So another tween megastar, Miley Cyrus, has to explain her decision on a particular photo… just another Tuesday on the Disney lot. But this time, what is the big deal?
By now, the formula is a bit tired: Disney star grows up, rebels, becomes a tabloid fixture, then tries to turn his/her life around. With Miley Cyrus’s recent photo shoot for Vanity Fair, the public might be seeing the first signs of rebellion, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Within the past week, Cyrus has been under extreme heat from all media outlets, even apologizing for the photos in question. In fact, for the entire hubbub over Cyrus’ photos, one almost wishes they were a bit more scandalous. Anyone one remember Britney Spears’ first Rolling Stone cover? Now, that was something to get up in arms about. A wholesome image both literally and figuratively shed in front of millions of fans with Spears posing in her underwear in sexually suggestive photos. Cyrus’ crime? Holding a blanket against what appears to be her topless torso in a tastefully done photo by renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz, who is known for shooting celebrities in vulnerable states.
In both cases, Spears and Cyrus, ultimately, made their own decisions about their photos, but with Cyrus, can we at least let the girl develop opinions about sexuality before hammering down on her as a sexual provocateur? Unlike her Disney predecessors, Cyrus has not walked the line between virginal schoolgirl and seductive temptress. That’s not to say she won’t, but, for the time being, she’s a 15-year-old girl having fun. In fact, if anyone took two seconds to really look at the photo, one could see the image isn’t necessarily the exploitation of a minor or even a megastar, but something beautifully constructed. Cyrus’ claim that the photo is “artsy” should be taken at face value and not questioned by the public. Yes, she is 15, and yes, she is a role model to young girls, but the only skin shown in this photo is analogous to what’s seen all summer long as girls and women strut along the beach in bathing suits. To Leibovitz’s credit, a very honest and sincere photo is now part of the Cyrus legacy.
And what if Cyrus chose to shoot these photos knowing it would create a stir? Well, kudos to the forethought in publicity, but what 15-year-old child doesn’t mature with age, developing his/her own ideas and views about politics, relationships, sex, alcohol, and so forth? That maturation shouldn’t always be in the public eye, but when it is, it should be left for the individual to figure out. While Cyrus has the wholesome image, I’d be hard to pressed to find a 15 year old who debuts on the entertainment scene already ridden with scandal (Drew Barrymore notwithstanding).
While the tabloids would love to see Cyrus become the next Britney, Cyrus seemingly has something that other child stars sometimes lack: the role of her parents, especially her dad. Interestingly enough, the media has largely ignored the other photo in Vanity Fair in which Cyrus and her father, Billy Ray Cyrus, pose against a backdrop. So its not as if the family wasn’t there to help make decisions. And given how much press Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus receive, the presence of her father is strongly prevalent. What can be called into question, however, is the thought that putting a 15-year old in Vanity Fair without a shirt was a good idea, innocent or not. In fact, there is something inherently wrong in the way her “topless” photo is being perceived as sexually provocative in that one shouldn’t be looking at this photo and thinking of such an idea. If that’s the case, parents, please get rid of those bath time photos you took of your kids when they were babies, photos that I’m sure were taken in all innocence and show a heck of a lot more skin.
But let’s flip the argument, and pronounce how this photo is actually a positive example for young girls. Cyrus, again, has very little make up on, drawing attention to the natural beauty she possesses. In a culture where looks are as important as character, its refreshing to see a young star willing to be shot in ways that make her attainable and relatable to her easily persuaded fan base. In other words, girls don’t need all the glitz to look pretty or have self-confidence. Secondly, Cyrus’s photo shows a healthy 15- year old, not obsessed with weight. Hunched over as she holds the blanket, there is no “count the vertebrate” look that so many stars aspire to. While a shirt could have avoided the scandal, it’s important to look at the photo for what it is rather than what it is not.
Chances are that Cyrus’ career won’t suffer. She’s huge. HUGE. Kids and parents love her, and a fairly innocent photo isn’t going to change that. And it was less than a year ago that another Disney star, Vanessa Hudgens (High School Musical 1&2), had nude photos leak onto the Internet. She’s busy shooting High School Musical 3, though, so she can’t be bothered by that trivial stuff.
If parents are worried that a topless Cyrus, albeit, still covered, is going to inspire their daughter to dress provocatively, well, Mom and Dad, I’m sorry to say, but that rests with you and your parenting skills, or lack thereof.
But what about the “bra” photos? You know, the ones where she hangs with her friends and shows her bra? Well, find a person who doesn’t act a certain way in public, and then does things differently in the privacy of his/her own home. Whether that means taking scandalous photos, or gasp!, even having sex, its not meant for the public eye. And what are you doing looking at a picture of a 15-year-old girl in a bra?
But aside from whether this photo is provocative or not, there is something exploitive in the sense that had this photo been of say The Jonas Brothers, the male tween counterparts to Cyrus, the discussion would not be centered around their revelation of skin. In all seriousness, there is an obsession with the media to portray women in various states of undress, no matter the age. The argument isn’t new, but in the context of a 15-year old girl, maybe the call to reevaluate should be heard a bit more clearly. No one will really know whether Cyrus felt pressured or coerced into taking the photo, but next time, let’s have the scandal center around her ability as a performer.
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1 response so far ↓
1 Jean // May 2, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Well said!
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