Ah, first love. While some fervently argue that the Twilight Saga books and movies are aimed squarely at teens regarding first love, that doesn’t fully explain the TwiMoms phenomenon: that of fully grown women, usually mothers themselves, voraciously reading the Twilight books and attending the movies en masse.
A case in point: when I recently viewed the new Twilight Saga: Eclipse film at my local multiplex, (on the second day of opening, no less), the theatre was packed not with tweens and teens, but with middle aged ladies, some who even had toddlers (yes, toddlers, in a MOVIE—ladies, why do you do this unless out of sheer desperation?!? It is so hard to suspend one’s disbelief when a two-year-old is kicking your seat from behind and whining forty-seven minutes into the film) in tow.
I’ve done quite a bit of reflection on my own semi-obsession with the Twilight series. What is it that attracts me so? I mean, I am a modern woman, a mother of two, highly educated, and worldly. Why should I waste my precious time on such nonsense? (My husband wants to know the exact same thing.) Here is what I’ve come up with, for my own reasons anyway, but I suspect they are somewhat universal:
1. It provides a nice escape. This is somewhat obvious; these novels and movies are pure fantasy. They provide a nice mental break from the harsh realities of forging a life with children, doing household chores, and paying bills in today’s economy.
2. The actors are dreamy. Am I attracted to pasty white, sulky, emo-Vampires? Um, no. Do I think half-naked, mocha skinned, muscular seventeen-year-olds are fun to look at? Well, yes, in theory, although the age thing does kind of kill it, for me anyway. But do I think Rob Pattinson, the actor, is hotter than a freshly fucked fox in a forest fire? You’re damn straight I do. Why? Because, as a grown woman who knows that in any movie the roles are played by human actors (usually) who draw on their own emotions and experiences to play a part, so I realize that the vampire we all watch on the screen is being played by a human guy who really knows how to bring the passion. This dude is smokin’ hot.
3. What about Rob/Edward is so hot anyway? Rob’s handsomeness? Absolutely. The fact that he, Edward, really really REALLY wants Bella, but holds himself back for fear of killing her? Yeah, kinda. But it’s not so much the chivalry thing, and definitely not the abstinence before marriage thing. (I mean, sorry Stephenie Meyer, but the religious morals inferences in your books are seriously a turn-off. For me anyway.) I think it is the foreplay thing. Let me put it this way: my life, my real life, does not have time for foreplay, like, ever. My husband and I are lucky if we get in a couple of quickie sessions in a week, while the kids are in the bath, asleep, or otherwise occupied. Foreplay does not happen. We get it done and count ourselves lucky. The idea of a hunky guy, wanting me, slowly kissing me, making me wait and want it/him more, drawing it out—god that turns me on.
4. New love. Notice I didn’t say “first love.” This is because, as I inferred at the opening of my schpiel, that the concept of first love is fully intended towards the tween and teen sets who, more than likely, have not experienced true, reciprocated love yet. I think that the reason we older females are drawn to this series is that we, as mostly long-married, cynical breeders, we miss—and I mean truly ache for—those pangs of new love. That feeling of being high on someone that makes you forget to eat, think, and breathe—that is not in most of our lives anymore. First love was great, but an older, wiser, more mature and experienced love (with tons of foreplay) is so much better—in the beginning anyway. Oh sure, I love my husband. We have a comfortable relationship that has weathered plenty of storms and we are still together, still making it happen. But I miss the infatuation stage like a dopamine addict who has been through court-ordered rehab and has been in remission for ten years. Seeing these movies and reading these books ignites my old addiction to love like embedding an alcoholic in Cancun for Spring Break and putting him/her in charge of dispensing shots of tequila during each and every wet t-shirt contest for ten days straight: too delicious to resist.
Now, where do I have to go to get one of those life-sized Twilight cutouts—Hot Topic?
