Why Twilight is Great, and so is Saturday Night Fever

I'm going to share a childhood memory and date myself at the same time. Brace yourself.
My sister and I fought, seemingly non stop, for about a decade. We used to beat the stuffing out of each other regularly. She had the natural advantage of being 5 years older than me, but I was small, agile and had long finger nails. We hated each other throughout the long years of childhood until, at 16, she lent me her passport so we could go out clubbing together. After that, we've been what sisters should be to each other - like a portable piece of home.

But there is one really good memory I have of those fighting years. Anamari would dress me up in one of my mom's lilac or baby blue silky nightgowns (using belts and safety pins to keep it on) and we'd do exhibition dance shows for our parents. We'd do the hustle. She would lead (of course) and get to flip me up in the air, throw me down between her legs and spin me around. I'd circle her while she did this pointing thing (see picture) moving my shoulders up and down in what I was sure was devastatingly alluring. I think I was six.

That would have been me in the red.

My sister and I had never seen Grease or Saturday Night Fever. We heard the music and saw the pictures in magazines. At Halloween there'd be girls dressed as Sandy, like the sock hop had never ended. We didn't know about the origins of the pop culture memes of the day, but it didn't matter. We took it and created something of our own out of it.

You may love Twilight, the Hunger Games, Harry Potter. You might hate (some or all of) them and think they are over blown. You may be scratching your head wondering what I'm talking about (if you are, may I suggest you go back to the hermitage and contemplating the sound of one hand clapping?) But whatever you think of the original material, you can't deny that they are sparks. They have seeped into the cultural fabric with a vengeance and spawned movies, parody, music, art, fashion and tchotchkes you can buy at Hot Topic. Then there's the fan fiction, which 50+ shades of gray I will post about on Thursday.

So ultimately, though I don't think it's the best book in the world,  I do think Twilight is great. I've got my Hunger Games tickets for Friday. I've ridden the Dragon Challenge at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. These books make people want to be creative. How can that be a bad thing?

Wait, that wasn't rhetorical, I'm asking; Am I wrong? Can it be a bad thing? Do Twilight or the Hunger Games, irrespective of their intrinsic value, make junk? Does anyone need a tin mockingjay pin or Bella's cubic zirconia engagement ring?

A Lovely Bunch O' Links

It's science fair tonight and I'm feverishly working on eldest's project. What, you say? Why are YOU doing eldest's project? Yes, I'm asking myself the same question...
So for today's post just a bunch of interesting links you might have missed this week:

The Death of Chick Lit
I never could wrap my head around what chick lit is, never mind decide if I liked it or not. But Salon is sounding the death knell on this genre - while Laura Miller mentions other genres that have gone the way of the Dodo*, like the Gothic Romance. I say bring that sucker back, I want some moats, crazy wives and secrets in the crypt. Or I'll just read Jane Eyre.

Downton Abbey Season 2 Finale
I have not yet seen the whole episode (mom in law had knee replacement surgery, so we're on our toes this week) but last night watched the first 45 minutes. Here's what I love about this show - I don't know what the heck is going to happen next. Though it's 'sudsy' - meaning that, like a soap opera, it deals with melodrama and cliches, I keep yelling at the screen, That Did Not Just Happen. It reminds me of what great plotting can do.

Like when Pamuk buys the farm in Lady Mary's bed. Didn't see that coming...

Free iTunes U Courses for Readers and Writers

Mediabistro reported on a bunch of courses that iTunes is offering for free - everything from New Mexico State Mythology to a Zombies in literature course. 

Lana Del Ray/Hunger Games Parody video

This is surprisingly well made - a parody of Lana Del Ray's Video Games, using Hunger Games imagery and lyrics. I love how a book can ignite creativity across the board - whether it's in humor, music or art. Warning: Contains Adult Language.