How Love As Depicted By The Hit Twilight Films May Be Dangerous

Like the Harry Potter franchise, the Twilight series of novels and movies has become a worldwide phenomenon.

Admittedly, I have not read the popular novels by Stephanie Meyer, but I did view the movie, Twilight, several months ago, and am not a fan.

My main problem with the movie is the definition of love that it presents to its core audience.  An audience largely comprised of teenage  girls.

In Twilight,  romantic love is depicted as obsessive and co-dependent.  

The protagonist is a teenage girl named Bella. One day at school, Bella's life is saved by the mysterious Edward, her fellow classmate.

The problem with the start of this relationship is that Bella has been treated with much distain by Edward, but still finds herself drawn to him.  This was the beginning of my problems with this film.

During the course of the film, Edward reveals to Bella that he is an immensely powerful vampire. The reason why he treated her so badly at first?  He wants to taste her blood and he doesn't know if he can muster enough self-control to prevent himself from killing her.

Bella's response to this? She decides she loves him because he is so ... beautiful!

What?!?

Not only that, the movie further defines Edward and Bella's relationship with other notable occurrences such as: 

• Edward continually referring to himself as predator and Bella as prey
• His being so obsessive that he watches her when she is unaware, even in her sleep
• After a few short weeks (months?), Bella deciding she loves Edward to the point that she is willing to die for him
• Edward often reminding Bella she can never be completely safe with him because her blood is so intoxicating he may not be able to resist killing her

Okay, please understand that I realize these movies are fantasies  featuring vampires, the current hot trend in entertainment.

The recent media depiction of vampires is meant to epitomize the aloof, mysterious, unattainable, dangerous and sexy side of romance. 

That being said, the question remains as to what message are these movies really conveying about the nature of true love?

In my opinion, Bella's relationship with Edward borders on the abusive.  The young woman is portrayed as the classic "damsel in distress," who just waits for her hero to save her.  Bella apparently has no outside  friends, interests or hobbies all her own.

Furthermore, if a man a woman barely knows admitted to watching her in her sleep, I think her reaction may be closer to getting a restraining order rather than thinking "how romantic!" and declaring her undying love!

Also, fully grown women are more apt to separate this highly stylized type of romance from reality.  However,  young girls may not yet possess the emotional maturity to discern between the two.  This is where I begin to have grave concerns about the  emotional impact of these films.

I urge parents (especially those of young girls)  to sit down and discuss these movies with their children.

During your conversation, ask how they view the main relationships presented in the films.  Then discuss the differences between healthy relationships in the real world versus those in Twilight and other similar movies.

Such a dialogue will go a long way to helping our young ones better understand the differences between   loving, real-world relationships versus those portrayed in much popular media.

So, what is your opinion?  Please share it with us!

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Comments

[AW]

I believe that if you actually read the books that you might have a different opinion, altough the love between the two that the movie portrays is definitely one that could be taken the wrong way by many young girls. Also, I believe that almost every single character in every single movie can be analized into somthing that is less than desirable. The love that Stephanie Meyer is trying to portray is one that of a vampire that does the impossible for love and that of a girl that is willing to loose her life to be with her one true love. Now although is definitly isn't short theatrics a person has to realize that on some level true love is exactly that. Its giving yourself, your heart on a platter to your lover and laying your destiny in their hands. I am neither young or inexperienced in love. I am happily married with two children and have been married for years. I believe that a person can find conflict in anything if they look hard enough

[Terez]

AW, thanks for taking your time to share your thoughts with us!

You make a valid point that I have based my opinion having only seen the first Twilight film while not having read the novels. Also, it is widely accepted that many films based on popular books often have significant differences in tone and content from the source material.

With that being said, my feeling is it is so important for parents and their children to have honest dialogue regarding how romantic love (in real life) resembles and differs from what is portrayed in popular movies like Twilight.

[Sandra Scarlett]

Great points all around. As much as I adore the books and the movies, I can really call out the fan girl in me for loving this series. But some younger girls are taking the wrong message home when it comes to these stories!

Sandra Scarlett
<a href="http://www.somethinglikelove.com">Dating Articles</a>

[Terez]

Sandra,

You summarized exactly why this post was written, to encourage parents to talk to their teens regarding what messages they are taking away from these movies - and others like them.