Title

An ordinary text with extraordinary affect how reading Twilight can change the world

Date of Award

2011

Degree Name

M.A. in English

Department

Department of English

Advisor/Chair

Advisor: Bryan Bardine

Abstract

Stephanie Meyer's four part series, Twilight, has caused a ruckus in popular culture; however, this love triangle among a high school student and two supernatural beings has had less of an effect on academia. Rather than continuing to ignore Twilight, I illuminate the importance of this test in academic study by examining its influence on the town in which it was set. Since the publication of Meyer's series, Forks, Washington, the real town in which the narrative was set, has undergone many changes. These changes caused by the text, are evidence of Twilight's power. Using textual analysis, theories of the act of reading to discuss the potential of the series, and actual accounts of Forks illustrate the text's influence on the town, I conclude the text has had a significant economic and cultural effect on the town without being a revolutionary text in itself. Twilight, while being quite typical, has caused seemingly atypical results, and I argue this paradox is worthy of further academic pursuit.

Keywords

Meyer, Stephenie, 1973- Twilight saga Influence, Meyer, Stephenie, 1973- Twilight saga Criticism and interpretation, Forks (Wash.) Economic conditions 21st century, Forks (Wash.) Civilization 21st century

Rights Statement

Copyright © 2011, author

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