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You all know how we love Larson Hill of Deadbolt.com...
I found an article that is brilliant!!!
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Cleopatra
Will there be life after the final book in the Twilight Saga is written? How about the life after the final Twilight movie hits the big screen? Of course there will be life after Twilight. Since the Twilight sequel New Moon is the most talked about movie on the internet and the Twilight Saga has become the most popular and anticipated franchise (both books and movies), a more appropriate question is - "What will life look or be like after the Twilight Saga?"
When I say "life," I'm referring to social dynamics and the collective attitude affected and driven by a new generation raised and read on the Twilight Saga. What impact will Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn have on a huge sector of the population - the fans - who will eventually become influential decision makers in society? Will people have a new outlook on relationships, love, sex, strength, power, and the age-old struggle between good and evil? In ten years time, 2019, how will the young up and coming power executive be different than the 2009 professional based on their strong, relatable connection to the current Twilight Saga? Will simple day-to-day domestic attitudes toward relationships be impacted by the many layers of Twilight?
Before I get too deep on this, people are individuals who make up their own minds and form their own beliefs, morals and values. The Twilight Saga is fiction, plain and simple. They're books and movies with thought provoking entertainment value. However, given how popular Twilight and New Moon have become, with at least one more movie on the way (there’s no doubt Breaking Dawn will be made) and possibly future novels, it's hard to fathom there wouldn't be some form of future impact on the fan base that will permeate throughout society in the coming years. Can you make a connection between the themes of reflective individuality of Harry Potter and the rise of the "emo" generation from 2000 forward? I don't have the answer. But there have been cultural ripple effects from Harry Potter on the generation pre-Twilight.
Those not interested in the Stephenie Meyer based Twilight series of books and movies may roll their eyes with cynicism, and I get it. Although you could look at these questions and laugh, all one needs to do is visit any one of the thousands of online Twilight discussions to see how deep the books and movies run with Twilight fans. And in many forums around the web, Twilight fans aren't simply talking about the love life of Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner. Instead there's deep philosophical debate and intellectual discussion taking place on the levels of Friedrich Nietzsche, Sigmund Freud, René Descartes, which also tap into religion, spirituality, and a variety of stimulating and challenging topics. Go and search, you’ll find it. And while older Twilight fans are sparking such intellectual debate, younger Twilight fans are exposed to the same discussions, with many participating.
So what could the post-Twilight future look like from a sociological perspective on a few issues?
Girl Power: New Strength and Self-Awareness
That heading may sound like a cliché, but it's easy to see why so many young girls and women relate to Twilight and New Moon, namely Bella (Kristen Stewart) and her journey in the first and second Twilight outings. Although women burned their bras back in the 1960s and have been fighting for equality in a battle of the sexes on many levels ever since, there still exists a ying-yang perception of dependency that women in love can't live without their man. Although the simple fact in life is that men and women do need each other on many levels, Bella does discover that she doesn't need to be emotionally dependent on Edward (Robert Pattinson) for her survival. Although Edward is an affluent, physical force, Bella learns that she also possesses the emotional strength to live life without him from Twilight to New Moon.
Granted this is nothing new, but it's a strong message for young girls and women in terms of advancing strength in a male dominated future. Given the popularity of Twilight and New Moon among a huge sector of the female population, it raises the question of just how "male dominated" the not-too-distant future will be with a new generation of the opposite sex that not only knows they can live life independent of men, but how to live it emotionally powerful.
Judging by the heat of passion inside Bella, even Edward has been taken aback by her inner strength. Interestingly, and a strong undercurrent, Bella is not prey in its most simplistic form, as many men have viewed women throughout the ages. However, without woman there is no man, so the future impact of Twilight may hold a better understanding and respect between the sexes instead of one over the other. As in life, there are checks and balances with love, passion, instinct, and desire. How we act on them and what the consequences are is something different that may lead to a new understanding of strength and self-awareness.
Good and Evil: A New Understanding of Opposing Forces?
Simply put into context of the legions of fans devoted to the Twilight Saga and how popular it is, after reading through the four Twilight Saga books, and looking ahead to eventually watching four Twilight movies, why wouldn't someone have a certain perception of the relationship between the forces of good and evil within the Twilight universe? Given the past decade of conflict and heightened tensions of the real world battle, is it possible that the young Twilight generation will have a better understanding of the future balance between good and evil?
What I find so interesting about the good and evil debate within the Twilight Saga are the interconnected aspects of the two opposing forces and how positive and negative effects are directly related to an organic balance between the two. For instance, the Cullens need the Volturi, and vise versa; otherwise there would be an imbalance of one over the other - only Volturi or only the Cullen family. Yet Bella is a dynamic factor between the two that brings a balance, which has a direct affect on her own journey, which was aided by Edward in relation to her understanding of opposing forces (if that makes any sense).
So can life after Twilight lead to a better understanding that opposing forces (good and evil, male and female, sex and abstinence) need to co-exist in our future society, and oftentimes need each other for the survival of each side? I mean, with such a tension filled political world, any new understanding of opposing forces, namely good and evil, can't hurt. At the same time there are those very dynamics within relationships, too. There's no doubt that the Twilight generation will have a certain understanding of opposing forces heading into the future. Whether it can lead to positive improvements not made by previous generations remains to be seen, including in relationships, overcoming opposing forces of inner turmoil, and the conflict of the real world
However ...
Interestingly, Harry Potter author, J.K. Rowling, has publicly stated that throughout her popular series there were themes of "questioning authority" (a movement of the past decade), abuse of power (prevalent in the past ten years), and the choice between what is right and what is easy by an apathetic population, which can lead people into trouble if they allow authority to make their decisions (happening as we speak). Although I'm making an idealistic point as to the potential cultural impact of Twilight from a hopeful "good and evil" standpoint, you could make the argument that the Harry Potter generation has indeed questioned authority, has noticed various abuses of power, yet still remains apathetic and uninterested since so many believe exactly what the mass media feeds them, right or wrong. In that respect, the message went right over the heads of HP fans.
A Clash of Generations
In today's fast-paced, technologically savvy online business world, there's a growing trend toward a lack of transparency and accountability within the corporate landscape than in years past. In many cases the online consumer or user is at the mercy of the "monopoly" mentality like never before. In a post-Twilight world, the Twilight generation may be growing up in a society where questionable business practices are even more a way of life while the Twilight generation doesn't know any better. In this respect, will future young adult Twilighters be the ones to finally see a lack of light in a corporate world ripe with real life Volutri?
Will Twilight readers grow up to embody Edward, Bella and Jacob on the side of right in a world dominated by greed and corruption from a Volturi army not too far removed from their own generation, with corporate heads akin to Aro, Ciaus, and Marcus? Like the good and evil debate, people will have a choice, just like Bella makes the most significant choice of her life to become something new. However, when talking about destiny, some people are Volturi, others are like Edward, and some are similar to Bella whether they know it yet or not. It's simply a pre-destiny that has to be followed. Hopefully future triangular formations of the corporate ancients will be broken apart.
Romance, Restraint, Lust, Love and Life
Contrary to what some Twilight fans may believe, the Twilight Saga is cut from the similar classic block as Romeo & Juliet, Wuthering Heights, and Pride & Prejudice. In terms of language and literary prowess, is the Twilight Saga on the level of Shakespeare, Emily Bronte, or Jane Austen? No. But that may be a good indicator as to why Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn have become so popular, its accessibility. Does the Twilight Saga tap into the similar elements and themes of love and relationships? Absolutely. However, Twilight goes to certain territory that we haven't visited in other novels, or at least we think we haven’t, in how those themes are presented ... and you don't have to be Emily Bronte or Jane Austen to present them in that way either.
Obviously the Twilight dynamics of romance, restraint, lust, and love (among others) have been presented effectively. As for a growing outlook on real life issues, the Twilight layers may have a ripple effect to a better understanding of a cause and effect relationship in a positive manner for “the individual,” which the Twilight Saga has succeeded in doing to date. If certain romantic and lustful layers within the Twilight Saga encourage individual value and self-worth, those feelings are infectious and contagious.
If layers of Twilight, New Moon, and the Twilight Saga at large prevent an inexperienced young girl from being romantically fooled into having sex, or rushing into sex or a relationship, without thinking about larger life-altering repercussions of being hurt, a possible inability to cope with life, and falling prey to a self-induced perception of being man-dependent, the consequences of growing up with a Twilight mentality aren't so bad for some Twilight and New Moon fans.
-- Larson Hill
Source :http://www.thedeadbolt.com
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