Comments on: What Not To Watch: New Moon

By: Interceptor

Interceptor — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:39:47 +0000

I mean that most of the target audience are unfortunately living in an imposed simulated bubble, with little knowledge of what’s outside it. Unfortunately mass media saturation is reaching the point where there is a large section of the young population who actually believe that ‘The Hills’ represents a normal existance. Twilight, in my opinion, offers up some rather disturbing ideas hidden under a veneer of romance that bears little resemblence to the real thing, and is going to leave a lot of people very disappointed and lonely.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:39:48 +0000

I’m not sure who you are referring to as “cut off from genuine interaction.” Utahns? Americans? Tween readers? Regardless of which group, what is your basis for that assumption? That tweens or religious Utahns avoid premarital sex? Is that what you mean by “genuine interaction?” Do you think American religions discourage interaction?
This seems like a really unintelligent thing to say.

By: capnking

capnking — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:11:25 +0000

Going back to Twilight, I’ll admit I never read the books and have only seen the one movie – but it seemed to be kinda lacking in strong female characters. My friend reliably informs me that the saga consists mostly of the frail, indecisive mortal girl being saved from sexualised assaults by handsome, capable men.

By: manaen

manaen — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:58:34 +0000

By adoption, I also recommend Laurel Thatcher Ulrich as a nearly-Utahn writer. Although born in Idaho, she picked-up her B.A. at the University of Utah on her way to Harvard University’s faculty. Much of her writing is about people, events, and issues of Utah.

By: Interceptor

Interceptor — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:34:20 +0000

hang on hang on, whose ass is this anyway? Ex! – have you been leaving carrots about the place again? No wonder they keep wandering in..
Laura -thanks, I’ll give them a go, if only because ‘Terry Tempest Williams’ is a truly fantastic name!

By: Ex!

Ex! — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:15:42 +0000

Never make a generalisation, it makes an ass out of u an… hang on that’s not right is it?

ah well
*doffs bowler hat and drinks tea*

By: Laura

Laura — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:36:57 +0000

Interceptor,
Heavens, no, I’m not suggesting her work is romantic. I don’t think it’s well written or romantic (only strangely difficult to put down). I apologize…it just gets my dander up when people make damning assumptions about my childhood home (also, Meyer is not from Utah; she’s from Arizona). If you want good Utah writing, read Wallace Stegner, Terry Tempest Williams, and even Shannon Hale.

By: Interceptor

Interceptor — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:18:06 +0000

I dunno-that’s what I get for writing this stuff in my lunch hour I suppose. Laura, I quite like the States, for starters, everything is twice as big and half the price, which, to be honest, may also be the problem. But you aren’t suggesting that Ms.Meyer’s work is truly romantic are you?

By: Laura

Laura — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:15:20 +0000

Pattie…learn how to read. It’s in my comment is correct. What are thinking the antecedent to “it” would have been in my sentence if you were correct about my making a mistake? In your defense, I do suppose it would have been better had my sentence read as follows: “I grew up there, and I do not lack a sense of the romantic; it’s complete snobbery on your part to suggest that.”

By: Pattie

Pattie — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:46:03 +0000

its = belonging to it
it’s = the contraction for it is.

By: Laura

Laura — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:25:24 +0000

Idaho and Utah are also not the Midwest. And I take issue with calling Utah the Chernobyl of romance. I grew up there and I do not lack a sense of the romantic and it’s complete snobbery on your part to suggest that. Typical European condescension to the United States: so easy, so unoriginal.

By: Interceptor

Interceptor — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:37:57 +0000

Nah I know, I’m culturally generalising sorry-I’ve spent some time in Idaho and Oregon, and while Portland is a different culture to Boise (as an example), there’s still that religious undercurrent I’m afraid – at least in my experience. In my defence I’d say the thrust of the article is aimed at the culture imposed on the fans and dumbing down/corpratisation in general, although I’d admit to generalising throughout -apologies to any Pacific North-westers tuning in, well pointed out though, cheers!

By: Fred C.

Fred C. — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:27:57 +0000

Small note: the series takes place, I think, in Washington state. That would be the Pacific Northwest and not the Midwest. They’re slightly different cultures, though admittedly it would be difficult for a non-USian to tell.