Comments on: Racism in Twilight? http://www.randombabble.com/2009/05/16/racism-in-twilight/ exactly that Sun, 27 Nov 2011 19:32:57 +0000 hourly 1 By: Ouyang Dan http://www.randombabble.com/2009/05/16/racism-in-twilight/#comment-5632 Ouyang Dan Mon, 07 Nov 2011 02:16:03 +0000 http://randombabble.com/?p=1747#comment-5632 Oh, I read it. It was horrendous. I also did not finish it. I think I've written about it a bit here, but I can't find the post right now. Wordpress has moved so many things around on me. But, yes. I mostly agree with you. Oh, I read it. It was horrendous. I also did not finish it.

I think I’ve written about it a bit here, but I can’t find the post right now. WordPress has moved so many things around on me. But, yes. I mostly agree with you.

]]> By: Ouyang Dan http://www.randombabble.com/2009/05/16/racism-in-twilight/#comment-5631 Ouyang Dan Mon, 07 Nov 2011 02:10:10 +0000 http://randombabble.com/?p=1747#comment-5631 Whether or not he actually IS the leader, he is portrayed and perceived to be by the other characters, in both the book and the movie. It isn't until much later that we learn more about him, and honestly? It doesn't get better after that. His not being the leader isn't really even relevant to the fact that he was portrayed the way he was. I don't find it coincidental that the only black vampire for three books and movies is portrayed as being evil. It's all right. I get tired too. :D I don't mind discussing these topics, but my point still stands. Whether or not he actually IS the leader, he is portrayed and perceived to be by the other characters, in both the book and the movie. It isn’t until much later that we learn more about him, and honestly? It doesn’t get better after that.

His not being the leader isn’t really even relevant to the fact that he was portrayed the way he was. I don’t find it coincidental that the only black vampire for three books and movies is portrayed as being evil.

It’s all right. I get tired too. :D I don’t mind discussing these topics, but my point still stands.

]]> By: sue http://www.randombabble.com/2009/05/16/racism-in-twilight/#comment-5630 sue Mon, 07 Nov 2011 02:07:59 +0000 http://randombabble.com/?p=1747#comment-5630 I began reading the parts of "midnight sun", it's on stephanie's website if you are not familar with it, the other verson of Twilight from Edward's point of view, and it was so bad! I could not stand his snippy, angry and judgemental attitude. He was constantly sulking to himself and thinking about how stupid humans are and how they never surprise him, are all the same, and have no thoughts of significance. What the hell? Who could like this character? It was frustrating to read, offensive and then I thought "this is myer's version of the perfect guy? really???". UGH I couldn't finish and it was terribly written anyway. I guess I just get curious, since I did read all the Twilight books, but I hated what was revealed so much more bluntly about the character Edward in Midnight Sun and I've never picked up those books since because I've seen them differently. I began reading the parts of “midnight sun”, it’s on stephanie’s website if you are not familar with it, the other verson of Twilight from Edward’s point of view, and it was so bad! I could not stand his snippy, angry and judgemental attitude. He was constantly sulking to himself and thinking about how stupid humans are and how they never surprise him, are all the same, and have no thoughts of significance. What the hell? Who could like this character? It was frustrating to read, offensive and then I thought “this is myer’s version of the perfect guy? really???”. UGH I couldn’t finish and it was terribly written anyway. I guess I just get curious, since I did read all the Twilight books, but I hated what was revealed so much more bluntly about the character Edward in Midnight Sun and I’ve never picked up those books since because I’ve seen them differently.

]]> By: Ouyang Dan http://www.randombabble.com/2009/05/16/racism-in-twilight/#comment-5629 Ouyang Dan Mon, 07 Nov 2011 02:07:35 +0000 http://randombabble.com/?p=1747#comment-5629 This post is so old I am shocked I am still getting comments on it. Perhaps you SHOULD read some of the other comments. Bella, in your example, is exotifying the Natives who are all "close with nature" and shit. That is also a racist act, overt or not. It's a fine line, really, but it is still a facet of racism that should be recognized. The idea that Natives are "in tune with nature" or somehow meant to be defenders of the planet is, in fact, a very common racist trope used towards Natives. It's fine to point out things you find problematic, but please examine what you are saying first. This post is so old I am shocked I am still getting comments on it.

Perhaps you SHOULD read some of the other comments. Bella, in your example, is exotifying the Natives who are all “close with nature” and shit. That is also a racist act, overt or not. It’s a fine line, really, but it is still a facet of racism that should be recognized. The idea that Natives are “in tune with nature” or somehow meant to be defenders of the planet is, in fact, a very common racist trope used towards Natives.

It’s fine to point out things you find problematic, but please examine what you are saying first.

]]> By: sue http://www.randombabble.com/2009/05/16/racism-in-twilight/#comment-5628 sue Mon, 07 Nov 2011 02:03:11 +0000 http://randombabble.com/?p=1747#comment-5628 and I forgot to say that Laurant was not the leader of the bad vampire coven. he was one of them, but the most compassionate and least blood thirsty so that should be taken into consideration when using him as an example to prove there is some racism in the book. since he is not the leader and least evil of his group it isn't a good way to convince readers that there is racism found right there. i'm tired, sorry this is sucking. and I forgot to say that Laurant was not the leader of the bad vampire coven. he was one of them, but the most compassionate and least blood thirsty so that should be taken into consideration when using him as an example to prove there is some racism in the book. since he is not the leader and least evil of his group it isn’t a good way to convince readers that there is racism found right there. i’m tired, sorry this is sucking.

]]> By: sue http://www.randombabble.com/2009/05/16/racism-in-twilight/#comment-5627 sue Mon, 07 Nov 2011 02:00:55 +0000 http://randombabble.com/?p=1747#comment-5627 I am not a huge fan of the series, but have read them so this is not my crazy defense of the novels. I just recall a few things in the books that I thought I should mention. Maybe somebody else already did, but I didn't read each comment. Yes the vampires pale skin is supposed to be the image of perfect and their enemies are the dark skinned native americans, but I remember in the book( & movie) Bella saying that Jacob was beautiful, and I think she made more comments about his beautiful skin color in the book as well, but I could be wrong. This doesn't negate all the implied racism but it does weaken the argument a little bit. Also the native americans are seen as enemies in the first back and later become allies and even friends(sort of almost) of the vampires and all along it's made known that the native america's calling is to protect humans...this can't be a bad thing. I do agree the books have major issues, some offensive material and implied racism, I just wanted to point those tidbits out. I am not a huge fan of the series, but have read them so this is not my crazy defense of the novels. I just recall a few things in the books that I thought I should mention. Maybe somebody else already did, but I didn’t read each comment. Yes the vampires pale skin is supposed to be the image of perfect and their enemies are the dark skinned native americans, but I remember in the book( & movie) Bella saying that Jacob was beautiful, and I think she made more comments about his beautiful skin color in the book as well, but I could be wrong. This doesn’t negate all the implied racism but it does weaken the argument a little bit. Also the native americans are seen as enemies in the first back and later become allies and even friends(sort of almost) of the vampires and all along it’s made known that the native america’s calling is to protect humans…this can’t be a bad thing. I do agree the books have major issues, some offensive material and implied racism, I just wanted to point those tidbits out.

]]> By: Me http://www.randombabble.com/2009/05/16/racism-in-twilight/#comment-4866 Me Wed, 30 Mar 2011 05:20:53 +0000 http://randombabble.com/?p=1747#comment-4866 Sorry I meant vampires refer to werewolves as dogs. I never liked that reference. Oh, and how the vampire's smelled sweet. Let us remember, "keeping sweet" is part of the old school Mormon rhetoric about being "good" and not questioning authority. There are a lot of dysfunctional Mormon references in this book, and the religion is very dysfunctional. Sorry I meant vampires refer to werewolves as dogs. I never liked that reference. Oh, and how the vampire’s smelled sweet. Let us remember, “keeping sweet” is part of the old school Mormon rhetoric about being “good” and not questioning authority. There are a lot of dysfunctional Mormon references in this book, and the religion is very dysfunctional.

]]> By: Me http://www.randombabble.com/2009/05/16/racism-in-twilight/#comment-4865 Me Wed, 30 Mar 2011 05:18:34 +0000 http://randombabble.com/?p=1747#comment-4865 Whereas Stephanie Meyer most likely did not intend for her references to be prejudiced towards the Native Americans, it definitely comes across this way. Here are a couple of other things that bothered me: 1. The vampires refer to the Vampires as dogs, and how they smell bad. In other words, they are not as good as vampires. 2. Jacob is referred to as a half breed for having 24 chromosomes, whereas vampires have 25, and humans have 23. I know it is fiction, but there are a lot of stereotypical references here. The book is fun and ditsy fiction, but definitely nothing deep or intellectual. With that being said, reading the book I always thought Jacob was better for Bella. I was mad through book two and three when Bella decided to go with Edward, and disappointed in book four when Jacob imprinted on Renessmee. Of course the "half-breeds" deserve each other. I am part Native American, so hence maybe this is why I feel sensitive about some of Meyer's references. Whereas Stephanie Meyer most likely did not intend for her references to be prejudiced towards the Native Americans, it definitely comes across this way. Here are a couple of other things that bothered me:

1. The vampires refer to the Vampires as dogs, and how they smell bad. In other words, they are not as good as vampires.
2. Jacob is referred to as a half breed for having 24 chromosomes, whereas vampires have 25, and humans have 23. I know it is fiction, but there are a lot of stereotypical references here.

The book is fun and ditsy fiction, but definitely nothing deep or intellectual. With that being said, reading the book I always thought Jacob was better for Bella. I was mad through book two and three when Bella decided to go with Edward, and disappointed in book four when Jacob imprinted on Renessmee. Of course the “half-breeds” deserve each other. I am part Native American, so hence maybe this is why I feel sensitive about some of Meyer’s references.

]]> By: Grace http://www.randombabble.com/2009/05/16/racism-in-twilight/#comment-4791 Grace Tue, 15 Mar 2011 04:22:37 +0000 http://randombabble.com/?p=1747#comment-4791 totally agree i think you might think this is interesting http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20101123004203AAgUksO totally agree i think you might think this is interesting
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20101123004203AAgUksO

]]> By: Ouyang Dan http://www.randombabble.com/2009/05/16/racism-in-twilight/#comment-2124 Ouyang Dan Mon, 23 Aug 2010 00:31:55 +0000 http://randombabble.com/?p=1747#comment-2124 Agreed, Caitlin. And I don't believe, at all, nor do I think that I said that SMEYER, is a big overt racist person. I don't think she stands up and yells slurs or anything. I think it is ingrained thought. I mean, deep down we are all a little bit racist, but we each go through a bit of socialization in our lives that means that we need to examine things a little more. There is some Mormon doctrine that I truly believe needs some close scrutiny. I also believe that Meyer wrote her books with some doctrine heavily ingrained in her mind, never having examined why, to her, beautiful always = white, and color = exotic/different/odd/sometimes bad. Thanks for your thoughts. Agreed, Caitlin.

And I don’t believe, at all, nor do I think that I said that SMEYER, is a big overt racist person. I don’t think she stands up and yells slurs or anything. I think it is ingrained thought. I mean, deep down we are all a little bit racist, but we each go through a bit of socialization in our lives that means that we need to examine things a little more.

There is some Mormon doctrine that I truly believe needs some close scrutiny. I also believe that Meyer wrote her books with some doctrine heavily ingrained in her mind, never having examined why, to her, beautiful always = white, and color = exotic/different/odd/sometimes bad.

Thanks for your thoughts.

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