The truth is that I like Meyer's vampires better than the conventional ones like Dracula & Co. The fable roots just don't make sense to me. There's no reason for them; they grew up by tradition and have little substance beyond that. Like faeries and iron, etc. Meyer's vampires have every rationality they need.
Except for "sparkly" skin, as you have all pointed out, but there are superficial reasons as well. Meyer's vampires are made for taking out their prey, humans. Humans probably would find their skin attractive/surprising. The skin is the source of the some of the myths that grew up around vampires in her universe, such as bursting into flames in the sun. I'd say that if I was too busy running away to look closely either!
For this reason I don't think about it much. It's just the weak point in some very good worldbuilding. "Sparkly" = "glamorous," and then on to...something worse (fake, maybe?). Depending on your POV that is exactly what Meyer's vamps are. But not in my opinion.
Except for "sparkly" skin, as you have all pointed out, but there are superficial reasons as well. Meyer's vampires are made for taking out their prey, humans. Humans probably would find their skin attractive/surprising. The skin is the source of the some of the myths that grew up around vampires in her universe, such as bursting into flames in the sun. I'd say that if I was too busy running away to look closely either!
For this reason I don't think about it much. It's just the weak point in some very good worldbuilding. "Sparkly" = "glamorous," and then on to...something worse (fake, maybe?). Depending on your POV that is exactly what Meyer's vamps are. But not in my opinion.
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