MEMPHIS, TN -
(WMC-TV) – A teenage girl falls in love with a vampire and the world goes bonkers over the Twilight movie series. Now the tabloids across the pond are painting a former Memphis college of art student a "nutter" for her plans to marry a cardboard cutout of the star.
"I'm definitely not used to this level of attention but I'm really pleased with it," said Memphis College of Art graduate Lauren Adkins. "It's been kind of a shock."
Adkins is making a big splash with her art project, her thesis for her masters at the University of Las Vegas.
"It's a theatrical performance in which I'll be marrying Edward Cullen," Adkins said.
It will actually be a cardboard cutout of the lead character in the enormously popular Twilight movies, featuring vampire Edward Cullen. His cut out will be at the altar with Adkins at a Las Vegas Chapel. There will be guests and a reception. Just like a real wedding.
"She was always known to challenge female stereotypes when she was here so this is on a grander scale," said Haley Morris-Cafiero, Memphis College of Art.
The wedding is performance art that has gone a bit haywire after the UK tabloids left out the fact that it is an art project.
"They are rewriting the story on their own volition to fit their perceived idea of this crazy female fanatic," Adkins said.
The wedding is performance art with a social comment on how the media shapes people's ideas.
Adkins said Edward Cullen represents an ideal many girls and women want of a protector. The character is inhumanly handsome, supportive, and possessive.
Lauren Adkins plans to marry the cardboard cutout of Edward Cullen January 26.
We'll let you know what grade she gets on her thesis.
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