On Friday night/Saturday morning, for some reason I couldn’t get to sleep. This is a known problem, the latest I have been to sleep before is 5am in the morning. However, on this particular occassion I managed to fall asleep at 2pm, I had a little snooze for about an hour. This meant that I had stayed up 24 hours minus the nap I had. It had then come to Saturday night/Sunday morning and I fell asleep somewhere around 8am. This must mean that I had spent 48 hours awake. My body clock is so confused at the moment and I do not know how to correct it.
Do I have insomnia? Or is it sleep phase disorder? It feels like I have jet lag. This pattern of not sleeping was only a rare occassion, usually I have no more than 8 hours sleep every night. I don’t wake up late because I have had more sleep than usual. I wake up late because my body has become used to being nocturnal. I always joked about being a night owl but this really is ridiculous! I have a degree to complete, final year is majorly important. I can’t afford to miss my lectures and seminars. And being awake when a large majority of people in the UK are asleep is just not healthy let alone normal. Our bodies need to be exposed to light, this is how we function.
It is a real difficulty for me to get up in the mornings too. I have tried all things to get me up, including the old ‘alarm trick on the other side of the room’ thing. Nothing works. I feel disappointed in myself and I feel lazy, even though it isn’t anything to do with laziness. I think, most of the time I go to sleep late because I fear sleeping. I fear not being able to wake myself in time for an important lecture or seminar. I will proceed to stay up all night, so that I can go to my lecture or seminar and not miss it. But eventually, my body naturally calls itself to sleep and I end up waking up late, which reinforces the fear more so.
Sunday night/this morning I stayed up too, I somehow dozed off at 9am and didn’t wake up till 4pm. That’s not the worst part, the worst part is that at about 5.30pm I went to sleep again till 8pm. This isn’t a normal sleeping pattern, even for me. And I don’t know how to correct it, I feel so deflated and disorientated. I haven’t even eaten yet, I’m going to eat after I’ve posted this blog. Yes, my blog is more important than my hunger. If anyone can share any light on this seemingly bizarre phenomenon then please comment.
Whilst reading Twilight last night I started thinking about Robert Pattinson and his role as Edward Cullen combined with the reaction received from Twilight fans. I started to consider the parallels between the modern heartthrob Edward Cullen and the period heartthrob Mr. Darcy from Pride And Prejudice and the hype that has arisen from these characters. The reaction from both sets of fanatics have been very similar. When talking about Mr. Darcy, I do mean the Mr. Darcy from the 1995 version of Pride And Prejudice starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle and not the film version of 2005 starring Matthew MacFayden and Keira Knightley. To put it simply, this is a comparison of Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy and Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen. I will also discuss the implications that these characters have on the actors in question.
“Still, who’d have thought it? Today Mr. Darcy is a vampire.”
Orson Scott Card
Edward and Mr. Darcy are unforgivably rude to their love interests. Edward is rude because he has a strong attraction to Bella Swan. He insatiably thirsts for her blood. The Cullens are vegetarian vampires and if he were to get any closer to Bella than he did on their first encounter, it would have been more than unsuitable. It would have meant an almighty temptation for Edward and a quick death for Bella. Everyone in the town of Forks would have sought him out as a vampire causing his family a lot of trouble (not to mention that they are two different species)! Mr. Darcy likewise has a strong attraction to Elizabeth Bennet. On their first encounter, he completely disregards the thought of her as attractive and as a potential mate, mainly because of the differences in status. Mr. Darcy is upper class and Elizabeth is middle class, he would be marrying beneath him which would have been frowned upon in society. Edward and Mr. Darcy try their hardest to keep away from their love interest but are compelled towards the forbidden fruit. Both characters break down barriers which should not be broken, they go beyond their beliefs and even their family’s customs, to risk it all for the one they love.
Both characters are portrayed to be handsome, confident, rich and intelligent. This makes them unattainable to any female that does not also embody these qualities. This will make any female reader become infatuated with the character. Bella teaches Edward how to love, she provokes compassion and protectiveness in him. He is constantly keeping a close eye on her to make sure she comes to no harm. We observe how much he has changed, he was curt, cold and aloof at the beginning and warms as the story follows through. They are both brooding, complicated characters. Mr. Darcy follows exactly the same pattern. He protects Elizabeth and her family by saving them from a potential disgrace between her little sister Lydia and Mr. Wickham. We also see him being very amiable and talkative towards the end demonstrating that behind the facade, he is warm-hearted.
Also, who can forget the underlying sexual tension! Both couples must remain abstinent. Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth have to to be wed before they have any sexual intercourse because it will be a disgrace to both families. Edward and Bella cannot either, because it’s not a done thing to bring up a child as half human and half vampire! Both characters are similar in the reactions they provoke in females. It seems like girls go utterly bonkers at the mention of Edward Cullen, swooning at everything that has been written about him. Mr. Darcy has the same effect but with a more mature audience. Also, the male species cannot fathom why these characters are put so high on a pedestal and I guess they will never know the secret (this is why women moan about men, they should learn to understand this infatuation and be more like Mr. Darcy and Edward)!
I feel that at this moment in time, Twilight fans who rate Robert very highly, are completely obsessed with him because a) he’s Edward Cullen, a stigma that will always be attached to him no matter what happens and b) he has a pretty face (a fact that is unquestionable). As Twilight grows more and more popular, in years to come, Robert will want to move further and further away from that role. He will try to reinvent himself by playing roles that are the total opposite from Edward Cullen and I truly hope he does so successfully. But I really doubt that there will be much hype about him when it comes to roles outside of Twilight. Most of his fans are teens, ultimately because the Twilight Saga is written for young adults. I am not saying that they will fall out of love with Twilight, the characters or even the cast. But they will grow up and (to sound cliched) ‘get a life’. Life does happen, it does get on top of you. These teens who are totally besotted with Robert, in a few years will be attending University, working, getting into relationships, having a family. The crazed hype surrounding Twilight IS caused by the younger fans, they are the lifeforce pushing the books to become more exposed. And when they do grow up, Robert will not be hounded so much (I hope this won’t affect his chances of growing as an actor. But saying that, he does have his music to fall back on).
Colin has been stigmatised in the same way by Mr. Darcy. Grown women declare that he is a Sex God. I love Colin no matter what role he plays. But I find others who claim they love Colin, also claim that they love Mr. Darcy. They rave on about him and his ‘wet shirt’. Mr. Darcy has been such a hit with the ladies that Helen Fielding, author of Bridget Jones’ Diary had to name Mark Darcy after him and wanted Colin to play the role of Mark in the adaptation of the novel in 2001! The films Colin were involved in after Pride And Prejudice in 1995 and before Bridget Jones’ Diary in 2001 were not exactly sensational films that made every woman weak at the knees. Even Bridget Jones herself was made to lust after him, she interviewed Colin in the second book, the interview being totally dominated by ‘the wet shirt’. It is quite the Colin Firth satire! The below is the actual inteview itself which can be seen in the deleted scenes section of the Bridget Jones’ Diary: Edge of Reason DVD.
I am not saying that both Colin and Robert are unsuccessful as actors, only being able to act as one person. It is clear that they are talented at what they do. Colin is constantly in work. Everytime I check imdb.com, he always seems to be either working on a film or one is being released. Robert’s career is definitely getting off the ground. With four Twilight Saga books, Robert has a long, healthy career ahead of him. If all of those books are turned into films, there is no doubt that he’s going to be a big star. But what I fear is Robert may be vulnerable to being typecasted, much like Colin Firth has been. His role as Edward Cullen may become so overwhelming and he may become so associated with the role, that no one, both fans and casting directors will be able to see past the character. I have seen a staggering 25 films of Colin Firth so far and most of the characters he plays are similar to the proud, stand offish romantic hero of Mr. Darcy.
“But he is a figure that won’t die. He is wandering somewhere. I can’t control him.”
Colin Firth on Mr. Darcy
The above quote from Colin on Mr. Darcy summarises the impact that the character has had on his life. And in a few years time, Robert may be saying the exact same thing about Edward Cullen. Just like the essence of Darcy will always haunt Colin Firth, the essence of Edward Cullen may haunt Robert Pattinson too. This is the problem with characters being heartthrobs, the character becomes much bigger than the actor. Many people are in love with the idea of the character but not the actor, it is a shame that people can be both fickle and shallow. Yes, both of these actors are hotties. But there is a lot more to their handsome faces, they are both talented and passionate.
I was browsing through Last FM last night, as I usually do. I cannot get enough of that website, I love showing off my musical tastes! I was checking out some of the artists from the new music I had on my iPod, which consisted mostly of artists from the Twilight soundtrack. I came across Robert Pattinson’s Last FM page, as Twilight fans will know, he has two of his own songs on the compilation, Never Think and Let Me Sign. (I must say, he is great at acting but I think he’s a superb singer! He’s like Damien Rice meets Ray LaMontagne, folky and very appealing to the ear. He should pursue that career instead).
On his artist page, under the heading similar artists, I noticed that the first similar artist was a three-piece girl band called The Bella Cullen Project. This is the first I’ve heard of such a band, I’ve been obsessive about Twilight for just over a week now, I gasped at the horror! What the hell was this, some kind of spoof? And who are they? I proceeded to find out more.
The band are from Arlington, Texas and uploaded their first Twilight-inspired songs to Myspace in 2007. Members of the band are Chandler Nash, Ally Kiger and Tori Randall. They were in 8th grade at school when the band was set up and are currently in high school. Their self-titled debut album is available to buy on CD and on iTunes with another album set to be released later on this year. Songs include Vampwolf, Dig Me A Grave and Sexy Vampire. Apparently they have performed in front of Stephanie Meyer, the author of the Twilight Saga and have even met Robert Pattinson himself.
I love Twilight the film, I love Bella Swan and Edward Cullen, I love Robert Pattinson and I am loving what I am reading of the Twilight book so far. I am one who believes in expression of the self. I believe in freedom of speech, which is why I am about to begin my ranting. If you listen to their songs, they actually sound okay. They can sing and if you don’t attend to the lyrics too much, you’ll think their songs are listenable. But once you turn your ear towards the lyrics, that is when all respect goes out of the window! Below is the chorus of the cringe-worthy song titled Sexy Vampire:
“She’s our hero
How many times in our lives can we drool over vampires?
She’s our hero
‘Cause Edward’s so hot he can set the house on fire…
Yeah, he’s one sexy vampire
Sexy vampire”
Cringe, cringe, CRINGE! I had to stop the YouTube video after the first chorus! The melody doesn’t sound cheesy but the lyrics certainly are! I have heard some of the cheesiest of songs but this one, by a long mile, takes the cake. Why can’t these girls sing about normal life as a teenager? You know, songs about teenage angst and puppy love crushes. Not life as a teenager stuck in their own fantasy world of Vampires and Werewolves. Seriously, if I were Stephanie Meyer, I would have sued their fat asses for trying to buy into my work, my art! They really need to get a life, quick. But more so are those Twilight fans who are buying into this. Why can’t The Bella Cullen Project do something else to show their inspiration for Twilight? Do what most teens are doing these days, write a blog, create a website, set up a fan club! I appreciate the enthusiasm but please don’t sing pathetic songs about how hot Edward Cullen is! He’s not even real! You’re a LOSER if you a) are in The Bella Cullen Project or b) Support The Bella Cullen Project. I’m sure what Stephanie Meyer and the entire cast think, is that you are sad, pathetic and in need of some therapy. Trust me, they may say to the press that it’s awesome The Bella Cullen Project support Twilight and are inspired by it so much, but they are only patronising. They have to say that, otherwise it’ll be all over the tabloids “Cast of Twilight snub sweet, inspired fans”. And some of the fans are not sweet, they’re CRAZED! The Bella Cullen Project are going to grow up and exclaim ‘Oh my God, how sad were we!’ This is an obsession gone too far. If they think the cast of Twilight are enthralled by this ‘project’, then they are definitely from another planet!
Before I go, here’s a YouTube video of Sexy Vampire so you can listen for yourselves:
I found an article on Digital Spy about Miley Cyrus. She was told of by her pastor for texting her boyfriend in church. Allegedly, he lectured her for giggling during his service in Montrose, California. She was giggling because of a text from her underwear model boyfriend, 20 year old Justin Gaston. A source claimed, “They thought they could fool people, but Miley couldn’t stop giggling.” Miley has claimed that her relationship with Justin has been approved by her parents and has described him as “a good Christian guy” in a Ryan Seacrest interview. On her relationship with Justin she has said, “Our families are like, ‘Whatever happens, happens’. If he’s nothing but a really good friend, that’s awesome. More than anything, he has really helped me move on from a lot of things. He’s a really great Christian guy. He’s gone through stuff, and I’ve gone through stuff, and everyone goes through that.”
Miley Cyrus' boyfriend Justin Gaston
It certainly looks like Miley has moved on from Nick Jonas, the youngest of the Jonas Brothers despite her dedication to the Jonas Brother in her song 7 Things. I am a massive fan of the Jonas Brothers, I’m not knocking Nick. But I am not a cradle snatcher, Nick is too young for me. I don’t want to be accused of being a paedophile! What can be questioned though, is Miley’s abstinence. I really do not think that being in a relationship with a hot model, four years her senior, bodes well for her virginity. Even when she was with Nick Jonas I thought she was the non-Virginity ring type. If she hasn’t slept with Justin already, then she is certainly thinking about it and her parents are fighting with all their might to reign her in. I predict that Miley will follow the footsteps of Britney Spears. And we all know how that panned out. Miley Cyrus fans, I am not jealous. I do actually like her music. I have other reasons for why I dislike her and maybe this will be a lengthy post for me to blog in the future.
After seeing Twilight last Thursday, I have started to take a liking for Robert Pattinson who plays Edward Cullen in the film; the British actor who found his footing in Harry Potter The Goblets of Fire. I have come across photos of him smoking in photoshoots but I wondered if he does actually smoke. Some more researching led me to X17 Video which featured a video of the Twilight star, spotted at the Chateau Marmont smoking and drinking (the video can be found here).
Robert Pattinson photographed smoking
What I find rather peculiar is that Robert is a normal person. He isn’t some supernatural being (despite what Twilight fans may think). I understand the media’s perspective, Robert is a quick rising star. There are many teenagers, ranging from 13 to 19, who are fans of the Twilight Saga and of the film. The media says Robert should be more aware of his mass following and of their age, he is accused of not being a suitable role model for them. But I believe teenagers are not given the credit they deserve. They do have their own minds. Some teens smoke regardless of whether their favourite celebrity smokes and some teens voice their abhorrence towards the habit. The role model excuse is old news. I believe in socialization of the media to an extent but this reason is petty. Teens are aware of the Hollywood world with their binge drinking and chain smoking, his smoking is not affecting anyone apart from himself. And it’s not as if Robert is attending public events where he will blantantly be photographed by the paparazzi. It is the paparazzi hunting him down in his private time and personal space.
Colin Firth
Robert Pattinson
Dylan Moran
Danny O’Donoghue
Whether I smoke or I don’t smoke is irrelevant. One thing is for sure no celebrity would make me start smoking and I don’t think any bright young adult would either for that reason alone. However, I do find smoking sexy. The celebrities above are sexy in my opinion, seeing them smoke makes them even sexier. There is something very raw and masculine about smoking. It also makes them appear experienced. I guess it’s part of the bad boy image, even if they aren’t bad boy at all. Smoking is not sexy in reality, what with smoking-related illnesses, the bad smell, off-coloured teeth etc. But you have to admit, these guys look rather smouldering with a cigarette in their hand. I don’t think everyone should smoke; but if they do smoke, leave them to it. Especially hot, unattainable guys.
All in all, no one has the right to tell another what they should and shouldn’t do, it negates free will. If Robert or any other celebrity wants to smoke or drink themselves to oblivion then they should be allowed to do so, he doesn’t have to answer to anyone.
My name is Natasha and I thought I would set up a blog to see what all this blogging fuss is about. My aim is to post frequently (at least once a week). I do happen to rant… LOTS. So I’m hoping I can get my frustrations out on here. Plus, I like to talk about my interests and would like to encourage like-minded people to my site. I’m trying to set up an about me page so readers can get an idea of what I’m into. If you’ve stumbled across this blog by accident and this is the only post here, then please bare with me! I promise you, this blog will become a very nice read!
Natasha
IQ 