Twilight mania is in full force: Stephanie Meyer is the new J.K. Rowling (move over Hermoine Granger, there is a new head girl in town *ushers in Bella Swan*) and vampires are the latest incarnation of the sexy that Justin Timberlake so kindly brought back for us in 2006. Thanks to Twilight, and in particular Robert Pattinson's Edward Cullen, girls across the world have swiftly moved the focus of their obsession from wizards to vampires.

So how is it that this modern fantasy has achieved such cult status? On the surface the adoration of this series could be put down to it's being an alluring fantasy starring a leading man that ticks all the boxes (powerful? check! bad boy? check! gorgeous? check!), but if one were to look a little deeper, attribution of exactly what it is that has made Twilight a world-wide phenomenon becomes layered and debatable.


Photo by lyk3_0n3_tym3.

The Twilight series is certainly not winning any prizes for liberalism: gender roles remain traditional and the characters chaste in their pursuit of passion. Author, Stephanie Meyer is a Mormon whose religious affiliation becomes relevant when looking at the theme of chastity observed by the lead characters, Edward Cullen and Bella Swan (until the fourth book at least). Could the Twilight obsession have anything to do with attraction to these more conservative themes or is it the flip side of the coin? Are we following Edward and Bella in admiration for their adherence to a chaste relationship or is it the unfulfilled sexual tension that keeps us glued to the screen - are we eagerly awaiting the moment where Bella and Edward fulfill their desire to be together?

Moving past the underlying theme of chastity, one must look to the emotional relationship Bella has with Edward. Bella is a young woman drawn to a man she knows is not good for her, she plays out the well documented lust so many entertain, that of desire for a 'bad boy'. Bella allows herself to be the damsel in distress, as she lusts after a man who will rescue her, time and time again.

"Beyond the allure of forbidden fruit, there is the thrill of being someone else's forbidden fruit - of being desired in spite of it being wrong, or possibly even because it is wrong. It's one thing for one available person to attract another, but what an affirmation of one's desirability and worth to be attracted and pursued by someone who is unavailable, or to be unavailable oneself and yet be pursued by others." Steven D. Greydanus, decentfilms.com


Photo by GeekMom Heather.

It should go without saying that the world-wide obsession with Robert Pattinson goes beyond his physicality. While his aesthetic appeal is undeniable, there must be a deeper and more compelling reason that this 23 year old English actor has set pulses racing across the globe. Is our interest in Edward Cullen one that stems from a desire to win over a man who is struggling with his own self-control, do we simply desire to have a powerful, tortured man fall in love with us despite his best efforts to the contrary?

Sue Bohlin of Bible.org has another idea, she believes that the attraction to Robert Pattinson's character is down to similarity with another leading man, "What struck me as I read Twilight is how much the vampire Edward displays the beauty and strength of the Lord Jesus Christ. No wonder people are attracted to him!" Whether you agree with that sentiment or not, Bohlin strikes a chord that has the potential to be more broadly accepted when she notes, "I believe it's easy to get wrapped up in the transcendent relationship of a god-like figure". This certainly is true, the success of all sorts of ideologies rely on us wanting to put our faith in something greater than ourselves. Is Edward Cullen that something greater for Twi-Fans?

If one were to look to fan-art in an attempt to decode just what is going on in the minds of Twilights most dedicated fangirls, one would only have to glance around livejournal communities and flickr groups to notice common references to being rescued, saved and unconditionally loved.


Photo by i_heart_him.

This sort of fan-art reinforces the damsel in distress fantasy to attain a man who will unconditionally come to your rescue and too that of the desire to enchant a tortured & powerful soul like that of Edward Cullen. Should the question then be raised of whether the idea of a tortured soul is equated to a passionate partner?

Initially, it could be said that Edward's relationship with Bella is about practicing great self-control. Despite his desire to be with her, it is his desire to protect her which is greater. Are we attracted to a partner who cares so much about us that in doing so he denies himself? Perhaps so, but it could also be that we are attracted to a partner who is while powerful, also domineering and controlling.



Do we really want to give power to leading ladies like Kristen Stewart's Bella Swan, who forgoes her independence and gives herself entirely over to a man in the pursuit of love. Is this the ultimate act of love or a brand of romance that modern independent women should be rallying against? Is Bella Swan the positive role model we need young women aspiring to be? Maybe. Maybe, Bella actually indicative of love transcending all odds, true love conquering all.

A final thought on the powerful seductive appeal of Twilight and the Edward and Bella relationship must be on that of attraction to those who are different. In a swing away from admiration for the traditionally popular high school cliques of jocks & cheer girls, there has been a recent uprising of geek-chic. Do we now admire those who skip on the other side of the path, marching to the beat of their own drum? Is this a new brand of liberal thinking that has us appreciating and celebrating difference - is admiration for the vampiric Edward a nod to those who are not usual?

...or maybe we just like the idea of a pale yet sexy English fella biting our neck and sucking our blood...


What do you think?