Should Literature Professors Read Twilight?

(The Customer Is) Not Always Right published a brief anecdote from a Canadian bookseller who recently sold Stephenie Meyer‘s complete Twilight series to a literature professor. The story raised a funny question.

Here’s the professor’s explanation for the purchase: “I’m really not looking forward to reading these … Every time I reference low forms of literature, I always use Twilight as the example. Today a student asked if I’ve actually read them, and I had to say no. They demanded that I do.”

What do you think about this attitude–should literature professors read Twilight? In general, should literary experts be familiar with popular forms of writing as well as the classics? The question spawned a heated debate at Reddit and is part of a larger series about booksellers coping with Twilight-mania.

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