Debbie Schlussel: The Latest Girlie-Man Your Daughters Are Idolizing (For the Moment)
This is Robert Pattinson. If you have a teen or tween daughter in America, you probably know who he is or should. He plays a teen vampire in "Twilight", which comes to theaters at Midnight, Thursday Night. I've seen it and am prohibited until then from reviewing the movie, which is based on the best-selling Stephanie Meyer series of novels.
But, if you've watched any variety news shows or entertainment shows, you've no doubt seen the Beatles-sized mobs of young girls who've swarmed this guy wherever he goes. He's the teen idol flavor of the moment. He was profiled on ABC News' "Nightline", a few nights ago. The report is funny to watch:
While I understand the excitement about the movie and the huge readership of Stephanie Meyer's books, I don't understand the attraction to this guy--this actor, Pattinson (and the shrieking, which I heard last night at the screening). I was never this bad when, as a teen girl, I liked Rick Springfield, Dennis Quaid, and guys like that. I think these girls are confusing the book character, chivalrous vampire Edward Cullen, with the Englishman who plays him. This guy looks like he wears red lipstick and has been ever since he was a little girl. And he has carefully shaped eyebrows that look a little too feminine.
But there's a trend here that's been going on for the last decade-and-a-half or so. The male heart throbs, like Pattinson, are more girlie-manish than ever. The more masculine idols of yesteryear are permanently a thing of the past. And female fans are getting more and more aggressive--a male trait.
The blurring of America's gender roles continues.
Stay tuned for my review of this interesting movie, tomorrow. In the meantime, here's the trailer:
Posted by Debbie on November 19, 2008 03:31 PM to Debbie Schlussel