Miley Cyrus Vanity Fair Photo

[Dr. Shane]

I thought this would be worth our discussion. I see two issues at play here.

1. Sensuality and exploitation of sexuality

2. Exploitation of child stars

For those that are unaware, there is currently a controversy about Miley Cyrus (aka Hannah Montana) who posed for Vanity Fair exposing her back. Here is a link with the picture --> Miley Cyrus Vanity Fair photo: Annie Leibovitz defends her portrait

To me (this is my opinion) the picture is not pornographic at all. I see nothing more pornographic about the picture than a picture of a naked, fat, little baby looking cute. I think someone has to have a perverted worldview to look at a picture of a 15 year old girl exposing her back and see something sexual.

Quote:

She released a contrite statement when the photograph was made public, saying: "I took part in a photo shoot that was supposed to be 'artistic' and now, seeing the photographs and reading the story, I feel so embarrassed. I never intended for any of this to happen and I apologize to my fans who I care so deeply about."

When I see the picture it looks artistic to me. It looks like something one would expect to see in an art gallery or even on someone's office wall or waiting room. If it were my daughter, I would not hesitate to hang it in my office.

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That takes us to the second point in the discussion.

Exploitation of child stars

I do think that child stars like Miley Cyrus are exploited and robbed of their childhood. I think there are various reasons for this from their parents to greedy corporations to society itself. I ave no solution for it but I believe this instance with Vanity Fair is an example of exploitation of a child star.

[John317]

I totally agree with you about the picture. I see nothing wrong with the photograph, and think it's a very beautiful picture. But of course there are many men who will find it sexually stimulating. But such people shouldn't be allowed to influence or determine standards of art. Annie Leibovitz has made an excellent portrait and, in my opinion, has no reason to be ashamed.

[cricket]

There are other pictures of Miley Cyrus not shown nor mentioned in this article that have stirred even greater controversy among parents.

Quote:

Source

The Internet pictures show Cyrus tugging down her top to show off a bright green bra and draped suggestively across the lap of her then-boyfriend, her midriff bared.

[Dr. Shane]

I saw some of these on TV but these were not in the Vanity Fair magazine. I realize the green clothing was her bra. I guess I didn't look close enough at the picture or it wasn't big enough to see what kind of clothing it was. These were made available on the Internet and I don't know where they came from. I teenage girl acting silly and everyone with a camera phone... it isn't hard to imagine how they got on the internet.

[Amelia]

Shane, would you take a picture like this with your daughter?

That's not her boyfriend but her father, Billy Ray Cyrus.

Hollywood doesn't allow anyone to stay a child for long. All the tweens and barely teens will to do the same thing. That's the problem I see. Parents who don't have the control or the guts to say no to their youngster wanting to bare almost all like their idol.

[Neil D]

Hey, ...at least he's on the Disney Channel....

paving the way for the next Britney.....

[Dr. Shane]

I don't particularly like that picture of Miley and Bill Ray Cyrus but I don't see anything morally wrong with it. It looks like an attempt at some kind of country music art of father and daughter stars.

Billy Ray Cyrus is a Christian. His TV series "Doc" had a pointed and clear moral message. While he is best known for his ten top ten hits in ten years and many others that made the top 40, some do not know that he recorded a gospel album entitled "The Other Side", which many consider to be a labor of love on his part. He continues to be a successful song writer. This is taken from an interview with the producers of "Doc": "Ten minutes into the meeting, it was obvious to us that Billy was a Christian and it was obvious to him that we were Christians, and we all felt that we were brought together for the purpose of doing something that could be very special."

He was born into a family of Christian singers although his parents divorced when he was young. He is a philanthropist who has received the "Bob Hope Congressional Medal of Honor Society Entertainer's Award" and Humanitarian Awards from the Kennedy Center.

Hosanna, Montana!

Quote:

After Billy ended his stint on Doc in 2004, he vowed never to do another television series. The show filmed for weeks at a time in Toronto, leading to difficult separations from wife, Tish, his six children, and the family farm near Nashville.

"But you know the old joke, the best way to make God laugh is tell Him your plans? God had something else in store for us," Billy now says. "Not only did Doc's 88 episodes give me a wealth of experience as an actor, Miley did several appearances on the show and [being in Toronto] allowed her to take lessons with some great [acting] coaches. What that did was prepare Miley for her big chance"...

"Being Christian, we believe in heaven," he says. "At times it's hard not to say, 'Oh, I wish my dad was here to see this.' I feel like he's so proud of Miley, the way she's handling everything and the great little human being she has become. There's a lot of my dad's personality in her. My dad was a great people person, and I believe Miley inherited that trait from my dad because she's fantastic with people"...

"I am at peace with my life—past, present and future," he says. "I know all things that are good come from Almighty God above. I count my blessings every single day. Every day I pray God will show me the doors He wants me to walk through, the people He wants me to talk to, the songs He wants me to sing. I want to be the light He wants me to be in this world."

[fccool]

That's what media does... it overhypes the story to make it a big deal. When heard about the picture it sounded like she was posing half-naked. I personally don't see anything wrong with the picture... and as people pointed out, it's very beautiful and I don't see anything overly sexual about exposed back.

As far as exploiting child stars (aka Britney) it's sad but without people's support the celebrity factory would break down. It hardly takes talent to be a celebrity today. You just have to be in the media spotlight long enough. So it cuts both ways... the celebrities are exploiting media, while media exploits them. That's the life they choose to live, and that's their choice.

But even as Adventist, we have our celebrities... and I think that's certainly not a thing we should be doing... attaching person's face to a message... aka celebrity branding.

[cricket]

I saw some of these on TV but these were not in the Vanity Fair magazine. I realize the green clothing was her bra. I guess I didn't look close enough at the picture or it wasn't big enough to see what kind of clothing it was. These were made available on the Internet and I don't know where they came from. I teenage girl acting silly and everyone with a camera phone... it isn't hard to imagine how they got on the internet.

It was actually Miley herself who put the most questionable photos up on the Internet. If one were to do an image search on Google using the words "Miley Cyrus Myspace" one will easily see some of the more questionable photos. These photos and some of her more recent interviews and YouTube broadcasts paint quite a different picture than what her official sponsors would like the fans to believe.

[Dr. Shane]

While that kind of behavior may not be ideal, she is a 15 year old girl. She is a child star. Most 15 year olds have issues they are working through and child stars have even more. I am willing to give her a pass on those things and let her parents and her employer (Disney) deal with her on those things.

The major controversy has been whether Vanity Fair published pornographic pictures of her and thereby tarnished her image. That is what the major focus on the Today Show was. A 15 year old girl posting sill photos revealing part of her neon bra is not nearly as controversial as a major publication manipulating her into posing for pornographic photos (which is the allegation Disney is making). I don't think the photos were pornographic. I agree that they were artsy.

[Neil D]

I have heard the hoopla over this, but have not looked at the pictures...not really interested in doing so....

Quote:

A 15 year old girl posting sill photos revealing part of her neon bra is not nearly as controversial as a major publication manipulating her into posing for pornographic photos (which is the allegation Disney is making). I don't think the photos were pornographic. I agree that they were artsy.

Assuming your analysis is true, and it may perfectly be....the question would be, who looses over this, Disney? Nah, just more publicity and more viewers watching Hannah Montana...Miley? no, as she is now poised to transition to an Adult actor...

[Dr. Shane]

Disney has told Miley that being a good girl in her private life is part of her contract.

[Neil D]

Disney has told Miley that being a good girl in her private life is part of her contract.

Sure, that is between Disney and Miley....But Disney and the public watching the show...hey, publicity is publicity and that equates to $$$$$

[cricket]

Bad publicity in the eyes of parents, however will not equate to more $$$$. Follow the money and who's spending and who's watching--listen to the voice of parents of young girls who idolize Miley Cyrus. They are beginning to change their minds about her.

[Dr. Shane]

I think the Vanity Fair pics were blown out of proportion. The My Space pics were poor judgment. Miley told FOXNews, "I think it's my faith that keeps me grounded, especially because I'm a Christ follower for sure. Live like Christ and He'll live in you. And that's what I want to do."