“Our poster showcases a group of women that do not adhere to male-defined femininity by taking the women out of the individualized boxes and interacting with each other.”
“This project examines how the Twilight series continues to depict women in a light that subordinates and marginalizes them, and proposes how displaying Bella, Rosalie, and Alice in a communal and empowered light will help to diminish gendered stereotypes.”
—Melissa Barnes, Jazlyn Andrews, Atiya Harvey, Jules Norton, and Sasha Rieders
The Original Twilight Promotional Poster
“This Twilight poster displays individualism and reinforces the gender norms within our society by physically dividing the characters and positioning the men and women in specific ways. In terms of individualism each character is acting within their own sphere uncaring of the others, which shows no sense of community or democracy […] Gender norms are reinforced through the Twilight poster because all of the men display dominating, masculine stances while two of the three women pose in a manner that reflects stereotypical feminine qualities.”
The Original Twilight Trailer
“Not once is she concerned for Bella’s health or safety because Bella is choosing to give up everything (college, career, family, friends, etc.) for her eternal love; Rosalie is merely concerned that she herself will never get to choose to have a husband who kisses her when he gets home from work or grandkids practicing to braid on her grey hair. When given the freedom to choose, both Rosalie and Bella’s heteronormative, male-centered desires pull them in the “right” direction, representing a post-feminist rhetoric that emphasizes hypersexuality and hyperfeminism as a means to gain empowerment.”
The Revised Twilight Trailer
“We wanted Bella to spend more time with Alice and Rosalie because conservative dating conflicts are typically caused by dominant heterosexual comprehensions of masculinity and femininity and intimate, romantic relationships come before all other relationships. If Bella understands how healthy and positive it is to have relationships outside of a romantic relationship, Edward won’t envelop and control Bella. With Alice and Rosalie at her side, she would no longer act ‘feminine.’ In other words, Bella would have the courage to embody confidence instead submission.”