In the realm of early 2010s corny literature and film, one singular pioneer triumphs — “Twilight.” The franchise, originally a young adult (YA) fiction series, gained popularity after its adaptation into five movies from 2008 to 2012. After the release of the first movie, the “Twilight” franchise became an instant hit for its depiction of a raw, tumultuous teenage relationship. Twilight’s cultural significance within the romance and fantasy, or romantasy, YA fiction space, its charm and the conversations it sparked about censorship, formed it into an iconic franchise that does not deserve the hate it receives.
The changes “Twilight” added to the romantasy genre exist as one of the reasons why it does not deserve the hate it receives. Romantasy, a literature subgenre that blends elements of fantasy and romance, did not possess an abundance of fans before Twilight. In the early 2000s, nearly all popular YA novels fit into the coming-of-age subgenre, highlighted in films such as “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” and “The Princess Diaries.” Coming-of-age YA romance became the standard, and adolescents yearned for a fresh genre. This lack of variety led to teenagers becoming fascinated with book series within the fantasy genre, namely “Harry Potter.” Stephanie Meyer released “Twilight” at a time when YA romance and fantasy ruled the minds of adolescent girls in separate spaces. “Twilight” combined the best elements from each genre, and this perfect timing led to the skyrocketed popularity of the romantasy genre in teenage spaces. Meyer filled a gap within the YA romance and fantasy niches; her fans rewarded Meyer with one of the highest-grossing movie franchises of all time.
“Twilight” does not deserve the hate it receives due to its effect on fangirl culture. While “Twilight” remains recognized mainly for its movie counterparts, the book series’s effect on fan culture remains unmatched. By 2007, after the release of the third book, one point became evident: “Twilight” caused a shift within the world of fan culture. Before “Twilight,” the majority of fan culture provided a welcoming space for males to express their interests, though women lacked outlets for nerdy behavior. “Twilight’s” release caused a cultural shift in the ways those outside of it viewed corny fan culture. No longer did the stereotypical fan of popular franchises wear “Star Trek” shirts and geek over comics; instead, they held a Team Edward and Team Jacob discourse. The “Twilight” craze still remains evident in fan culture and bursts of vampire-related romance books.
Among critics and the public, “Twilight” exists, unanimously, as a substandard franchise. The fact remains that the majority of these critics and the public do not acknowledge one simple fact: “Twilight’s” corniness remains the exact reason why fans obsess over it. “Twilight’s” weirdness and unapologetic awkwardness aid to its enticing charm. Stephanie Meyer did not market the book as a cinematic or literary masterpiece, but the original series sprouted as fanfiction inspired by Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance. The fanfiction grew so popular that Meyer decided to release it as an actual novel. Fans loved “Twilight” because it reminded them that no matter how awkward they acted in front of their crush, Bella Swan and Edward Cullen remained far worse.
“The first time I watched ‘Twilight’, I was so confused. I did not understand why everybody loved it because it was so mediocre. I decided to finish the series, and after watching all the movies, I became obsessed. There is just something about ‘Twilight’ that is so charming,” magnet junior Medha Kajale said.
Certain communities claim “Twilight” handled taboo topics in a terrible manner. Bella and Edward’s relationship, in particular, faced accusations of romanticizing abuse and attachment. In “Twilight: New Moon”— the second installment — Edward and Bella separate for six or seven months, during which Bella’s recurring nightmares and depressive attitude worry her father, Charlie Swan, and her friends. Meanwhile, Edward almost reveals his true form to the Italian town of Monteculpiano to entice the Volturi to kill him. Claims of Bella and Edward’s codependency rose along with accusations towards Meyer of glamorizing codependency. People also became outraged at the sight of supposed romanticized abuse, violence and the Mormon themes within the series. Meyer famously spoke on how her Mormon upbringing and relationships subconsciously impacted “Twilight.” For example, in the novel, Bella does not consume coffee and tea, a nod to the rules in the Mormon “Word of Wisdom” health code.
While this portrayal necessarily does not promote healthy relationships, important conversations about censorship and illicit subject matter arose. “Twilight” forced society to ask itself about the responsibility of the content it consumes. Meyer received an abundance of hate for her coverage of topics in the series, yet expecting authors to censor their content negates the First Amendment. The right of freedom of speech applies to all content, taboo or not.
Overall, “Twilight’s” oddly enticing charm, combined with its impact on fan culture, transforms the franchise beyond its existence as a mere franchise. Despite over ten years passing by since its release, the franchise remains prominent. “Twilight” changed the industry; it led to the creation of novels, such as “Gabriel’s Inferno” and “Hush, Hush.” The movies and books became an experience, where the release of the franchise altered and shaped all YA and romantasy content released after “Twilight.”
“I will say ‘Twilight’ was kind of racy, but important for me to watch. ‘Twilight’ showed me things I want and would not want in a relationship. I loved ‘Twilight’ a lot, and I think a lot of people do not realize how important it is to have conversations over everything; even if the topics are considered taboo,” magnet junior Isabelle Gleason said.
