Why the new movie "Twilight" is such a "Mormon" phenomenon is unclear to me. Of course, the author, Stephenie Meyer, is a Latter-day Saint. And, I suppose Latter-day Saints like to support Latter-day Saints whenever possible. But, I guess I am not highly attracted to teenaged love stories, especially when they involve vampires.
OK, I am an old curmudgeon. We can stipulate that point. My wife has read the books, all of them I think. I have read none of them. So, I readily admit my qualifications for comment are limited.
I knew I was in trouble at the end of the movie. When the credits started rolling, I jumped out of my aisle seat and headed for the outer corridors. As the crowd pushed me forward, I realized my wife was NOT behind me. I stood out in the corridor and waited and waited. Finally, my wife showed up. She watched every last credit that rolled. She loved the movie that much.
"How did you like the movie?" she asked.
"Hmmm," I answered, hoping my noncommittal non-response would not be noticed.
"Oh, come now. Didn't you at least love the vampires?"
"Well, Bella Swan did," I said while straining a smile.
As we left the matinee theater, it was late afternoon. My wife's tinted eyes squinted as they adjusted to the sunlight, and her skin glistened with just a hint of gold. For just a nanosecond, I had to wonder what happened in that theater after I exited and while I waited for my wife in the corridor.
I have little problem with LDS authors expressing their full creativity as freely as possible. Screenwriter Mark Andrus wrote a sympathetic comedy about an obsessive-compulsive man with a gay neighbor in "As Good As It Gets." Jared and Jerusha Hess wrote "Napoleon Dynamite," a rather satirical look at teenaged life in Preston, Idaho. Samuel W. Taylor wrote, "The Man With My Face," and "The Absent Minded Professor." The list could go on and on, I suppose.
The "Twilight" vampire script does NOT have the same intelligence as "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." The forte of "Twilight" is romance, although it has some brief violence. Ultimately, it is a romantic soap opera of vampires.
So, can Latter-day Saints write about teenaged girls flirting with evil? Yes. Authors cannot be held as responsible for the actions of their characters. However, authors can be held responsible for the overall moral message of their books and movies.
The uncomfortable issue is whether viewers can be held to be morally responsible for what is viewed. Well, not normally. But, we must admit that Hollywood is in the business of making movies that attract audiences. We like to blame Hollywood for all the bad movies, but those movies may say more about ourselves.
There were NO obvious Mormon themes in "Twilight." There are "good" vampires and "bad" vampires. The "good" consume animal blood only.
I did note that Edward, a good vampire, was in young Bella's bedroom an awful lot. Such a scene would normally send my wife into a rave, but her golden lips said not a peep.
Of course, part of the tension is that Edward can barely kiss Bella without biting her head off. So, not much kissing occurs, although I will admit I did not quantify all the smooches.
All in all, I would say there is nothing particularly religious or uplifting in "Twilight." Bella, the main character, flirts with vampires, and while that behavior is exotic it is hardly Standards Night.
Living up to its poster's hype, the movie made me wonder whether things would remain the same. Worn out by the movie, I went to bed early. Strangely, my wife never did.
(This is pretty close to the real truth).
Copyright 2008 S.Faux (Email: foxgoku54 [at] gmail [d0t] c0m; URL: http://mormoninsights.blogspot.com). Readers may distribute this post for noncommercial purposes provided such distributing is of the entire post, including author's copyright and contact information. All other rights reserved.
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17 comments:
My wife has threatened to make me go to the local premiere with her. I could barely stomach reading the first book. I agree that there is too much "going as close to the edge as possible." Your typical teen-age boy does not have the control that Edward does. I fear that LDS girls will emulate Bella's naivete and get into trouble.
On a lighter note. After I kiss my wife now, I remind her if she can breathe now. Seems that Bella could not breathe because Edward was so handsome, she was so in love, etc.
I can't speak for the movie (I like the book Twilight, but I'm not such a fan that I need to see the movie on opening night), but the books, at least, are absolutely thick with LDS symbolism, allegory and cultural distinctions. I'll touch upon it just a little.
One way to read the story allegorically is that the Cullen's (the good vampire family, if you weren't paying attention) are the Mormons. They, given the free will to choose between right and wrong in this world have chosen virtue and abstinance despite temptation, in their diet, and in how they choose to love.
They have formed a large family (five children) for themselves, and have chosen to set themselves off from the larger society. the device of the vampires having the old fashioned names given to them when they were born long ago, mirrors the Mormon practice of giving children religiously distinctive names.
The strong family bonds of the large Cullen family (Mormons in the allegory) contrasts the minimally sized broken family that Bella comes from. Bella's role is one deeply embedded in LDS culture as well. She is the prospective convert, who has few firm convictions of her own to start with, as well as a prospective young bride for Edward.
Even the locations, rural Washington and Arizona mostly, while not stereotypically Mormon Utah and Idaho, are not outside the turf where the LDS faith has a strong presence. Bella at one point notes that she has never been (and may never go to) New York, Chicago or Atlanta.
Incidentally, coffee is never mentioned in Twilight (despite the fact that the nearest major city to the center of the action in the town of Forks is Seattle!), and the only time that alcohol is mentioned is in the context of a recovering alcoholic. No character, good or bad, major or minor, actually drinks alcohol in the entire book full of mildly rebellious teenagers, reservation Indians, and an eternally dismal small rural town. It isn't even clear that Forks has a bar.
The Cullens share a bond of secret ancient pre-historic knowledge with Native Americans with whom they have found a fragile peace and whom Carlisle affords special respect. Entry into the Cullen's fold requires one to be set apart from the larger society as well, and requires sacrifice, but carries benefits as well, among them, marriage not just for life, but for eternity (in just those words).
There are also strong associations in the books between vampires and angels, mirroring the importance of angels in LDS scripture. The vampires are described as seraphic, and glimmer in the sun. They aren't necessarily angels themselves, but are close to angels. The Italian vampire clan whose civilized ways are formative for Carlisle, the patriarch of the Cullens, are depicted in an oil painting as holding a special place in the divine order. The books also talk about their physical grace, in part to suggest deeper spiritual grace.
The device that Edward both loves and wants to eat Bella, who would be destroyed if he did, allows Meyes to talk about sex and abstinance before marriage, without embarking on the crudity of actually talking about sex. But, Edward does reveal, in the books at least, that upon conversion (literally to becoming a vampire, and allegorially to a Mormon marriage) that sex can be wonderful.
The departure of two of the Cullens to Africa immediately upon graduating from high school in the second book again has an allegorical link to the role of Moromon missionaries.
The fact that Bella and Edward's love is takens so seriously by their families, despite the fact that they start out (apparently anyway) at just seventeen, is also characteristic of a difference between LDS life in practice and that of the larger society.
Certainly the books and to an even greater extent the movie use melodrama to advance the romantic story, but it is a story full of LDS dog whistles.
Andrew:
Thanks for the long list of LDS allegorical details. You tempt me to post a similar exercise I wrote using "Napoleon Dynamite" as the object of LDS allegory. But, such exercises must make one wonder whether one is simply seeing objects in the literary clouds. Also, is such an exercise merely a way for LDS adults to rationalize liking somewhat obnoxious teenagers?
Believe me, my wife is on your side, but I wonder whether "Twilight" is simply trying to pound a square vampire peg into a round LDS hole. Somehow the two are not meant for each other.
Anyway, appreciations for your thoughtful comment.
I will happily offer an alternate view from Andrews. First, I have read the Twilgiht series. I submit to you that Meyer's books are the antithesis of Mormon doctrine, and should be disturbing to any faithful active member. Meyer herself has repeatedly stated her books have "nothing to do with" her religion, and on that point I agree!
Let me call attention to S. Faux's astute obervation above:
"I did note that Edward, a good vampire, was in young Bella's bedroom an awful lot. Such a scene would normally send my wife into a rave, but her golden lips said not a peep".
I have served as a Young Women's leader for many years during my life. One of the most important things which we teach our youth continually is the critical importance of remaining sexually pure before marriage, and then in complete fidelity after marriage.
The number one rule which guides success in this arena is to "stand in holy places at all times". There are certain rules which every wise and rational person knows must be kept. Here are just a few:
1. NEVER be alone with the opposite sex in a bedroom, a car, or any other secluded place. The later at night you go and the darker the place the more your resistence drops and the danger you are in. (Edward sneaks back into Bella's room after he "leaves" and then sleeps in Bella's bed with her every night, she goes into his bedroom on several occations unsupervised, in fact, they are continually in secluded places together, and it is usually very late and very dark. She also does similar things with her Werewolf boyfriend Jacob)
2. NEVER lay down next to the opposite sex, get in bed together, get in sleeping bags together...etc. (all in the book)
3. NEVER remove your clothing when with the opposite sex, or wear sexually suggestive clothing. (Bella repeatedly does this while Edward is in her bedroom, or her prom dress, or when they sleep in the same bed together, and in Book 3 she tries to undress him while in his bedroom making an outright plea with him to have sex with her)
3. NEVER do anything which would arouse sexual passsion in yourself or another who is not your spouse! (just reading these books causes erotic thoughts and feelings because of what the characters are doing to and with each other)
We teach these important rules and many others to our youth because we want to protect them. Latter-day Saints believe that our sexuality is a very sacred power given to us from our Heavenly Father, and it must not be toyed with. Every one of our prophets and apostles have spoken strongly regarding this subject. President Kimball warned repeatedly that we must never read or watch anything which "titillates" us. In my opinion, Stephanie Meyer's books are such a big hit with "the world" because they are titilating. Sex in any guise always sells. Satan sells it to our youth in degrees. If he can get you thinking sleeping with a boy with your clothes on is ok, it's not too long before those clothes are gone, and so is your virtue. The second thing that always sells is violence, which these books also have plenty of!
Meyer's characters are selling the idea to our youth, and to a lot of besotted sexually starved middle age women out there that it's ok to walk on the edge with your sexual powers. They teach women that it is harmless, exciting and "romantic" to flirt with and manipulate men using their divine sexual power.
The tragedy to me is that Meyer is continually referred to as "Mormon" and "LDS", and her books have been given a free pass to sell at Deseret Book and Segull Book stores. One wonders who was trusted in these organizations to read the books and give that seal of approval? We have been repeatedly warned - the media and books and music which we allow to influence our minds will also influence our decision and ultimately our actions.
Please wake up out of your vampire trances my Twilight friends! There is nothing "lovely or praiseworthy or of good report" to be found in these books or movie. Faithful latter-day Saints need to send a message that lowered standards are never acceptable. My advice is to Stop buying these books, send a letter of complaint to LDS booksellers, and refuse to spend your money in support of this new movie!
as seraphic, and glimmer in the sun.
So they aren't burned or weakened by sunlight?
Ah well.
I don't know anything about these books or this movie. I don't much like vampire stuff. I'm a proud former member of the Van Helsing Club. But when I found out the books play out in Forks, that got my attention. I love Forks. aka - Gateway to La Push. Forks has two Chinese restaurants, and one of them is pretty good. That almost certainly gives Forks the highest incidence of Chinese restaurants per capita of any town in the USA. (I recall that the little coal mining town I went to high school in had an Iranian restaurant, right across the street from the Silver Dollar Cafe - kinda David Lynch.) Forks is a good long drive from anywhere of significance from anywhere but some wonderfully isolated Washington beaches, reservation land and the Hoh Rain Forest.
I also note that this tiny little town now has a Twilight memorabilia store. Truth IS stranger than fiction~
Stephen:
Meyer's vampires can be in the sun, but they avoid it because they glimmer like golden diamonds or something like that. Even after watching the movie my wife had to explain it to me -- I am so old fashioned that I expected night behavior, coffins, and silver stakes.
The vampires don't want to attract attention, but of course they do no matter whether in the sun or not.
Have you ever read Harry Potter, Sleeping Beauty, or Hansel and Gretel? Come on people, Twilight's a fantasy! Not an existential expose on vampire morals and behavior or a teen aged sex manual and certainly not a treatise on Mormon virtue and morality. If every Mormon who wrote a book with only the Mormon audience in mind, they'd never make a dime and no one would read them.
One girl commented on a one of the many Twilight blogs, that Stephenie was out to convert people through her books. Bah! I never saw any pass-along cards at the end of the book or the Church's 800 number on the last page and I should know, I've read Twilight nine times, going on ten.
For a book written primarily as a teen aged love story about a young girl that wasn't brought up in a Mormon household, it's very innocent. The fact that Edward insists on abstinence goes to his upbringing. As for Bella not being able to breathe when she's around Edward, obviously you've never been a teen aged girl. I was so stressed when I saw my football player, I almost passed out from lack of oxygen.
It's not the gospel according to Stephenie Meyer or a book to influence young Mormon girls to abandon their precious virtues in search of the perfect lover. It's just a fantasy, an innocent love story that neither teaches Mormonism nor denies it. It just is.
Everybody loves to analysis Stephenie Meyer's books to death. Try analyzing the book "Everybody Poops" or "Curious George". I've always wondered just what he's curious about.
I find it interesting that Andrew pointed out that Twilight was full of "LDS dog whistles" and yet Mormon Soprano says, "There is nothing 'lovely or praiseworthy or of good report' to be found in these books or movie". I appreciate your analysis and the moral drawing, however, I'm sorry, I disagree with both hypotheses.
The first thing a writer is counseled to do is write what you know. Stephenie is LDS, she loves fantasy and wrote fantasy according to her background. Nothing more or less. We're counseled to read out of the best books, that doesn't mean they're all going to be full of LDS doctrine, real or implied.
I think we should celebrate and rejoice in Stephenie Meyer's accomplishments and in her good fortune. She's brought a lot of positive attention to the Church, a lot more than Prop 8 has. We could use some favorable recognition right now through the good works of one of our more famous members. Thank you Stephenie Meyer.
Hey, Carol, thanks for commenting. Your reactions make a lot of sense.
My little movie review was trying to understand why "Twilight" was a "Mormon" phenomenon. If it is, then it is only because of the author. You are right that the story is pure fantasy, and it is not designed to carry strong religious themes.
However, going into the movie without any background, I was expecting religious themes. I thought it was another "Mormon" movie, but it is not. So, I learned something.
Will I go to the next movie in the series? Yes, but probably because my wife made me. I normally try to avoid teenager fantasies. Do they have a place? Of course.
Thanks for commenting. I was very pleased.
Hi S. Faux,
I can rarely get Carol to read essays of some of my fellow bloggers. What I find interesting and worthy of comment, she does not. Your essay on Twilight obviously struck a chord with her. Carol is passionate about the movie and the books because it evokes in her the epitome of what a good romance story should entail. She has written four complete romance novels of her own and is working on two more.
I have not read the books, but I am very familiar with Twilight as Carol read it to me out loud on the way home from a recent trip to Utah - four hours one day and seven hours the next. I must confess that the drive home from Brigham City to Camarillo has never flown by so fast. Sure, Stephenie can be rather verbose but then so am I. I liked her style and her story telling.
Carol had tickets for the midnight showing Thursday night. I said that was too much for me so she had no problem getting her friend to go with her. She wrote all about it on her blog. However, like you, I could not get out of the matinee showing and I'm glad I went. About fifteen minutes into the show, I turned to Carol and said, "You know, this is really good." It only got better as it progressed. I left the theater having thoroughly enjoyed the show.
I am fascinated by the contrast between Andrew's take on the books as compared to that of Mormon Soprano. On the one hand we have an in-depth analysis of Mormon themes that I simply had not seen. I have read comments of many others who say the same - that it's an obvious attempt at indoctrination into the Mormon cult. On the other hand, I had not even begun to consider some of the warnings that Mormon Soprano brings out in her analysis. Wow!
This was obviously not a Mormon movie, and not produced by a Mormon-owned production company, therefore it does not fit into the same category as the RM, the Home Teachers, The Singles Ward or even the Passage to Zarahemla. The closest thing I can find so far is Saints and Soldiers or Forever Strong. We have seen all these but Twilight blows them all away. Why? Because the budget was much higher and because it wasn't produced by a Mormon-owned production company. It is only the author that happens to be a now famous member of the church.
Thanks for the thoughtful essay on your experience with Twilight. Floyd's comment reflects what I feel about the whole idea of a young man in full control of himself in romantic situations that appeal to young women - which, to me, is the main theme of Stephenie's books. It is an ideal and a fantasy that strays far from reality in today's world. The stern warnings found in the comments from Mormon Soprano amplify this thought well.
But, as Carol says, it was written as as a fantasy, and based on my feelings as I walked out of the theater, and the box-office results so far, it succeeds in a wonderful way as a feel-good movie for the romantic in all of us. I am glad Carol dragged me to see it. It is good to see things from the romantic's point of view. We need more of that in today's world of worry and anguish over the economy and the state of the nation, especially with those who have it out to destroy the Mormons. I wish Stephanie Meyer well and say well done. Thanks for the essay on the subject.
Mormon Soprano:
Thanks for your detailed comments. You provide a lot of food (or maybe blood) for thought.
I was wondering what the reaction would be to "Twilight" if it had been written by an LDS man, but then my daughter-in-law reminded me that Orson Scott Card's book "Saints" is very steamy. So, I back down on the gender issue.
Malones:
Thanks so much for reading and reacting!!! Both of you are kind of heroes to me -- at least in the blogging world. Carol, good luck on your novels.
Mormon Soprano's comments ring true to me. I'm so glad I read your comments. I have not read the books and was wondering whether or not I should check out the movie because of all the popularity. Now I don't think I will bother. I try not to waste my time or money on that which is not out of "the best books." If we (members of the church) don't live the higher law, who will?
Jennifer, it is great to skip the movie and it is great to go to the movie, if that is what one chooses to do.
Twilight is a lot cleaner than the vast majority of movies out there. If one passes on Twilight because of personal standards, then I do almost wonder what Hollywood movie could ever be seen.
I can certainly understand why some LDS people do like the movie. But, I also do not find any fault in others who choose to pass over it.
S.Faux,
I agree with you and don't fault anyone for seeing the movie or not. It's a personal choice.
I'm glad it's a clean movie. I heard it was going to be rated R but Stephanie wanted to be able to see her own movie. She deserves credit for that. We need more clean movies.
Your're right about not being able to see many hollywood movies. I don't. I can't stand to watch many T.V. shows either. I believe we all get desensitized too easily.
I once heard Bro. David B. Haight speak about when he and his wife saw a movie while they were on a boat ride. The boat was taking them to where Elder Haight was to serve as a Mission President. After serving as Mission President, they took the same boat back home and saw the exact same movie too! But this time, they couldn't tolerate watching it. It offended them. They realized that the movie hadn't changed; they had.
I have experienced this same type of realization as to how we can become desensitized to what Hollywood puts out for entertainment.
Shortly after being in an automobile accident where I could have been killed, I had gone with my husband to see one of the Lord of the Rings movies. I'm sure that had I not been in the accident, I would have enjoyed the movie just fine. But, when you are that close to dying, it tends to put things into perspective. I felt a great sense of gratitude for my life being spared and for a second chance. I did not want to waste a single moment. I felt the spirit very strongly for about a week. Then we went to that movie. The beginning was fine and then when one friend started choking another over a ring, I felt the spirit shrink in me. Then as the scene continued, it started to offend me so much that the only way I can describe it is to say that it felt like daggers were piercing my spirit! I couldn't stand the feeling!
I know you may know what scene I am talking about and it may seem pretty tame and I probably could watch it now with no problem - I am not as close to the spirit as I was at that time, but I choose not to. Anyhow, I had to leave the theatre and go to the bathroom to recover. I thought to myself, "This is ridiculous, it's just a movie. I'm going to give it one more try. Maybe that was the worst part." I went back in and sat with my husband who was curious as to why I had to leave as nothing had happened on the level that would usually cause me to leave. I only lasted about ten more minutes before that awful feeling came back and we left.
Yes, I was teased by my husband and all my friends who are all good LDS people and loved the movie. My husband, however, did understand why I was so sensitive.
I only bring this up to respond to your statement about how there would not be many movies from Hollywood that I could watch. And you're right. I'm sure I could sit through Stephanie's movie without an adverse reaction but from what I have heard, I choose not to.
I guess for me, concerning this "clean" movie, it's more about not supporting a movie that depicts a safe outcome to having a boy in your bedroom and worse yet, sleeping with him all night. I think this is going to give a lot of teenage girls a false sense of security that will lead them to believe they can get away with this and no harm will come of it.
Also, possibly thinking that the young man they are with would have the same amount of control as I have heard Edward has. Most adolescent boys don't have Edward's fictitious amount of control.
I think Twilight seems very dangerous in it's subtlety. Satan gets us this way. We've all heard the analogy of how you don't cook a lobster by putting it into a pot of boiling water. You place it in cool water and then slowly heat the water. Before long, your cooked!
I don't think Stephanie realizes the message she has sent to the LDS youth of the world. They know she is LDS and that may give Bella's behavior a justification. What teenager won't take any justification they can when making difficult decisions?
I like to support clean movies as much as I can. But what bothers me is that Stephanie Meyers is LDS and should know better. When we have the knowledge we do, we have a greater responsibility to others. Where much is given, much is required.
Maybe she doesn't know any better and doesn't understand the principles which Mormon Soprano brought up. I'm sure she didn't mean any ill towards anyone and just wanted to make money. It's true that a lot of times in order to make money you have to make things titillating.
(I am gathering it is titillating from all the twitterpated reactions I am seeing.)
At any rate, no amount of money would be worth it to me. The worth of souls is great. Even one soul. I wouldn't risk writing anything that could lead even one teenage girl or other person to "flirt" with their eternal standing just so that I could have lots of money in this SHORT life - comparatively speaking. And it is short! It could end at any time. This is why NOW is the time to prepare to meet God. Eternity is much longer.
I'm just saying that there are different levels of spirituality and I am trying hard to get back to where I once was spiritually and I believe every decision we make either brings us closer to that, or away from that. We take baby steps in one direction or the other. Either way, our decisions move us in a direction.
I simply choose not to support Twilight with my time or money. There are other more worthy things I can do with both that will bring me closer to where I want to be. It's a small decision, but through small and simple things, great things come to pass. One day we will all wake up to where all our small little decisions, we make right NOW, have taken us.
Thank You again Mormon Soprano for your post! I'm glad I stumbled upon this blog. It's a good thing!
In my analogy, I should have said a frog instead of a lobster because a frog placed in a boiling pot of water would jump right out!
Jennifer: thanks for your extended response. I cannot comment on the Lord of the Rings. My boys love it, but I know very little about it. I think I saw the first movie, but that is it. I liked the music, not much more. Overall, I dislike fantasy, quite a bit.
I would like to hear Stephenie Meyers views about the role of her religion in writing these books. Maybe there is such an interview out there.
There is very little aspect of life that the scriptures do not cover, both good, bad, and evil. The moral lessons of literature do not need to be explicit, but I do appreciate when they are there, even between the lines.
I'm reading through the first Twilight piecemeal and I really like it, but I'm not about to see the movie. I'm one of those sensitive viewers too, just like Jennifer.
One of the things that is appealing about the book is that the characters are open about their feelings. I really enjoy the dialogue. I think girls find this enjoyable, because they like to dream about capturing some guy's attention to the same extent. However, I agree that being in the bedroom gives the wrong idea about what's safe.
One aspect I am of two minds about. In the book, Bella and Edward seem to spend time exploring where the line should be drawn, and part of me agrees that it is wise to think about where to set boundaries. However, I don't particularly like how they go about doing it, because they seem to do it by trying stuff, which is just stupid.
Something else I like is that Edward makes a big deal about trying to protect Bella. I'm halfway through the book right now, so I don't know how that sentiment works out to the end, but I think that is very refreshing. However, it sometimes seems as if Edward is trying to seduce Bella, and if so, then that's not very protective.
Just my 2 cents..
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