‘Twilight’ class looks at women’s role in media

Young women will be big media corporations’ newest target audience at the box office with the release of “New Moon” on Friday.

Based on the second book in the “Twilight” series by Stephenie Meyer, it is the continuation of the low-budget film production that turned into a multi-million dollar success.

IU associate instructor Spring-Serenity Duvall credits the “Twilight” craze to the outpouring of support from teenage girls and young women around the globe.

This spring, Duvall is set to teach a gender studies course called “Titanic to Twilight,” which will examine the culture of girls and young women as consumers and producers within pop culture.

“My hope is that the popularity of ‘Twilight’ will prompt curiosity among students to explore and take seriously the role that girls play in influencing, creating and consuming media,” Duvall said.

The success of “Twilight” draws attention to other series that have become popular with teenage girls and young women.

Sophomore Attie Kempf became hooked on the “Gossip Girl” series when she started reading the books in seventh grade.

Since the “Gossip Girl” TV premiere in 2007, the series has gathered a devoted following of young women, similar to “Twilight.”

“People desire what they can’t have,” Kempf said. “By reading books and watching shows or movies, the audience can live vicariously through the characters.”

Reflecting on the “Twilight” saga, Kempf sees how readers might long for the sense of adventure the main character, Edward, experiences as a vampire.

Duvall acknowledges the power of suspense that initially hooks readers on the “Twilight” series and other similar trends.

While the media industry might be monetarily benefiting from the “Twilight” films’ success, Duvall points to the efforts of the “fangirls” as having the greatest impact, as their demands helped bring “Twilight” into mainstream pop culture.

When theater-goers rush off to see the premiere of “New Moon” this week, Duvall hopes girls will recognize their influence on the media industry.

“I hope that the series continues to bring girls together in fan communities, where they will fully realize the power that they can wield as consumers,” she said.