All That Glitters

[4thofeleven]

Amused to notice while I was borwsing DVDs that the packaging for the 'deluxe' edition of Twilight actually sparkles.

(It might be threatening my reputation as a snarky critic to admit this, but I've got to say, the idea of vampires that sparkle in sunlight has never struck me as automatically absurd. Granted, Meyer doesn't really do anything interesting with the idea - and seems to forget she's established it occassionally - but the idea of vampires as modern fey, inhumanly attractive and alluring, doesn't strike me as that much of a departure from the basic concept...)

Comments

[pyramidhead316.livejournal.com]

I think the vampires from other fictional series would laugh at the wusses that sparkle in the Twilight series. :D I don't know why, but I just think other vampire species would definitely see that trait as the epitome of very "not tough" behavior, even if they technically superior by being able to stay in the sunlight. Having recently been reminded of this, I like the idea of them smoldering, while the older ones are able to resist sunlight a bit longer rather immediately bursting into fire (like in Forever Knight - sorry, but I'm on a kick with this series now, so I'm going to be mentioning it for a while). But the sparkling in Twilight seems a little too much magical and fairy like, although I guess that's the point. Actually, it reminds me of a vampire series called Ultraviolet, which I saw commercials for a few years ago. I don't know what the premise of it was, because now I can't find information on it, only on the Milla Jovovich "Ultraviolet" movie.

I like the idea of vampires looking like anyone else. I don't particularly like the idea of them being alluring and sophisticated creatures far beyond any humans. Knowing that the first vampire legends were monstrous and ferocious creatures, I like a compromise between the two - they're not damn ugly like Nosferatu, but they're not impossibly attractive like in series like Twilight either. Then again, this book series isn't meant for people like me. It's meant for teenage girls who do buy into the view of vampires as sophisticated, impossibly attractive creatures. Although I do like the idea that the Nosferatu vampires were the precursors to the sophisticated vampires - something I haven't seen a lot of series do anything substantial with. I believe only one major video game series actually covered the idea with any depth.

[4thofeleven.livejournal.com]

Nosferatu's actually a bit of an outlier in modern Vampire stories - vampires might be hidious in folklore, but they're already elegant, attractive seducers by the time of vampires like Carmilla or Lord Ruthven - and, of course, there's clear sexual elements of both Dracula's attacks on Lucy and Mina and in his bride's attempt to feed on Harker.

Mainly I just object to people complaining about Twilight featuring attractive, alluring vampires as if that's some new development, when it's been the standard for Vampire narratives for close to two centuries. There really isn't a tradition of monsterous vampires in the English-speaking world.

[sunnyskywalker]

I think I would be fine with the sparkles if Meyer did more with it. Actually, I'd like more follow-up on Edward's comment about how everything about him is designed to attract prey - he mentioned smell, right? Vampire pheremones could be scary awesome.

[4thofeleven.livejournal.com]

Wasn't there a bit in one of the books about how one of the Volturi vampires is revered as a saint in their home city?

I can see Twilight Vampires operating like B5's Vorlons - using their appearance as luminous beings of light to manipulate others into doing their bidding, and if occassionally sacrifices have to be made for the greater good... well, that's what the mortals are there for.