Lesson: Why Twilight Is Popular

Conversation

Answer the following questions. You might be asked to write them down or answer them out-loud.

1. Have you ever watched or read Twilight? Did you like it?
2. What do you think about those vampire stories?
3. What did you think about the opinion in the video? Did you find it sexist?
4. Do you agree that Twilight was aimed at the female public? Why?
5. Why do you think the Twilight saga became such a big hit?
6. Is there any type of movie you don't like watching?
7. What are the different types of films there are?
8. Think of a boring movie you've seen. Is there a way to make it better?
9. Do you think that there are any topics that there should be more movies about?
10. If you were a film director, what kind of movie would you like to make?

Vocabulary

Look at the vocabulary below. Take time to explore the links for their definitions in English and their translations to Portuguese. When you are done, make a sentence with each word. Ask your teacher if you should write them down or say them out loud.

DT   dumbfounded

DT   predictable

DT   steaming

DT   pile

DT   hidden

DT   basement

DT   shell

DT   draw

DT   concern

DT   brick

DT   aside

DT   slip

DT   whine

DT   remarkable

DT   annoying

DT   chick

Video

Watch the following video but DON'T read the transcript yet.

After watching the video do this listening exercise.

Reading practice

Read the following transcript then do the associated reading comprehension exercise.

ExpandTranscript:

Guys everywhere are dumbfounded. Wondering why our sisters, moms, girlfriends, aunts and grandmas are suddenly obsessed with Twilight. Because when we read Twilight, all we see is a poorly written, predictable, steaming pile of vampire. So, just in case you decide to pick up the book to search for its hidden genius, we'll save you the trouble: Twilight simply stays true to a basic formula that works on your desperate, discontent female friends the same way porn worked on you after you dropped out of community college and were living in your mom's basement. Here's how the formula works:

Number one: The author creates a character that is an empty shell. By the 400th out of 500 pages, her appearance has never been described in any real detail. So we're not even sure how to draw her. As far as the reader is concerned, she may as well be a giant Lego brick. Now, appearance aside, her personality is portrayed as insecure and awkward. This makes it so that any female who has been through puberty is able to identify. By creating this empty shell, the character becomes less of a person and more of a role playing fantasy character that any female can slip into. Kind of like Dungeons and Dragons meets Anne of Green Gables - which is perfect for soccer moms or even old women who deal with the same things that the Lego brick deals with. So, after a few chapters of listening to the Lego brick whine about high school and sucking at holly bolly, you come to the second necessary element of this formula.

Number two: Meet Edward. Edward represents everything that women have ever wanted, multiplied by ten thousand. The level of detail that the author goes into while describing Edward's appearance is remarkable. The author excruciatingly details his muscular packs, clothing, hair, eye color, even his goddamn breath. You can't even count the number of times the author uses the expression "Edward's perfect face". But his appearance is just the beginning of this experience: Not only is he strong, he is sensitive. He intensely listens to every single thing the soccer mom - Bella - has to say. As far as the reader is concerned, Edward cares about nothing in the world more than her.

Number three. So you have your Lego, you have your perfect guy, now all you need is to hope that people will accept the idea that it would be perfectly normal for a 100 year old immortal with a perfect body and perfect soul to choose to date some annoying high school chick. Hey, it's that type of imagination that gives us all a reason to get out of bed each morning. So there you have it. At least this is how we think it goes. We still haven’t finished the last 100 pages yet.

Writing practice

Write a couple of paragraphs re-telling a story that you've seen in a movie. Try to use words you learned from the text if possible and try to make it as long as you can.

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