Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Miley Cyrus controversy

I don't know if you have seen the controversial Vanity Fair photo of Miley Cyrus but it touched off a debate in my second period class.

My major problem is that she's 15 years old and she is basically holding up a sheet. In my opinion, it's very distasteful.

Girls in my second period class see nothing wrong with the photo. They said it's "artistic." One girl said that Greek statues are naked and that's art. Of course, there's this thing that the Greek statues are adults.

A couple other girls mentioned that the expression on her face makes it artistic. It's not "slutty" as a couple girls said. So, if she was naked and smiling, would that alter the opinion on the photo?

And yet, another point raised by the girls was that there are ads which show girls in bikinis and they consider that much worse. There are a couple of issues with this point. First, advertising has different motives than a photo shoot. Secondly, justifying the Miley Cyrus photo by saying that there are teenage bikini ads DOES NOT make the Miley Cyrus photo more acceptable. That's like saying driving 110 miles an hour is much worse than driving 85 miles an hour....but both are wrong.

Now, in the afternoon, I asked my seniors and they said the photo was gross and the number one point they kept saying was "SHE'S FIFTEEN!"

Parents and other readers of this blog, I really want your opinion on this issue. Basically, I want someone to explain or reason why the controversial photo should be considered acceptable. Comparing it to another photo or ad doesn't cut it. We are talking about a 15 year old girl.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Miley was taken advantage of, by Annie and Vanity Fair. They just wanted to sell magazines

Anonymous said...

hey strukes it's jayme and you know my opinion about this whole issue but you brought up better points in this blog than you said in class. But from my personal view point, going with the "expression" aspect, it's not so much as comparing the photo to another it's just about the intent of one photo. When I looked at it, I saw a pretty girl looking very mature for her age. Yet, I can see where people might get the idea from a quick first glance. DO I think it was the smartest choice? No, I think there are 329312739 other ways you can be artistic with a photo but at the same time I still stand with the opinion that people just *need* to add the word scandal to anyone who's a child star's doings.

Anonymous said...

Jayme...the photo is a tough call. Most opinions that your peers have said, as well as the seniors, are centered on the ghostly-Joker-like make-up. It's not very flattering.

Good question about the intent...I have to wonder what exactly was the intent of the photographer for that shot? I just don't think Vanity Fair is a magazine that people go to for photographic artistry.

I agree about adding the scandal to a child star. People have been trying to get at Miley for some time. It's just too bad it was this easy.

Raven Simone is another child star that has been pursued by the press. She has been relentlessly attacked for body-type but I saw her once on Oprah and she defended herself quite well. And the tabloids have pretty much left her alone.

Anonymous said...

Jayme...the photo is a tough call. The only thing on this post that I didn't say in class was the comparison between advertising and the photo shoot...but then again, considering it was a one on six debate, I can understand how parts of the message got missed. It was a good discussion. I enjoy hearing your insights. Keep speaking up!

You bring up the million-dollar question and that is about the intent...I have to wonder what exactly was the intent of the photographer for that shot. I just don't think Vanity Fair is a magazine that people go to for photographic artistry. Was an artistic look the primary goal of the photographer or was arousal on some level the real reason?

Most opinions that your peers have said, as well as the seniors, are centered on the ghostly-Joker-like make-up. It's not very flattering.

I agree about adding the scandal to a child star. People have been trying to get at Miley for some time. It's just too bad it was this easy.

Raven Simone is another child star that has been pursued by the press. She has been relentlessly attacked for body-type but I saw her once on Oprah and she defended herself quite well. And the tabloids have pretty much left her alone.

Liquid said...

"She's fifteen!"

Liquid said...

"She's fifteen!"