tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29769707.post6714041297616665803..comments2024-02-10T18:19:36.406-08:00Comments on Newspaper Rock: Noble savages in TwilightRobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01478763837213733775noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29769707.post-54075413399660712862009-12-01T23:12:24.819-08:002009-12-01T23:12:24.819-08:00I am Native American. I am a member of the Yakama...I am Native American. I am a member of the Yakama Nation (Washington State). When I read all of Stephenie's books my first thought was GREAT. This books isn't about the poor, opressed, feel sorry for Indians. I thought it was humorous that the vampires were gorgeous and wealthy while the Native Americans were wolves. Offended? Not one bit. A little bit proud of her portrayal. "You're on my Rez. remember?" So cute! <br /><br />I am a tad offended that when it comes time to cast the Native American parts that the casting directors don't make a real attempt to find our beautiful and talented Native American people. I don't like when non-Native Americans are cast for Native American parts, even if they do a spectacular job. It feels like a slap in the face, like Hollywood is saying, "there aren't any talented Natives!" <br /><br />But offended by Stephenie's portrayal? Not at all. On the contrary, I'm impressed.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17930994593190654578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29769707.post-64752593931672652362009-09-06T23:28:26.758-07:002009-09-06T23:28:26.758-07:00First, I´m not a native english speaker, or writer...First, I´m not a native english speaker, or writer, so - sorry, for mistakes and errors - or enjoy it, however ;-).<br /><br />I googled "native americans vs twilight" very early in the morning and was very surprised: what is so wrong to use only a part of legends? I serged and googled: no original native americans as the "Wolfpack". Okay, I thought: that’s not nice, but this should´nt be a problem, as long they look alike?<br />And then I found many entries about this and thought about it: it woud´nt be a problem, when this world were perfect. If never people were killed for beeing what they are, if never racism colored everithing the most white people know about, think is right about Native American. And now: actors, who are not native americans, color the way, people all other the world will think, native americans look!!!! Horrible!!!!<br />So, yes it isn´t ridicoulus to camplain about. It is very necessary to camplain and to protest. It´s the only chance to get human rights and equity for all people, no matter which ancestors color your skin.<br />Sorry for the "dramatic writing" ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29769707.post-11002264387002696582009-03-17T02:28:00.000-07:002009-03-17T02:28:00.000-07:00I live in Washington fairly close to Forks and go ...I live in Washington fairly close to Forks and go to school near a Native American reserve, and while I myself am not Native American, I can see how it can be offensive.<BR/><BR/>Meyer did not even bother to actually research the Quiluete legends. And if she is going to be using this tribe, should she not actually get their legends accurate?<BR/><BR/>I don't care if the actual legends match up with her plot or not. Twilight is set in the real world with real tribes and real people that need to be <I>respected.</I><BR/><BR/>I feel she should have sat down at the computer and taken 5 minutes to google the legends. It would have shown respect to those whose tribe was referenced in the books and true respect to the legends that have been passed down for centuries.<BR/><BR/>I realize she used 'real' legends, though she left out huge parts. And while it may seem like a small omission, she should have tied it all together and worked her story to fit the legends, not the other way around.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29769707.post-1531363176427887702009-02-21T12:17:00.000-08:002009-02-21T12:17:00.000-08:00Hey Rob,I'm glad you tackled this. Just today, out...Hey Rob,<BR/>I'm glad you tackled this. Just today, out of an itch that needed to be scratched, I googled the key words 'Native Americans are not werewolves' and this came up on the first page. As a Native American of mixed heritage who already has to deal with a lot (there sure are a lot) of misconceptions about my folklore and my identity in general (for one, I'm not an alcoholic, thank you, and I don't lie, cheat, or steal!) I can't tell you enough how much it frazzles me that every myth of ours is Europeanized in the media. Wendigo aren't werewolves. The raven mockers of my people sure as hell aren't gorram werewolves. And we are human beings, not creatures from the Island of Doctor Moreau! <BR/>So, yeah; thank you for starting a very necessary argument, or joining in on it. (P.S. I'd love to be the fly on the wall if Sherman Alexie met Meyer at a YA book award thing.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29769707.post-35843286444253806262008-12-23T00:41:00.000-08:002008-12-23T00:41:00.000-08:00For my response to your comments, Anonymous, see T...For my response to your comments, Anonymous, see <A HREF="http://www.bluecorncomics.com/2008/12/twilight-fan-dislikes-negative-comments.html" REL="nofollow"><I>Twilight</I> Fan Dislikes Negative Comments</A>.Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01478763837213733775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29769707.post-14651497282743693842008-11-25T00:33:00.000-08:002008-11-25T00:33:00.000-08:00I don't like negative comments on her books. We ha...I don't like negative comments on her books. We have to remember just like Anne Rice she created a fictional book with mythical creatures that do not exist nor ever existed. As far as getting a legend correct or down to its roots is not the importance of the story. It's a fictional story about two combatting foes and a romance between a girl and a vampire. She made up her own story and that is all that matters. She probably did not want to take the time to go over every last detail of a Native american legend. Because the story is not aimed totally on this myth. The story she is aiming at is the vampires and the love story. She probably just used the native american just add to more appeal to the story. After all why create a vampire story that has no foes in it or obstacles. That was her aim to create chaos and order. Not just a flat vampire romance where the the good guy gets the girl with no interfernce. That would pan out to a plain flat story with no suspence. if that was the case why write it. So give the writer a break. I think she was very creative just to do something different with a vampire/werewolf tale. It is obvious that the native american's do not take offense to this movie or the few that played in it would not have offered a facial appearance. I myself am decended from the native american race and I took not offense to it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29769707.post-48668815524326286882008-11-03T09:02:00.000-08:002008-11-03T09:02:00.000-08:00Meyer used a made-up Quileute legend for her story...Meyer used a made-up Quileute legend for her story, maybe. See <A HREF="http://www.bluecorncomics.com/2008/10/twilight-vs-quileute-legends.html" REL="nofollow"><I>Twilight</I> vs. Quileute Legends</A> for more on the subject.<BR/><BR/>I don't think I've said much about how Natives live--especially not in my <A HREF="http://www.bluecorncomics.com/twilight.htm" REL="nofollow"><I>Twilight</I></A> postings. What I've done is criticize the portrayal of Indians as animals (wolves). These are two different and unrelated subjects.<BR/><BR/>The woman I quoted, Mariana, said stereotypes such as those in <I>Twilight</I> have irritated "many Native Americans to no end." If you think most Natives like <I>Twilight</I>, okay, but I haven't seen the evidence for your claim.<BR/><BR/>I mentioned the problem of creators using <A HREF="http://www.bluecorncomics.com/2008/10/too-many-wendigos.html" REL="nofollow">too many Wendigos</A> in TV shows such as <I>Supernatural</I>. I don't have time to critique episodes of a show I haven't watched.<BR/><BR/>Finally, if Newspaper Rock offends you, the solution is simple. Don't read it.Robhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01478763837213733775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29769707.post-22081450739938304132008-10-05T15:34:00.000-07:002008-10-05T15:34:00.000-07:00First off let me say.. I just googled this and I h...First off let me say.. I just googled this and I haven't read much of the other entries..<BR/><BR/>I am an Oglala Lakota native from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. I have read the complete Twilight series and am living the "Native American life." Here is some insight on the place where I live. I live on the second largest reservation, population 46,000+, income less than $10,000 a year, the poorest county in the United States. If anyone has it hard, talk to my people. But this just pisses me off how this person can say this about my people. We are a proud nation and we don't let the hardships get us down. I am not irritated by Stephenie Meyer's portrayal of Native Americans. If you actually read the books, it's main focus wasn't on the Quileute tribe, she uses a legend for a fictional story. What I liked best is that she actually used Native Americans in her story. It's something I wasn't expecting since the story wasn't about Native Americans. Maybe I don't really understand because I'm not part of that tribe, I don't know their legends or spirituality. But I am Native American, most Natives I know love the books and aren't offended. There's really nothing to be offended by. If anything, I'm offended by this blog and people who think they know how Native Americans live. In Twilight, she doesn't mention anything on how they live, and that's probably for the better, because then that would make her look ignorant. <BR/><BR/>Yes I am Native American, and I am Team Edward. I'm not going to choose Jacob because he's Native American. Sure that's cool, I have Native Pride, but I also read the book. <BR/><BR/>The qualities of the werewolves have nothing to do with Native Americans... anyone WHO READ THE BOOKS could understand that. <BR/><BR/><BR/>I'm also a fan of Supernatural... Would you like to discuss how they use Native American legends in some of their storylines and how it's offensive?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com