Column: Meyer tackles issues of race unsuccessfully in 'Twilight'

By ChaToyya Sewell

Published Dec. 1, 2009

In a fit of morbid curiosity and boredom (you know the kind that leads me to download Ann Coulter interviews), I read "Twilight" and "New Moon" over break. To be honest, I doubt I am the ideal reader to Stephenie Meyer and her marketers at Little, Brown and Company. I found the books tedious, the writing atrocious and Edward and Bella's relationship at times annoyingly co-dependent or disturbing.

I can understand the appeal to some, and there is definitely something to be said of the portrayal of a high school relationship in which the male partner is not primarily interested in the protagonist's sexuality. The implicit gender issues have been handled frequently, and much better than I can manage in 600 words, by everyone from the New York Times to Bitch Magazine, so I will leave that to them. Instead, I'd like to tackle some of the issues surrounding race within the "Twilight" universe, and more importantly, within the marketing franchise and the fandom itself.

In an effort to be fair-handed, I think Meyer should be applauded for writing Native American characters into the "Twilight" saga. These aren't "Dances with Wolves" or "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" Native Americans, either. These are modern men and women with modern concerns, which might seem simplistic, but is actually a rare occurrence for young adult literature not written by a Native American author. So suffice to say, I am glad Meyer wrote Jacob Black and Sam Uley. I just wish she had written them better. I cringed every time Meyer referred to someone from La Push as "russet" colored. I considered playing a drinking game with it if only to drown the pain.

Also disturbing was the dichotomy between Edward and Jacob. Edward is portrayed as this paragon of Victorian chivalry and Jacob is the animalistic wild man with a temper. A quick Google search will show this is a common trope in colonial literature. Even Meyer's fascination with pale skin and it acting as the determinant of true beauty was frustrating. Paragraphs were written to lovingly dote of the paleness of Bella and Edward's skin and their beauty only furthering the comparison between Edward and Jacob.

Within the films themselves, I think it's commendable most of the members of the La Push pack are Native American, though I think it's interesting to think about the myth of universality apparent in their casting. None of the La Push pack is Quileute, which is understandable being as there are only 750 registered Quileute today, but there is this implicit idea any Native American can represent any tribe.

All the actors playing the La Push pack are from different tribes giving the impression of universality among Native Americans, which isn't true. This concern is minor compared to my reservations over using a real Native American tribe in the book and franchise to begin with. Meyer's re-telling of Quileute mythology is shoddy at best and it's mighty uncomfortable to have the few persons of color in a novel turn into dogs.

Yet, I'm more worried about the fans. Much has been made over hardcore "Twilight" fans and their determination, who have discovered La Push and the Quileute are real people. The Seattle Times reported tourism is up 600 percent, and the tribal elders have gotten a publicist to deal with all the media requests. There are positives to this, such as increased money into the reservation, but it still is problematic that people visit like they would filming locations.

I think "Twilight" has taken steps forward to distance itself from colonial thinking surrounding Native American's place in young adult literature. Unfortunately, these steps were tempered with backward leaps as well.