The Cultural Impact of “Twilight”
When Twilight was released in October 2005, it gained global attention. The forbidden love between Bella Swan, a human, and Edward Cullen, a vampire, attracted readers from all backgrounds and lit a fire under the belly of the quickly growing Young Adult genre.
While most of us are aware of the book series and its film adaptions, are we really aware of the long-lasting effects it had on the YA novel as well as pop culture as a whole?
In 2003, Stephanie Meyer had a dream. This dream later became chapter 13 of Twilight, which took Meyer only three months to complete. After getting signed with Little, Brown, and Company, the manuscript ended up in the hands of Editor Megan Tingley, who instantly knew the book would be a bestseller.
The book received both positive and negative reviews but gained widespread attention nonetheless. In many cases, it was praised for accurately reflecting teenage angst and isolation. The world was easy for young readers to get lost in, and in turn, grew such a devoted fan base that it was compared to both Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings.
However, there was plenty of criticism to match the praise. To this day, people debate the healthiness of Edward and Bella’s relationship, the representation of Native American Culture, and the overall plot structure of the series.
Despite all the persecution it received, it has a loyal fan base that is still active today. Why?
Twilight’s main character, Bella Swan, was a regular girl. She was clumsy and bookish. She wasn’t popular and she didn’t have superpowers. Because of this, many teenage girls found themselves identifying with her. The Twilight series sparked a lot of interest in young women and increased their interest in reading in general. This itself became a reason for judgment.
Amidst the growth of social media and accessible pop culture, Twilight became a punching bag for film critics and internet trolls alike. Unlike instances in the past, the hate for Twilight included both the source material itself and the people who loved it so dearly.
Teenage girls were mocked by everyone — even grown men writing for notable newspapers and media outlets. They were torn apart again and again, all for loving a book series and being vocal about their admiration. The hate itself became as notorious as the series, which sparked a new conversation about pop culture.
Why was it that the object of a teen girl’s obsession was innately…bad?
This conversation is still ongoing today. Subjects of hostility have included One Direction, fan fiction, and, more recently, K-pop. Women’s intense enthusiasm for their interests has been ridiculed throughout history. Even since the Beatles were at their highest point, women’s responses to media have been described as “hysterical” and “crazy.” Not only did Twilight leave an impact on how we view different forms of media and their criticisms, but the series also changed the Young Adult genre.
The use of the phrase “Young Adult” to define a certain genre in literature is relatively new. Before, there had been Children’s Literature and “Regular” Literature, but nothing was specifically marketed to readers between the ages of 13 and 18 years old. One could argue that Harry Potter had been the first series to distinguish this genre, and soon after its publication people began looking for the next big hit.
Fantasy, as a whole genre, provides a form of wish fulfillment for the reader. It may be with romance, adventure, or even a sense of self-importance (as seen in the “Chosen One” Trope). Twilight not only filled the space after Harry Potter’s success, but it brought a new form of easily accessible fantasy to readers.
Meyer herself describes the book as “coward-proof.” It doesn’t contain super dark themes of war and oppression, but rather themes of life, love, and inclusion. It also created a new blueprint for future YA novels: a relatable female protagonist who finds herself in a love triangle with two attractive male counterparts.
Of course, this trope appeals to young women. What teenage girl doesn’t want the promise of extreme, immortal love?
Even as YA novels deviate from the fantasy genre, the relatable main character stuck in a love triangle appears endlessly. That’s not to say Meyer invented the trope of the love triangle but rather popularized it in a specific genre.
For example, The Hunger Games series, which is praised for nearly everything Twilight is criticized for, has the love triangle as a subplot. This series spurned a new wave of dystopian and sci-fi novels in the YA genre. Even so, as fantasy becomes less mainstream and novels rooted in social justice become more popular, Twilight remains relevant.
A few other fantasy series remain popular even as mainstream media moves away from the genre and focuses more on realism. These include series like Harry Potter, Percy Jackson & the Olympians, and even the television show Avatar: The Last Airbender. Twilight is among them, and it’s important to know why.
Nostalgia plays a factor in all media. Groups of people continuously reminisce on the “old days.” Modern forms of media including music, literature, film, and television have all jumped on this trend. Musicians will model their sound after older bands, and shows will take place in a previous era.
Nostalgia is commonly felt during times of struggle. Not only has COVID-19 left people reminiscent of easier times, but the past few years with a heightened political climate and narrowing job market have left people feeling discouraged.
The most affected are people unemployed and overworked, many of whom are in their twenties and thirties. People in this age group were teenagers at the time of Twilight’s debut, so it’s not surprising they look back on that time fondly. Especially before the recession of 2008, what else did the average teenager have to focus on besides a book series?
In our current climate, nostalgia has become a form of escapism for many. Escapism comes in many forms, and in 2018 it took the shape of the Twilight Renaissance.
Ten years after the first film’s initial release, a community of Twilight fans began to emerge across all forms of social media. These accounts are run by new fans and old fans alike, both making a point to acknowledge the series’ problems and morphing the series to their liking.
This resurgence is only the beginning. Since the beginning of the Twilight Renaissance, Stephanie Meyer has announced her plan to officially release Midnight Sun — Twilight retold from Edward’s point of view. It is now scheduled to be released on August 4th, 2020.
Will this book address any of the issues people have previously held with the series? It’s hard to say.
One thing is for sure, though: Twilight is here to stay.
