Twilight Rant

This deserves to go up here. It's been on Facebook and it's been published in the paper, but I love it and think the message and wording is some of my best.



For the life of me, I can’t seem to fathom the epidemic that the “Twilight” series has instilled in people all over the nation. You may have noticed that I did not refer to it as a saga, because in my mind, it does not classify as one. Curious as to the real definition of the term, I looked it up. A “saga” is a narrative that has been developed by age - which of course the ramblings of Stephenie Meyer have not. The first book wasn’t published until 2005, and the hype didn’t start right away, giving the novels less than a three year window to snow ball into a so-called “saga.”

“Lord of the Rings” is a saga – something that was written and read by generations before being butchered on the big screen by Peter Jackson. However, the books are still nearly timeless and deserve the distinction of a “saga.” I wouldn’t even define Harry Potter as one, as it too hasn’t been around long enough. Although comparatively, I put it far above Meyer’s dribble.

And before I get fan girls (and boys, alike) crawling over me with accusations of ignorance, I have attempted to read the books and I have begrudgingly partaken in the viewing of both movies. I got through the first few chapters of “Twilight,” since all four of the books were forced upon me in a not-so-caring-package from my mother and brother. After even that little amount of reading, I felt my eyes drifting off the page in boredom and a slight trickle of my brain matter seeping from my ear.

I’m not one to say that I could write better, but Meyer’s diction, syntax and lack of over-all description and thought into her words and choppy sentences made me question the book’s merit. Call me an English snob, but I can’t stand it. I’ve heard from people who have read through the entire series that the writing improves throughout, particularly the fourth novel, but it’s something I’m not willing to check for myself.

I understand the audience for which it is aimed, but why on earth are girls and even boys my age and older falling head over heels for this lack-luster fairy tale?

The characters, both in novel and movie form, are unrealistic. I’m not talking about the existence of vampires and werewolves, although if you believe they’re real, you go ahead and think that. I’m referring to the plot and main subject of the series, namely love and its troubles. As true as some of those obstacles might be, how realistic is that a girl would not only find one overly-caring and utterly perfect boy to love her completely, but two?

That said, I’m not bashing or questioning the intentions of young men. However, I am arguing the point that the series instills an unattainable expectation of men in relationships in girls of all ages. There is no doubt a line between fiction and realism, but it’ll be in the back of their minds no matter what they might go through.

Facebook is plastered with “Flair” application buttons that read “I want to find my Edward” or “Edward, take me away,” stemming from this unrealistic portrait that Meyer paints of a man’s role in a relationship. Oh yeah, because that’s healthy.

As I said, I did go see “New Moon” in theaters, on the opening day no less. I will admit, however, that I only did so because it was a better alternative to sitting in my room watching movies by myself on a Friday night.
When I was telling people I was going to see the new “Twilight” movie, I was corrected more than once that it was “’New Moon’, not ‘Twilight,’” in such a way that you might have thought I had badmouthed Jesus in Jerusalem. Terribly sorry to anyone I might have offended; I didn’t realize that there is now a “Twi-ism” religion.

The movie had some good points, I will admit. I enjoyed Edward reciting Shakespeare, mainly because I’m a hopeless English geek. I also enjoyed the fight scenes between the good vampires and the creepy vampires in Italy. The production and special effects in that scene were pretty awesome. It was also interesting to see Dakota Fanning all grown up and in a role that broke her long type-casted career.

With the good always comes the bad. There were a few scenes in the movie that were probably supposed to be genuine and serious, but succeeded in making me laugh out loud. This of course, earned me hisses and glares from devout “Twi-istic” audience members. The scene in which Edward and Bella were running in slow motion through the sun-patched forest path and both individuals were glittering as they glanced over their shoulders and shared a loving gaze made me giggle uncontrollably. I didn’t know the series shared directors with Baywatch.

The ending of the film made me gag. Perhaps I am the atheistic equivalent to the “Twi-istic” religion, but I once again started to laugh at the unfathomable turn of events. Getting married as a senior in high school is never a good idea, no matter if you’re planning on becoming immortal or not. Once again, this inspires young girls that this idea is completely acceptable. In some cases it is, but with rash reasoning is never a sound choice – remember what happened to Romeo and Juliet.
My opinions thus developed and clear, I invite all “Twi-istic” persons to defend their stances on the merit of the films and books. I’m completely and utterly curious as to why people enjoy being a part of this sparkling pandemic.

A Journalist's Medium: Beware

This vessel, this little blog, which holds some of my most personal thoughts and analogies paired with my ramblings of inane randomness of things that pop into my mind, is only to serve as a means of creative thought for someone such as me who is a writing major. I plan on going into journalism, which overflows with a plethora of smartass and cynical writers that seemingly ramble in ways that are clearly portrayed and well thought out. That's what I hope to do with this. So in short, if anything were to ever spark a moment of controversy to whomever may happen across this, keep in mind that even if it happens to be you, not in name of course, because I have enough tact to keep names of people out of my negative posts, I expect no reaction from anyone, as I am a journalist, this is my blog, and I'll write what I please.

Along with that note, however, remember that I am a journalist. Investigating is what comes naturally, and it's something at which I'm talented. If you think I don't know, chances are I do, whether or not I found out from someone else or read it from people in general. I know a lot more than I let on, and don't ever underestimate me. I may even know facts about things that you think are secure and sound. This is not a threat, no, never. I'm very sweet and nice in all actuality. However, I'm just asking that you don't underestimate me in any thought.

Realizations that can brighten one's day...

So it's been almost exactly a year now since I was dealt a blow that landed me on my butt. I thought it would hold me back for a while, especially since there was no way I could get away without giving up all my hopes, dreams and everything I'd ever worked for.

But I've come to an interesting realization about that incident. It hit me that the reason it still burns whenever I think about it even now, is because it wasn't so much the loss, but rather the rejection. Yes yes, a rejection story, how trite, because doesn't everyone struggle with the thought of rejection in one time of their life or another? But see, I never did. It never bothered me if a boy said no, or broke up with me. But this time, this time, since it was so damn obvious that I wasn't as good as the newest piece, and was being dropped as if defective, that's what hit me.

So it's not a matter that I miss him, necessarily, or that I hate her, despite the situations we've been in. No, it's a matter (complicated by others that I'm going through right now) of being rejected so harshly for something better. For obviously not being good enough and being shown it in a rash way that left me crying, something I don't do.

As life goes on, I realize little things in life like that, and feel the need to share. It's funny though, because I really don't miss much about my life a year ago and before. I don't miss the companionship or the thought of stability.

I just continually wish I could be good enough for someone.

Snow

Snow in Maryland makes me giggle. It's so funny, how people around here deal with it.

I flew in Thursday night, and Friday night it started snowing. People all week, apparently, had been talking about the possibility of the snow and what it could do to the area, but I doubt that anyone was really expecting 23 inches of the white stuff. The civilians are bad enough, but everyone else doesn't help anything. The road crews don't know how to clear it off properly. They figure pushing it around and making really tall towers constitutes as clearing... however, if a WHOLE LANE of a high way or a whole turn lane disappears under snow, that's not a very good job. And the news casters who call it the "blizzard of 2009" definitely don't help the whole situation. It technically didn't constitute as a blizzard, look it up. And then the city and county and state officials who call a state of emergency before even all the snow has fallen. That makes the National Guard mobilize... why?! I mean, people cant get out, which is bad if you have a worthwhile profession like a doctor or something, but otherwise, what?

They've already closed school for my brother tomorrow, Tuesday, when the snow happened on Saturday. That's how bad they are at clearing roads. They can't even do it properly after a few days.

And people are always complaining about how cold it is! It was like 35 degrees and I heard people talk about "how cold it is out here!" Bullshit. You want cold, deal with the -5 degrees we were dealing with at school last week. (Granted the game last night was really cold, but anything is cold if you're out in it for ten hours straight).

Fail, Maryland.

I wrote this mainly to get that bitching out of the way, but also to break up all the melancholy and lovey posts that I've been making. Though, I do miss someone terribly, especially after the amazing couple days we spend together before break :)

FAIL:

So, not only did I manage to not remember a group meeting, but fell in the snow down the Rhiney Bowl and cover myself in snow. I had to be helped to be rolled out of my coat and other layers.

FAIL, Jessie Jean.

Kharma

It's kind of funny when you think about some things. I've recently become a full believe in this little thing called Kharma, something I've never quite understood before, but now I do. And it's not something that I would normally believe in, having the full belief that things happen for a reason that hopefully comes out for the best. But Kharma is fascinating, and interestingly enough gives a small, mind and heart rotting sense of satisfaction that makes you smile and at the same time feel guilty. In all reality, it shouldn't, since there is a small part of people that thinks, "Well, they deserve it - after all that's what they've done to other people in the past," but at the same time, there's an almost overwhelming sense of guilt caused by the fact that you know through past experience and empathy what they're going through, and it's not fun.

Some people just laugh a little and wish the best for others, hoping that the other's experience turns out better than what their own did. And then there are other people who laugh cruelly and point fingers, rubbing their own wronged natures in the perpetrator's faces.

And which one am I, do you ask? Well, considering my actions thus far, only some people can really tell.

What I do on study breaks...