I received quite a bit of email about my Miley Cyrus aka Hannah Montana dances nude on your desktop earning US$1Million/week while gas is over US$3.50/gal, Health Clinics are Shutting Down and a World Wide Food Shortage Looms post. I've been in touch with one correspondent who's allowing me to share our exchange in a series of posts. My interest in doing so is based on the intellectual prowess the correspondent brings to the subject.
I hope you enjoy the exchange as much as I.
I find the photograph has an innocence that is largely inseparable from the youth of Ms. Cyrus. After that, it is apparent that she is dishoveled and substantially undressed beneath a sheet, which doesn't strike me as objectionable. There is a certain vulnerability conveyed by the state of undress as well as the natural appearance. However the lipstick and the darkness of the photo/use of shadows and gray backdrop convey this innocence has been corrupted, this vulnerability has been victimized. Actually, if the darkness tells us the vulnerability has been victimized, the lipstick suggests our innocent youth was a co-conspirator/willing victim. The photo is not tasteless, but it is disappointing because of how she has represented herself to date - it is a betrayal of trust for those who have bought her branding. What is more discouraging is that it seems every teenage female star who gets wholesomely portrayed and idolized by our children feels the need to pierce that image intentionally before becoming old enough to vote. The male child stars don't seem equally compelled. Lohan, Brittany, Shakira, Brittany's sister, Cyrus, the Olson twins, etc. I think if your daughter becomes a mousekateer (sp?), you might as well just make a reservation at Betty Ford for her sweet sixteen party.
It is a reflection on our society. If we look at it through the economist's glasses, we know that these girls/women are taking these actions to personal advantage. Either they are tired of their celebrity and are actively sabotaging it (Britney?) or they (and/or their handlers) believe they will lose their marketability if they continue to present themselves as wholesome into their late teenage years. I think the latter is both true and unfortunate. The modern day advancement from childhood to manhood/womanhood/adulthood seems to require a vindictive attack our own personal innocence. Wouldn't it be nice if that advancement could be achieved with an act of maturity instead of an immature lashing out? (since I've been rambling a bit, I should mention I don't consider Miley's photos to be the latter (and I've only seen the one you posted), so I've really veered off course here (not to mention parenthetically double dipped)).
(more to follow...)
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