Comments on: Vampire Influence on Teenager Self Identity http://www.cleancutmedia.com/tv-shows/vampire-influence-on-teenager-self-identity Influences of Media & Pop Culture on Our Worldview. Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:51:18 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Joshua Linville http://www.cleancutmedia.com/tv-shows/vampire-influence-on-teenager-self-identity/comment-page-1#comment-5044 Joshua Linville Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:15:50 +0000 http://blog.cleancutmedia.com/?p=1509#comment-5044 As with all media, the influx of a specific idea or belief in our culture begins to normalize it for those being exposed. Such is the case with these vampire books, they take problems that it is assumed teenagers are having and infuse them into flashy fictional characters. What is sad is that teenagers look to these books as examples of how to live their lives. In Twilight, Bella Swan is described as a "plain" girl who falls in love with Edward, a vampire. Here a distinction is made between what is plain and what is cool. Teenagers begin analyzing themselves in this lens and begin to want to change who they are. In the book, Edward is described as almost perfect: he is respectful and protective. However, this fictional character creates lofty expectations for young girls and what they want out of relationships. If every teenage girl is looking for the "Edward Cullen" within their boyfriend, they will be sorely disappointed. It is books like these that continue to tell youth that they are incomplete without a boyfriend or girlfriend. As with all media, the influx of a specific idea or belief in our culture begins to normalize it for those being exposed. Such is the case with these vampire books, they take problems that it is assumed teenagers are having and infuse them into flashy fictional characters. What is sad is that teenagers look to these books as examples of how to live their lives.

In Twilight, Bella Swan is described as a “plain” girl who falls in love with Edward, a vampire. Here a distinction is made between what is plain and what is cool. Teenagers begin analyzing themselves in this lens and begin to want to change who they are. In the book, Edward is described as almost perfect: he is respectful and protective. However, this fictional character creates lofty expectations for young girls and what they want out of relationships. If every teenage girl is looking for the “Edward Cullen” within their boyfriend, they will be sorely disappointed. It is books like these that continue to tell youth that they are incomplete without a boyfriend or girlfriend.

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