TA TALKS BACK: HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH?

Posted September 15th, 2009 By: 14 Comments »

For todayâ€™s edition of TA Talks Back, TA member Brooke wonders, ‘How much is too much in the Twilight world?

How Much is Too Much? By: Brooke

A few days ago I was reading an article about the convention happening in Port Angeles this weekend, or more specifically their gimick that allows people to get married at the convention for $125. I was surprised at some of the negative comments about the concept of getting married at a convention being too over the top, but I was not surprised at the number of comments saying that the “Twilight” brand is growing too commercialized, and has become less about the series of books we love and more about “let’s see how much money we can make off the brand”. Now, I am definitely not one to point fingers because since the movie came out last November I have bought more than my share of Twilight merchandise, so much so that I’ve made a conscious choice to not do the same with New Moon. That being said, I fully intend to watch the VMA’s this Sunday just to get a glimpse of 2 things, the next trailer and the premier of the new Death Cab for Cutie song that appears on the soundtrack. At 36 years old, it’s safe to say that I am safely outside their intended demographic but the promise of those 2 things will make me sit through several hours of tributes to artists that I’ve more than likely not heard of.

So my question to you guys is, how much is too much? At what point do even die hard fans draw the line? Is there even such a thing? Has your interest branched beyond just a simple love for the books or have you made the conscious choice not to get sucked into all things Twilight?

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Chris

I heading over to the forum Good article though. I love to talk about ALL things Twilight. =)
Cat

call me a sucker, but I’ve been sucked into it *shrug*
Jacquelyn

I have seen and heard a few merchandising ploys (Twilight candy and Bath and Body Works products) linked with the Twilight name lately, that have made me raise an eyebrow, but if there’s a market for it who am I to judge? The amount of movie hype, RPATTZ/KSTEW gossip, and strange, seemingly irrelevant merchandise do not take away from my love of Stephenie Meyers’ story. The books are the heart of the machine that Twilight has become, and I think that especially die hard fans realize that.
http://myspace.com/shatterd_hopes Cinderella

I think theres a middle ground…imean you dont have to buy everything Twilight …But some things you just want.i bought the candys and i have a framed picture of edward over my bed that my bf bought me… i dont go out of my way to buy things but if its something i see ill get it. i think the people that go out of there way to buy stuff, and have tons of it…somethings are cute however like tshirts and hoodies (its also a way to meet people)and bellas engagement ring…the dolls are a lil ridiculous, same as all the makeup lol, jewelery boxes and all the other crazy stuff lol
kijo921

I do understand the “how much is too much” philosophy…. I have bought a few things that are considered “over-the-top”, so to speak. I’ve bought the candies and the dolls and even the cut-out of Edward. However, I am a teacher and share my finds with my students sometimes. They absolutely love the fact that I am just as involved with this series as they are. I love it, too! However, I went through my little spell where Twilight was making more off of me than necessary but I’ve definitely gotten past it. My next expenditure will be numerous amounts of movie ticket stubs… and that’s about it!
edelacruz

I think that the studios know that Twi-fans will snatch up anything with the Twilight name on it…Some of these items are just downright useless, but SOME girl will want it because it has Twilight on it.

As a consumer, I admit I read the tabloids and I buy SOME items, but I do NOT need glittery lotion, lotion that smells like a walk in the woods, or three DIFFERENT versions of the same book. You’ve got to hand it to the marketing team handling the Twilight franchise – they know that fans are salivating and will pay top dollar for anything that links them to the Saga…even if it is pointless and excessive.
Teri

I think that this is really all apart of the fan thing, really. Look at Star Wars for example. They have everything imagineable. From lightsabers that range in prices from 20 dollars to 500 dollars. They have posters, books that chronicle the missing gaps the movies didn’t cover (and of course the after story), video games galore, action figures, conventions (where yes you can get married dressed as han and leia) and a multitude of fans willing to pay top dollar for all things in that fandom. It’s huge right now because we’re on the cusp of the second movie being released (two months guys seriously! awesome) and with possibly two more movies to come (unless they break up BD) I just don’t see it letting up for quite a while.

I grew up a star wars fan, had lightsabers for a toy when Phantom menace came out (I was 13 at the time) and I play the video games occasionally. It’s come as no surprise to me that the merchandise and the gimicks at conventions have already gotten this big. Trekkie conventions are like that too.

SM’s creation has created a following that is definitely comparable to SW and ST (star wars and star trek). There are sects of fans that are more rabid than others, and will buy up every piece of merch they can get their hands on. I have a friend who has a CRAPLOAD of SW merch and will probably be super rich someday because of how well preserved they are.

I think the most important part – as many of you have pointed out – that as long as we don’t lose sight of what we’re fans of (the books) then I think that the milking of the series will not lose anything for the true fans.
Aretha

I think sometimes, the commercial aspect of this saga can go a little overboard. I may buy posters and some articles of cothing, but it does seem to me that they can go a little overboard with this franchise, but its all good. I mean lets face it, Twilight is one of the hottest franchise’s out there right now so of course its going to be hugely displayed. Just like Harry Potter and Pirates of the Caribbean when it came out. Its all about the business. So there is a limit for me, but i can understand why its being publicized so much. I agree with this arcticle and Edelacruz’s comment about the glitter lotion and those other things.
aerialla

I have bought exactly one thing, and even bought it on sale. My Jasper T-shirt. I will be buying the Twilight Barbie’s only because I collect vampire action figures and they will go with my Buffy figures nicely.
Sabrina

“How much is too much!?” Actually I’ve asked myself that very question for this past year more times than i can count…i’ve bought every single megazine featureed with twilight stories that i can get my hands on; i harrased every single friend of mine who lives in Northern America and forced them to recieve my packages with Twilight merchs (I live in Taiwan, just a quick note)…I even got in to a standoffish situation with airline staff in the airport just because they wouldn’t let me carry my Edward lifesize standup poster on board and wanted to charge me extra $140 when i was trying to get home from Canada last month…am I carzy!? Well, appearantly i am, according to my friends. This may sound a little pathetic, BUT I HAVEN”T FELT SO ALIVE IN A LONG TIME. And ever since i’ve started my Twilight frenzy, i am happy and energetic as ever. So i guess i won’t say “It’s too much”, not just yet!
Lawren

Thanks so much for writing this article, I have been thinking the same thing about this “Twilight” mania. Don’t get me wrong buying a couple of shirts and posters is great but I think that it has gone too far from the books. Because in my opinion the books totally blow the movies out of the water. I just think that it is funny that when the movie came out everyone was in love with everything “Twilight”. So does that mean that people haven’t read the books? I think that all the merchandise is way expensive and I guess that makes sense cause Twilight is so hot right now. I just hate to see something so awesome become so commercialized.
Chelle

This is a very good question actually. It’s a fine line between what is and what’s not too much. But the way I see it, it just ultimately depends on the individual. Like everyone else has sad, Twilight is super iron hot right now and it’s only expected the brand take off with everything the marketing people can think of.

As for me, I’ve bought a few things, mainly magazines that I will treasure and keep, I know I will be buying some clothes once they are more available (not liking the t-shirts right now from Hot Topic), and I admit I have 3 copies of Twilight book right now and will end up the same with the rest once they all come out. And I will purchase the make up for sure, but I do try to be practical about it. Buying Twilight make up may sound silly to others but I do use it so why not? And it’s got my favorite thing on it and it’s so cute! If the smell of the lotion doesn’t appeal to me, then I wouldn’t buy it. I wouldn’t be buying the dolls for the sole reason that I’ve never been into dolls or action figures. So basically with the merchandise galore available right now, there’s something for everyone out there, just depends what matters to the individual.
Heike

Good Question Brooke*wink*
I say one can NEVER have enough Twilight stuff, yayâ€¦
I have heaps of Twilight stuff, a friend ask me this question a while ago when I mentioned the New Moon stuff is going to come out soon , She said isnâ€™t Twilight getting ,too commercialized? And I am like helloo, people what about Valentineâ€™s Day , 4th July , Halloween, Thanksgiving , Christmas if there is a market to be had itâ€™s there, if people have a passion for something they will buy it, ok how many people love Basketball, Football, do they have the jerseyâ€™s? I say yesâ€¦do some people paint their faces, chant the songs, I say yes. My girlfriendâ€™s daughter has everything Hanna Montana, from quilt cover to clothes to make up etcâ€¦
Why should Twilight be any different????
It is up to the individual if they want to buy it. I confess I am one of those who has spend heaps of money on Twilight, I have Team Edward & Team Pattinson T-Shirts, The Director Handbook, The Movie Companion, The Sexy Star of Twilight Mag and I will get The Sexy Star of New Moon, I have the Lip Venom, key rings, fridge magnets photo frames and I also have the Edward Standee, If there was a Queen size Edward Quilt cover I would buy it,lol, go to sleep with Edward every night, who would not want that, haâ€¦
And Sabrina you said:
I even got in to a standoffish situation with airline staff in the airport just because they wouldnâ€™t let me carry my Edward life-size standup poster on board and wanted to charge me extra $140 when I was trying to get home from Canada last monthâ€¦am I crazy!?
And ever since Iâ€™ve started my Twilight frenzy, I am happy and energetic as ever. So I guess I wonâ€™t say â€œItâ€™s too muchâ€, not just yet!
â€œYou go girlâ€ I would have done exactly the same, silly airline staff, they obviously have no idea how precious Edward is. Nobody in my house is allowed to touch him.
So NO in my book you are NOT crazy, the crazy ones are the people that just donâ€™t get
it, like you said we are happy and if Twilight Stuff makes us happy I say bring it on.
emmy

I think ive been sucked into the world of twilight. But i definitely think “oh my gosh, that is just going too far” whenever something like bedspreads or cutouts are released. I do have a couple of Twilight T-shirts, and a space on my wall dedicated to twilight newspaper articles, and i am wanting some of the twilight beauty and jewellery, but i am not at all into all the dolls and life-size cutouts and stationery. I was just thinking, i bet there is no such thing as Harry Potter Beauty! haha