The Twilight Renaissance
ANASOFIA GIRARDOT | NOV. 10, 2021 | ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
In the state of Washington, under saturated blue filters and an ethereal soundtrack, an ordinary girl would experience the story of a lifetime. Not only would she discover sparkling vampires, but her infatuation with one would result in a modern retelling of “Romeo and Juliet” that would firmly captivate the teen world. This four book saga that paved the way for the young adult vampire genre expanded beyond the border of Forks and eternally dominates the public imagination.
Created by author Stephenie Meyer, “The Twilight Saga” has been officially canonized as a staple in American pop culture since its cinematic adaptation was released in 2008. Not only did it capture the attention of innumerable teenagers with its supernatural love story, it also sparked a creative revolution that affected both the entertainment industry and American society’s focus on media itself.
As an important piece of 21st century entertainment, Twilight’s influence can be seen in the current teen population and is spotted in Stanton College Preparatory School’s own student body. Whether it is references to iconic lines or rekindling the debate about team Jacob versus Edward, classmates continue the legacy over a decade later. Social media sites are crucial in the nurturing of Twilight’s ceaseless popularity, where fans and first time viewers alike can share moments or reactions about the series. Even if someone isn’t familiar with its extensive lore or fandom, they’ve probably encountered it within their lives through commonly accessible outlets.
“Since it’s on Netflix now, everybody’s been watching it,” said sophomore Denise Duron. “The fandom fights about [Edward versus Jacob], so it creates conversation among ‘Twilight’ fans.”
The global phenomenon, originally titled “Forks”, began in 2005 with the publication of Meyer’s first book in the series, which sold 75,000 copies in its first printing. As the fandom grew through direct fan interactions and updates from the author herself, the series dominated The New York Times best-seller list a year later with Meyer’s second book “New Moon”, going so far as to top J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series. Even with Twilight’s massive success as a four book series that sold more than 100 million copies worldwide, people weren’t expecting the astounding mania from its film adaptation.
“At the time, everyone was caught off guard,’’ said Stanton film teacher Mr. Brandon Cox. “But if we look back we really shouldn't have been; it’s all there in the page.”
Starring actors Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, and Jacksonville native Ashley Greene, Twilight’s cinematic debut made over $65 million in its first week and topped U.S. box offices. Cinemas across the nation were teeming with fans and new audiences alike who witnessed a phenomenon being cemented into the public conscience. Discussions about the love story were fervently ignited as the formerly timid fandom exploded in numbers and clashed against equally large dissenters, creating a national discourse which finally included teens in the equation.
“The fact that people talked about it so negatively is still a huge cultural reaction,’’ said Mr. Cox. “They might not have even liked it, but it was still the kind of media that captured our collective imaginations and fascination, even if it was negative.”
Even though the craze isn’t as popular now compared to its 2000s golden age, Twilight’s lingering aftermath on modern day pop culture is found in various concepts and formats. The literary foundations of Meyer’s works might not be specifically centered on Pacific coast angst or brooding atmospheres, but they manifest in different ways. Surviving plot tropes, such as otherworldly love stories, self-insert protagonists, and love triangles are commonly used in popular media and can trace their roots to “The Twilight Saga”.
“[Twilight] took the under 18 aspect from ‘Harry Potter’ but turned it into romance, which countless and countless of franchises like ‘The Hunger Games’, ‘The Maze Runner’, [and] ‘Divergent’ used,” said sophomore John Syla.
These elements, which defined iconic film franchises and contributed to their explosive fame, are the direct result of Twilight’s strong influence on pop culture that still permeates in modern entertainment. Strong cinematic inspirations from the series can be spotted in recognizable fantasy shows like “The Vampire Diaries”. Not only does it center around a female protagonist who exists within a hidden world, but the whole plot focuses on a heated romance between competing central male characters, not unlike the Edward-Jacob rivalry. The established ripple effect from Twilight’s inception extends even towards the lives of people who take inspiration from the saga.
“I like to rewatch the movies and sometimes they’ll make me feel like ‘I want to make something based off of the movie.’ I crochet a lot so sometimes I want to make jackets or bags based off of the movie,’’ said senior Trish Nguyen. “It inspires me artistically.’’
Twilight’s debatable cinematic quality may waver depending on the person or time, but its impact as a cultural phenomenon cannot be understated. Whether it’s the sprawling crowds outside bookstores or a new fan watching the series on Netflix, Meyer’s work evolved from its niche emergence to one of the most emblematic pieces of young adult fiction. Even if the supernatural aspect isn’t the most relatable teen experience, “Twilight” has truly found a home within Gen Z and Stanton students themselves who carry on its legacy. Trends can be expected to live and die, but the blood of Twilight’s existencewill flow eternally.