Vampires, Werewolves, and the Racialized Other

Abstract

 The Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer captured the attention of millions when the first book was released in 2005. The series has long been criticized for an array of issues, but this essay analyzes the representation of race within the books and how Meyer contributes to Othering, particularly racial Othering. The paper begins with an introduction to Othering and the different ways in which the process unfolds and then goes into an exploration of Othering in the fantasy genre, particularly in low fantasy, before shifting into the main focus of the essay of racial Othering within the Twilight series. This article combines previous scholarship on the topic with literary analysis to argue that Othering within the Twilight series contributes to racial Othering in the real world. As a solution, fantasy authors should strive for belongingness in their stories so that, in the real world, society is one step closer to achieving it.