Commented over on helen_keeble's interesting thinky post on Twilight and then realized, though it was raw notes, it was post-worthy.

I had a more complicated reaction to New Moon than I did to Twilight and am still in processing mode.

But, have noted this binary setup of race and class, for Bella's boyfriends:

(slightly spoilery if you have not read New Moon, which is as far as I've gotten in the series:)




Edward
Whiter than white.
A hundred years old.
Upper class, cosmopolitan, went to Harvard, listens to classical music.
Physically cold to the touch.
Constantly obsessing over philosophy and ethics.
His dad is a doctor. His mom ... stays at home?
Very into self-control.
Often picks Bella up and carries her so she won't hurt herself.

Jacob Black:
Dark skinned.
Significantly younger than Bella.
Working class or living in poverty, on a reservation.
Body temp 10 degrees hotter than human.
Fixes cars. Is too poor to buy the parts.
His dad is disabled and doesn't have a job. His mom is dead.
Loses control of himself unpredictably.
Gives Bella motorcycle riding lessons and offers to teach her cliff diving.

So there is a race and class dichotomy set up where the ultimate white man is all about control (as well as control of Bella) and the man of color (boy of color...) is about permission and lack of control (including sort of giving Bella permission and a means to be "out of control").

Anyone out there talking in detail about race (as in skin) and race (as in vampire/human/werewolf) and the Twilight series?