Audience Oriented Criticism and the Bella Breakdown

After reading the article this week, Audience Oriented Criticism and Television, my answer to why the Twilight saga is so popular was some what answered.  It seemed strange to me that so many people, young and not so young, were obsessed with these movies and books.  I mean I get that people like to watch attractive people on the screen but if the movie is boring I don’t care how hot someone is I will not pay to sit through a pointless movie but this article helped me make sense of why young girls, in particular, are such big fans of the Twilight saga.  I always wondered what the whole point to the character Bella was because she never really did anything except never close her mouth and say things  halfheartedly.  However, this characteristic is the part of the books as well as the movies that attracts its young readers and viewers.  It’s because Bella does not do anything that the readers and viewers are able to connect with this character.  The viewer or reader uses gap-filling, meaning that they make assumptions and try to create meaning of the actions by using experiences or desires or their own.  So Bella becomes a reflection of the viewer or readers desires.  If this is the case it makes sense that fans would cheer this movie on because in a way they are cheering themselves on. By seeing the movies through this point of view they might become tolerable to sit through for all those who are not Bella and Edward obsessed.