Screening Twilight
Critical Approaches to a Cinematic Phenomenon
Published on 19. June 2014
Book
Hardback
232 pages
978-1-78076-665-2 (ISBN)
Description
The Twilight saga, a series of five films adapted from Stephanie Meyer's four vampire novels, has been a sensation, both at the box office and through the attention it has won from its predominantly teenaged fans. This series has also been the subject of criticism and sometimes derision - often from critics and on occasion even from fans. However, it also offers rich opportunities for analytic and critical attention, which the contributors to Screening Twilight demonstrate with energy and style. Through examining Twilight, the book unpacks how this popular group of films work as cinematic texts, what they have to say about cinema and culture today, and how fans may seek to re-read or subvert these messages. The chapters addressTwilight in the context of the vampire and myth, in terms of genre and reception, identity, gender and sexuality, and through re-viewing the series fandom. Screening Twilight is also a revelation of how a popular cinematic phenomenon like Twilight rewards close attention from contemporary critical scholars of cinema and culture.
Reviews / Votes
'Harman and Clayton have gathered together a dynamic mix of writers who tackle the series in all its complexities [ - ] This book is a must-read.' Stacey Abbott, Reader in Film and Television Studies, University of Roehampton 'Screening Twilight [ - ] examines not only the texts but also how fans and critics have responded to them and it opens up a lively discussion of the cultural significance of this new twist in the vampire tale. In short, this is a terrific book.' Milly Williams, Senior Lecturer in Film and TV Studies, Brunel UniversityMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Weight
489 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78076-665-2 (9781780766652)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Wickham Clayton's completed PhD thesis for Roehampton University is on the aesthetics of the Friday the 13th film franchise and he has contributed to several edited collections. Sarah Harman is researching the role of the masochistic female body in paracinema at Brunel University.
Content
1. Mute Monsters and Vocal [Fan] Critics: Genre and Reception
Guilty Pleasures: Twilight, snark and ironic fandom
Francesca Haig
'Cue the Shrieking Virgins'?: The Critical Reception of the Twilight Saga
Mark Jankovich
The Twilight Saga: Genre and Reception
Nia Edwards-Behi
2. Werewolves, Lions and Lambs: Creating and Subverting the Myth
Why Twilight Sucks And Edward Doesn't: Contemporary Vampires and the Sentimental Tradition
Judith Kohlenberger
The Lore of the Wild
Dr Caroline Ruddell
Northwest Small Town Gothic: Location and Space in the Twilight Films
Dr Ian Conrich
3. Romancing the Tomb: Gender and Sexuality
My distaste for Forks': Twilight, oral gratification and self-denial
Ruth O'Donnell
Of Masochistic Lions and Stupid Lambs: The Ambiguous Nature of Sexuality and Sexual Awakening in Twilight
Marion Rana
'Venus in Fangs': Negotiating Masochism in Twilight
Mark Adams
4. The Politics of Pallor: Post-colonialism and Racial Whiteness
The Cullens: The Mimicry of the Post-Colonial Vampire
Simon Bacon
Racial Whiteness and Twilight
Ewan Kirkland
5. Slash and Burn: Deviating Fandom and Re-writing the Text
Twilight's Queer Communities: Family and Fandom
R. Justin Hunt,
: Projected Interactivity and All Human Twilight Fanfic
Brigid Cherry
Normal Female Interest in Vampires and Werewolves Bonking: Slash and the Reconstruction of Meaning
Bethan Jones
Index
Guilty Pleasures: Twilight, snark and ironic fandom
Francesca Haig
'Cue the Shrieking Virgins'?: The Critical Reception of the Twilight Saga
Mark Jankovich
The Twilight Saga: Genre and Reception
Nia Edwards-Behi
2. Werewolves, Lions and Lambs: Creating and Subverting the Myth
Why Twilight Sucks And Edward Doesn't: Contemporary Vampires and the Sentimental Tradition
Judith Kohlenberger
The Lore of the Wild
Dr Caroline Ruddell
Northwest Small Town Gothic: Location and Space in the Twilight Films
Dr Ian Conrich
3. Romancing the Tomb: Gender and Sexuality
My distaste for Forks': Twilight, oral gratification and self-denial
Ruth O'Donnell
Of Masochistic Lions and Stupid Lambs: The Ambiguous Nature of Sexuality and Sexual Awakening in Twilight
Marion Rana
'Venus in Fangs': Negotiating Masochism in Twilight
Mark Adams
4. The Politics of Pallor: Post-colonialism and Racial Whiteness
The Cullens: The Mimicry of the Post-Colonial Vampire
Simon Bacon
Racial Whiteness and Twilight
Ewan Kirkland
5. Slash and Burn: Deviating Fandom and Re-writing the Text
Twilight's Queer Communities: Family and Fandom
R. Justin Hunt,
: Projected Interactivity and All Human Twilight Fanfic
Brigid Cherry
Normal Female Interest in Vampires and Werewolves Bonking: Slash and the Reconstruction of Meaning
Bethan Jones
Index