New Moon Movie: Too Light for Urban Readers? Or Too Young for College Students?
Robert Pattinson as Edward
I recently visited 4 campuses at the Florida State College at Jacksonville during my lecture series on the 10 Steps for Highly Successful College Students. During a part of my workshop, I talked about prioritizing and asked the students if they were planning to see the New Moon movie when it opened this weekend. I was trying to give them an example where they’d have to prioritize having fun i.e. seeing the movie or doing their essays/homework. Though the crowds were mixed– along racial lines– more white students raised their hands to acknowledge that they were going to see New Moon this weekend. Of the 70 of so, black students that I had seen at the 4 campuses, not one raised their hand to say they’d see New Moon. In fact, I had one student mention that they’d see Precious, the movie instead.
As an avid reader, as well as an author, and a black woman, I am a fan of the Twilight series. I believe the romantic tension between Edward and Bella is some of the best writing which is not overtly sexual.
Their romance in Twilight and New Moon speaks more to longing and a new twist on the Romeo & Juliet story, so I was surprised that young African American women weren’t interested in seeing the New Moon movie this weekend. I realize that college students are older than the tween/teen set that has absolutely fallen in love with Edward, Bella and Jacob but still a good story is a good story. And those books will have you reading to the twilight hours- no pun intended. I realize that the cast of New Moon isn’t very diverse, and in the Twilight movie, I believe there was only one vampire of color. Is that keeping black youth from flocking to the New Moon movie?
I came away from my lectures wondering if New Moon was too light for urban readers or if it was simply seen as too young for college students? If you are a person of color, are you planning to see New Moon in the theaters? Have you been reading the series? If not, why not? And, if you’re a college student, do you plan on seeing New Moon in the theaters? Have you been reading the series? If not, why not?
I appreciate your feedback on this issue.
Tags: 10 Steps For Highly Successful Undergrads, black students, Edward loves Bella, motivational speaker, New Moon, New Moon Movie, Robert Pattinson, Romeo and Juliet, stephanie meyer, Twilight series, white students, Yasmin Shiraz Author
About the Author
Yasmin Shiraz is the President of Still Eye Rise Films, an independent production company which films educational and thought provoking documentaries that chronicle the lives, traumas and experiences of youth. Her first production, Can She Be Saved?, a documentary that examines violence among middle school girls, was an official selection of the 2009 Roxbury Film Festival and recently won a 2009 Indie Award of Merit from IndieFest.
Yasmin Shiraz is the Award winning Author of Retaliation a novel about a community’s response to youth violence. In 2009, it was selected as one of the top Ten Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers by the American Library Association. She is the author of The Blueprint for My Girls: How To Build A Life Full of Courage, Determination & Self Love (Simon and Schuster) and five other books. Her best selling “Blueprint” empowerment series is utilized as a self esteem, motivational, and educational tool at middle and high schools, after school programs, non-profit youth centers, as well as Boys and Girls Clubs throughout the country. 
2 Comments for New Moon Movie: Too Light for Urban Readers? Or Too Young for College Students?
November 19, 2009 at 4:40 pm
My son has all four of the Twilight series books (he’s 13). His classmates loved the first movie. So, I guess we will be going to see the movie at the matinee Sunday. I like the story line….love prevails!! I don’t know if you can say the movie is too old or too young for a certain group because we were watching Oprah the other day and the teachers were just real hyped about the movie (but of course they were excited the kids were reading too)!!
Good post as usual
Dr. Sims
Minister of Motivation
February 23, 2010 at 1:03 pm
I’m 24, black, and loved the Twilight series. It was very refreshing to have a romance story that was somewhat relatable. My only rant about the series is that Bella was always so incredibly willing to “throw it all away” for a guy as soon as the first book in the series. Young girls shouldn’t be taught that they should jump into forever with the very first guy they seriously date….they haven’t had time to explore other options and perhaps deeper feelings for someone else. Oops, ranting….but I loved the romance and the underlying humor.