The Chicago Effect

Hi Friend.

I would like to start off by saying that I am terribly horrible at this whole blogging thing.
You all must have missed me. My last post was over two weeks ago! While I would like to say that I have been too terribly busy to bother, it would be a lie. Currently I am an unemployed (soon to be student again), gal who has way too much time on her hands. Ah well, I'm here now.
:)
Okay, so even though I haven't been totally busy, I am happy to say that I just got back Monday night from a 4 day trip to Chicago! As you are well aware, the URL for this blog is "The Chicago Effect". What this describes is a certain feeling that comes over me whenever I think about, dream about, or travel to the Windy City.
Chicago is no doubt my favourite city in the world. Well, in North America, (my lack of funds has not allowed for overseas travel; boo to that). Anyways, back to Chi town. The beautiful city of Chicago has so many great traits in my opinion. Amazing restaurants, parks, museums. You name it. What I like the best however is that Chicago is a city that feels balanced.
The combination of old and new architecture, of parks and busy streets, of beauty and rawness is incredible. Chicago boasts the most beautiful views and I think that is because of that balance within the city.
Anyways, all I can say is that again I enjoyed my time in Chicago. That place just has a way of drawing me in and making me feel at...home. The Chicago Effect is just that. The feeling of home. The feeling of being in a place where you should be living, but for whatever reason are unable. I'm sure that if I were to move there I would find some reason to dislike the city even just a little, but until then I will continue to adore the Windy City.

<3

ATMpire.

Hi friend.

How appropriate. My first blog post just happens to be about Twilight.

I know what you're thinking. Twi-hard...or Twi-tard (whichever works for you), but no, it's really not like that. Sure, I have read the Twilight saga, I am Team Edward, and yes I went and saw Twilight 8 times in theaters, but I'm not Twi-obsessed.

I'm just a fan.

A fan who is concerned about the commercialization of a wonderful book series.

I understand why it has happened though.

It started with a book...

Twilight.

And in this book there was a girl...

Bella.

And a handsome, troubled vampire.

Edward.

And now there are dolls...

Wait. What? Hold the phone. Dolls?

Yes. Twilight dolls.

Why?

Good question.

Well. You see, when a book like Twilight gains popularity there are people who are ready to take advantage of this.

I call these people ATMpires.

Instead of being bloodthirsty, they are money hungry.

These creatures are ready to strike and turn anything into a franchise.

Twilight got sucked into this trap, (no pun intended).

Making Twilight into a movie was an instance of cross-promotionalism.

Twilight already had a fan base as a book, so making the book into a movie was less of a risk for a film company.

A film company like Summit.

A small company ill-prepared for the Twilight craze that was growing.

Before the Twilight movie even came out there was an increase in readership of the series.

Twi-fans emerged overnight.

The book series had become a global phenomenon and the movie hadn't even hit the big screen yet. Oh, but when it did hit that big screen it was an instant hit with all the twi-girls and twi-moms. And so it began.

The success of the book and the movie were enough to bring out the ATMpires.

And now we have Twilight t-shirts, posters, bookmarks, bags, calendars, buttons, necklaces, perfume, candy...

You name it, they have it.

Oh and the dolls.

I suppose what I am getting at here is that I am sad.

I am sad that a series about love and vampires has been commercialized to this extent.

That it is no longer about the love of reading.

No longer about caring for fictional characters and about living as Bella Swan.

It's all about the money, honey.

How should I conclude this? I should start by saying that there are MANY Twilight fans out there who have not forgotten about why they fell in love with the saga. As for myself you ask. Well, I guess what I can say is that if a Twilight theme park opens up (which it will), you won't see me riding on the Forks Ferris Wheel.

p.s. although it saddens me to see the Twilight saga reduced to this extent of commercialization, it's not all bad news. Twilight saga film stars like Peter Facinelli make up for the dolls. Peter uses his Twilight status to better our world by promoting awareness and raising money for different causes. :)