I have a confession to make. You know the super-sensation that hit book stores in early 2000 and then was made into a movie in 2008 that everyone has been raving about for years? Twilight? I just now decided to watch it two days ago. I caught the last 1.5 hours of it two nights ago; I'm not one for fads but I figured "why not." I am seriously hooked. Edward and Bella's relationship is not really my type of thing. If I had a boyfriend who stood two inches from me at all times I think I would have trouble breathing. However, the storyline is just captivating! Why did I take so long to see it? I am ordering the books on my Kindle now. Last night, it was playing again, this time from the beginning so I tuned in yet again. Lo and behold, an adoption/foster theme has made its way into another movie.
Two of Bella's friends sit with her at the cafeteria table. In walk the "Cullens." A family but not your ordinary family. A family with five children where four of the five are dating each other, they are all around the same age, and none of them look alike. One girl describes one of the Cullens as looking "like he's always in pain" and then called another Cullen "weird."
How does an author or director explain how a family of children all about the same age don't look alike, and are dating?
They're foster kids! Of course!
*sigh*
It's OK, Twilight, I think I still love you.
Do you think it is a positive thing for Twilight to use foster care/foster kids as the theme for heroic characters in a movie?
(and no plot spoilers, I haven't read the books or seen the other movies yet!)
Never bothered me only because I always took it as the reason that made the most sense. They could have said other things, but the whole point was for them to seem "normal" and how do you explain it in a way other than "foster kids" so that people don't talk about it at home and with each other? I don't know, maybe I'm just not creative. Or maybe it came across better in the book... You'll have to let me know.
ReplyDeleteJenn, it didn't bother me all that much either. I too thought it would be the only way to explain how they are all together as a family. I just can't believe how I can't take two steps in either direction or turn on the TV without adoption/foster care in my face 24-7, especially when it is usually negative.
ReplyDeleteI like having foster kids as being heros in a movie.
I wish BJ Lifton were still alive to ask her opinion. She writes extensively on the role of adopted/abandoned children (which the Twilight characters weren't actually adopted or abandoned it was just their cover-up) being the Jungian "warrior" protype by personality or otherwise being put in a super-human role. She does it so much more justice in explanation that I do lol.
Amanda - I like that "fosters kids as being heros" - we are most often considered worthless or garbage - or just pathetic. I like that.
ReplyDeletePlease explain "Jungian "warior" protype" - LOL - I seriously don't want to dig the books out tonight!