Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Sure, That's What It Is

I used to be a pop culture expert, well perhaps not expert, but I knew way more than was necessary. This was of course before I stopped working at the retail end of the entertainment industry. Since then my knowledge has drifted toward the toddler end of the spectrum, so it wasn't really a surprise that I had not heard about the Twilight phenomenon until it started infiltrating just about everything in the last couple of months. When I heard it was about vampires, I was curious enough to do a little research. I think I learned just enough to know that I would not enjoy it and as an old school goth it was not about what I define as vampires even in the loosest sense. I can allow for a lot of changes to myths, but I'm afraid I must draw the line at fundamental changes to the legend that cause vampires to sparkle.

I am however getting away from the point of this post. I made a bracelet in the pattern I showed off yesterday. I chose to do the filigree looking base in black and I made the rose in a deep red. I think it looks positively Gothic and lovely, but something else struck me as I was taking pictures of my creation. It occurred to me that fans of this Twilight business might love this piece as it is made in the colors that appear on the novels covers and in all the Twilight inspired items saturating etsy. I was very tempted to slap a twilight tag on the sucker and exploited its success.

I'm not going to though, I just can't do it. I'm certain that others have done it and will continue to jump on any band wagon that comes along, but the piece certainly wasn't inspired by the books or movie and it just doesn't seem right to say it was. I have had the same dilemma regarding the term Lolita. I see it a lot as a tag on etsy and I have a passing knowledge of the movement and even though I could guess that my pieces would fit in with a Lolita style, I don't know enough to say that with any confidence. I guess I am trying to avoid being regarded as a poseur by assuming where my work fits in. So if a sparkly vampire lover finds my bracelet and like it, great, but I'm not going to pretend it was made just for them.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

That is a lovely motif. I meant to comment yesterday when you had it in ecru, but blogger wouldn't let me for some odd reason.

Anonymous said...

I think this would fit any gothic, victorian, vampire, or even "Twilight" theme. I don't know too much about it except I read the first book and deemed it appropriate for my daughter but I saw a lot of the items on Etsy and love the colors and of course, love anything roses.

Keep up the great tatting!

Ang

*♥* Heather *♥* said...

That is so pretty...
OMG you havent read Twilight HA HA I read the first book and then the 2nd and had decided after that to buy all 4 mind you that I havent read #4 yet because I am so depressed its the end and I am scared of what will happen I really want to see the movie but am so afraid like with all good books the movie will not be as good!! ok I got off subject too, I really love that Your work is as always so amazing and breathtaking..
Heather

Sewicked said...

Good for you for not jumping on the bandwagon. The bracelet looks lovely and after all, linkage is in the eye of the beholder.

Anonymous said...

I don't think I would slap a twilight tag, but I do think a lot of your stuff could quite happily wear a gothic lolita tag.

Waterrose said...

That is so lovely. It is very victorian looking. That is funny about Twilight. My daughter just sent me the first book, since I had no clue what she was talking about when she was so ga ga about it. I"ve had it for about a week and haven't stopped to even pick it up. I now see the trailers for it and think it might be a waste of my valuable time to read it. My kids ask me to read books that they read, love and want to share with me. Most I really enjoy...even when they were children. But this one I'm not so sure about.