacks they make against people who don't agree with them. This is a battle for the soul of fandom. The youth of this generation is in the balance.
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8-26-2009 @ 7:05PM
Stephanie said...
I think the distinction that most journalists don't seem to make is that not all fans are the hysterical teens who scream and hyperventilate over a cardboard cutout.
It seems that every journalist bases their opinions on the fans who go to the conventions or show up and giggle or scream at the premieres. When you do something like that you're limiting your information. I'm sure there are plenty of Twilight fans who are not only mature, but who sit at home and enjoy the series from the comfort of their own couch.
So when it comes to Twilight bashing I think that journalists need to bash correctly. If you're gonna hate the fans... at least make a distinction to the sort of fans you're talking about and don't generalize every fan as being one of those.
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8-25-2009 @ 6:17PM
Linseypop said...
Well im a twilight fan, i really am, i really enjoyed the books and the film... but i just want to say having watched video's on youtube and so on that the behaviour of some of these fans is appalling! especially towards Robert Pattinson! ive never seen behaviour like it....dont these girls understand that by behaving the way they do is just making him and other members of the cast resent them! no human being should have to put up with that ever! its insane...ive seen people hanging off his neck when he's been trying to walk down the street! if someone just did that to a stranger in the street they would get arrested for assault! so its no wonder that twilight fans are getting slated... like i said im a twilight fan but there is no way in the world i would act like that...not ever! have some bloody self respect people for god sake...
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8-25-2009 @ 9:42PM
Jaded said...
I have to disagree with one thing you said as I feel we have all seen this kind of phenomenon in the past. There were The Beatles, The Stones, New Kids on the Block, the cast of the original 90210.
I can remember being at the mall when I was a kid and thousands of girls were freaking out because the New Kids were there.
I think that the reason that the craziness is more pronounced nowadays is because in the late 80's early 90's there wasn't such a paparazzi presence as there is now. Teenagers couldn't get a daily dose of (fill in the blank) they were suck either purchasing teen magazines. They also didn't have the up to the minute updates on where their crush of the moment is.
The boys aren't much better. I also recall when they did the rerelease of the original Star Wars and people were lined up for days, in costume, to see the film again on the big screen.
I think the media is more responsible for the craziness that is Twilight fans that the fans themselves are. After all they are just little girls.