American women love skinny English actor nonces. This is a well-known fact, and I've not the time or inclination to argue such facts with the extra-chromosomal-types that would ignore the long-standing tradition of week-in-the-knees reactions to pretty, sometimes androgynous English actors and singers, from the hundreds-of-millions of American female gentry. The media love these actors because women are the driving force of consumption in our economy. It's not complicated.
The average American male age 30-and-older is completely numb to the persistent media attention given to any shaggy, diminutive Brit that manages to hold Hollywood's attention for any length of time. For the most part, we feel not threatened, and the nauseating effects subside after a time -- sorta like motion sickness or learning to chew smokeless tobacco. Below 30, the American male is generally miffed at attention given such girlish figures, and completely out of sorts thinking that relative machismo is of little value in sexual conquest. Like I said above, it's not complicated.
But, in my line of work, I have to read what the media is manufacturing, usually a few days in advance. I subscribe to a number of safe interfaces (newsletters, RSS feeds, wikis, etc.) wherein writers, producers and editors are "seeking sources" that will validate their minor points in pop-culture "trend" pieces for mainstream publications and broadcast programs. And, for guys in my line of work, we've seen poor Edward Cullen exploited to no end.
The travesty of Edward Cullen is that the character and the actor Robert Pattinson produce a never-ending series of angles from which to develop absolutely ridiculous stories leveraging sex. Here are two entries from today's well known HARO (Help A Reporter Out).
Summary: Has Edward Cullen wrecked your love life?
Querey: A 50-year-old woman recently wrote to an advice columnist that
she was depressed because she wanted to be loved like Edward
loved Bella in the Twilight series. Women of all ages are
enthralled with Edward Cullen, but how many women are in therapy
because of it – or should be? Is Twilight creating more
unrealistic expectations than usual in women? I am researching
the real effect that this fictional vampire love story is having
on adult women longing for the perfect relationship.
If that didn't make you want to puke, read this.
Title: Moms obsessed with Twilight and other teen or tween programming or stars
Query: For a story on mothers obsessed with teen stars or movies or tv
shows aimed at teens or tweens, I'm looking for: mothers (and
their kids) to interview. Massachusetts moms only, please. I'm
also looking for nationwide experts to talk about why adult women
find teen shows or stars interesting.
Here's the problem as I see it. Because my job requires that I determine what is appropriate for SmartyCard tweens, I've screened the romantic episodes of much of the Twilight series before making them available as rewards. Granted, I know I'm not the appropriate audience, but Twilight is absolute drek and really not that imaginative. Just like the media stories supporting the Twilight phenomenon. In an age where twenty-somethings are forcing ad-supported media and brand marketers into honest seductions and "authenticity", Twilight and poor Edward Cullen have bucked the trend to become the most un-apologetically exploited literary character since Holden Caulfield (how is that for irony, ya fonies!?).
Seriously, we're going to look back on these dreadful pop-media Cullen pieces and make comparisons to embarrassing late-century-micro-trends in media and marketing, like Acid-Wash denim fashions, the launch of new Coke, the inexplicable popularity of Air Supply, or "The Superbowl Shuffle".
The media and publicity vamps are draining Edward Cullen of whatever literal value he once possessed. Not that I give a shit, but the waning moments are almost too nauseating to witness. I wish someone would make it stop.
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