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Twilight: White Is Pretty Is White
Trigger warning: racism
I want to discuss the racism I've seen so far in Twilight now before going further, because it's an important theme.
The Cullens, whom Bella thinks are the epitome of beauty, are whiter than her, and she calls herself "ivory-skinned" and "almost translucent" (10). The Cullens have no color in their skin, except around their eyes, under which are "purplish, bruise-like shadows" (19). These shadows make the Cullens look like they're all "recovering from a broken nose." Maybe I'm strange, because that does not sound pretty to me.
The paler someone's skin is, the more shadows under their eyes stand out. So the Cullens' extreme shadows under their eyes mark them as whiter than anyone else.
The Cullens' features are also "straight, perfect, angular." That "perfect" is a blinking red sign. Straight and angular features are "perfect." Non-straight, non-angular features must be less than perfect at best.
In Bella's world, these features are far from perfect:
And these features are closer to perfect:
Lots of white people don't have angular features, but in racist fantasies, these features are objectively better than other features that non-white "races" stereotypically have. Other features are not only lesser, but marks of something wrong with the people who have them. Bella's not merely attracted to pale skin and stereotypical "white" features -- she thinks anyone who has other than these physical characteristics is lesser.
I have read lots about Twilight. I've seen people describe its racism. But, though all the deconstructions of this book I've read have pointed out its racism, I honestly didn't expect it to be this glaring and pervasive. That's not a criticism of other deconstructions; I don't know if it's possible to understand Twilight's level of racism unless you read the book. It's like Bella's hatred of Forks and herself. It is one of the things the book is about.
I want to discuss the racism I've seen so far in Twilight now before going further, because it's an important theme.
The Cullens, whom Bella thinks are the epitome of beauty, are whiter than her, and she calls herself "ivory-skinned" and "almost translucent" (10). The Cullens have no color in their skin, except around their eyes, under which are "purplish, bruise-like shadows" (19). These shadows make the Cullens look like they're all "recovering from a broken nose." Maybe I'm strange, because that does not sound pretty to me.
The paler someone's skin is, the more shadows under their eyes stand out. So the Cullens' extreme shadows under their eyes mark them as whiter than anyone else.
The Cullens' features are also "straight, perfect, angular." That "perfect" is a blinking red sign. Straight and angular features are "perfect." Non-straight, non-angular features must be less than perfect at best.
In Bella's world, these features are far from perfect:
And these features are closer to perfect:
Lots of white people don't have angular features, but in racist fantasies, these features are objectively better than other features that non-white "races" stereotypically have. Other features are not only lesser, but marks of something wrong with the people who have them. Bella's not merely attracted to pale skin and stereotypical "white" features -- she thinks anyone who has other than these physical characteristics is lesser.
I have read lots about Twilight. I've seen people describe its racism. But, though all the deconstructions of this book I've read have pointed out its racism, I honestly didn't expect it to be this glaring and pervasive. That's not a criticism of other deconstructions; I don't know if it's possible to understand Twilight's level of racism unless you read the book. It's like Bella's hatred of Forks and herself. It is one of the things the book is about.
no subject
Bella's acquaintance with reality is shaky at best. I wonder if it's rooted in her racism and sexism. She was brought up to believe certain things are always and forever true of groups of people, and that some groups are inherently better than others. To keep believing that, she'd have to ignore the real world -- and how do you ignore such a huge part of the world without ignoring the rest of it? No wonder she can't relate to people.
no subject
Bella's father gets along well with the Quileutes--Jacob's father seems to be one of his best friends, and I think he ultimately marries Leah's mother. That doesn't mean he's not racist, but I've never seen him called by spokers on showing any racist behaviour. But he's a tad sexist in that he expects Bella to do all the housework, pretends to be concerned about Bella's virginity and controlling her until she passes into Edward's hands, and laughs off Bella trying to fight off Jacob's sexual assault.
As for Bella's mother, she's described as more willing to take risks--Bella seems to have been isolated at home with her, while she goes out and meets baseball players and works in different schools as a substitute teacher. So I'm not sure I blame Bella's racism and sexism directly on her upbringing--more on her isolation, indirectly the fault of her parents. She claims to enjoy reading nineteenth-century novels and Shakespeare, although she doesn't understand any of said reading material very well at all; wanting an earlier, "simpler" time (even though former times are not actually simple) goes with her prejudices and ultimate desire to die and be frozen in time rather than move along with the rest of the world.
I rather wish I didn't know this much about Twilight--apparently I enjoy reading insightful analyses like this too much. :)