A professor of Gothic literature breaks down the reasons that Twilight's Cullen family and other vampires are so appealing to fans of the films.
The Twilight Saga's vampires appeal to viewers for several reasons, according to a Gothic literature expert. Based on Stephanie Meyer's book series, Twilight became a true cultural sensation when the first film was released in 2008. Starring Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen and Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan, the series chronicles the love story between Bella, a human, and Edward, a vampire.
SCREENRANT VIDEO OF THE DAY Despite receiving mixed reviews, Twilight was a commercial success and has grossed over $3.4 billion globally. In addition, the films have lived on in the form of Internet memes and references across media, serving as one of the most iconic modern examples of vampires in pop culture.
“Twilight is an interesting phenomenon. [Edward is] not cast as a seductive outsider that we should avoid. But he and his family represent what we should aspire to. They have wealth, they have cars, perfect beauty, they have strength. And maybe most importantly, they have restraint. Because they are vegetarian vampires, and this struck a chord. They became such a cultural phenomenon. The Twilight vampires align with a lot of the depictions that we’ve seen throughout the centuries.
How Twilight Became A Phenomenon Dr. Westengard's fascinating analysis offers a compelling explanation as to why audiences latched onto Twilight and the Cullen family over the course of the film series. In fact, even viewers that agree with the critiques of The Twilight Saga are often intrigued by the Cullen family in particular, with Alice becoming a specific audience favorite due to her psychic powers and charm.
The criticism that the films drew resulted in a 'hating Twilight' trend, which led to a hate-watching phenomenon that only further cemented the popularity of the movies and increased their staying power in pop culture. Not only did The Twilight Saga appeal to its teen girl target audience, it moved beyond that demographic, in part due to the principles that Dr. Westengard explains.
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