Miley Cyrus... why?

[Daxx]

if I hadn't read that it was a sheet, I would have thought it was a dress. So many dresses/outfits have that bunched up front with the tie at the base of the neck these days. My first impression was that she was wearing a dress with this style...lol.

And, it makes me wonder if people would've been in such an uproar if it were a dress as you described (and I've seen many in that style, so I totally know what you're talking about) and not a sheet.

Is it the fact that it was a sheet and not a dress that is upsetting? After all, I've seen lots of girls (15, 16) wear that type of low-back dress and barely raise an eyebrow. They're advertised on teens in Teen Vogue, 17 and Cosmo Girl magazines.

Would everyone be less or equally upset if it were a dress and not a sheet???? Makes you wonder, eh?

 

[Daxx]

You know, I looked at the photo from the link provided by the OP, and I guess seeing the sheet, my mind assumed there was a bed. Looking at it again, I still would have assumed it was a bed. You can't really see what she is on. I never looked at the other photos of the entire shoot, just the one in the OP. It still looks provocative to me and creepy.

You know what they say about assuming!!!!

What I find creepy is how she looks like a goth street waif vampire. That bothers me the most.

I'm so glad I have boys.

Ditto!!!!!

 

[Beckysc]

I'm so glad I have boys.

 

[damo]

And, it makes me wonder if people would've been in such an uproar if it were a dress as you described (and I've seen many in that style, so I totally know what you're talking about) and not a sheet.

Is it the fact that it was a sheet and not a dress that is upsetting? After all, I've seen lots of girls (15, 16) wear that type of low-back dress and barely raise an eyebrow. They're advertised on teens in Teen Vogue, 17 and Cosmo Girl magazines.

Would everyone be less or equally upset if it were a dress and not a sheet???? Makes you wonder, eh?

I'm not upset to start with (didn't even know who Miley was until about a month ago) .... but if it was a dress, it would not have made an impression on me at all. Like I said before, it isn't the skin that is showing, it is the impression that the photo is giving.

 

[Daxx]

I'm not upset to start with (didn't even know who Miley was until about a month ago) .... but if it was a dress, it would not have bothered me at all. Like I said before, it isn't the skin that is showing, it is the impression that the photo is giving.

Please don't think I directed my post to you in particular ... it was not directed to one poster or another in particular. It was an "across the boards" thing.

People were so upset over the wrap being a sheet and I wondered if it were a dress would people feel differently about the shoot. I wondered if knowing it's a satin sheet (as opposed to knowing it's a low backed party dress) would have a different impact on impressions/perceptions.

 

[Disneylover79]

Can I just say I think that is totally inappropriate... for crying out loud she is still a child.... I was thinking the same thing when she was on the CMT awards.... she needs to dress more like a teenager....and try and set an example for the teenagers that idol her...

 

[sunsprinkle24]

My husband and I would not have let our daughter pose for a pic like that. I just think it is suggestive and totally inappropriate.

 

[Daxx]

I FINALLY figured out why that photo of Miley looks so familiar!!!!!! This is what it reminded me of ......

That same waifish look, draped top, etc.!!!!!!

 

[bicker]

I would agree except that the quote from Miley Cyrus that VANITY FAIR itself was giving out as proof that she had agreed to the photos sound very much like someone who felt coerced.

It is all a matter of perspective. You have a problem with the photo, yourself, and so perhaps you're seeing coercion where there wasn't any. That's really part of the problem I alluded to earlier.

 

[bicker]

You know, I looked at the photo from the link provided by the OP, and I guess seeing the sheet, my mind assumed there was a bed.

And I think that sort of thing happens too much: gut reaction trumping something based more on the totality of the situation. When someone judges you, do you want them making their determination on scant information, filling in the gaps in their knowledge about you with assumptions? Of course not.

Brooke Shields did the "nothing comes between me" ad in 1981 when she was all of 16. Her pose is highly "un-ladylike" and far more racy and suggestive than that of Miley.

Indeed. In another thread on this topic, on another board, someone made the assertion that this was a relatively new phenomenon, referring to Lohan, Spears, etc.

Perhaps this might ring a bell:

"... smoking cigarettes at age nine, drinking alcohol by the time she was eleven, smoking marijuana at twelve, and snorting cocaine at thirteen. She was in rehab at age 13 and a second time at 14."

That's not Lohan or Spears -- that's Drew Barrymore almost a quarter of a century ago. All that has changed is that this stuff is much more readily publicized, and the media is much more rabid about pursuing such issues and making as much money as they can off the coverage they can provide.

 

[bicker]

I would not have allowed my daughter to do it (if I had one--I have only boys), and I question her parents' judgment in going along with it.

I wouldn't allow any child of mine to get involved in show business at all. Children should focus on school and family, and get a job after they've completed their education and are ready to start their own lives. However, that's me, and my principles. I don't insist that other people share them. The fact is that many parents allow, even encourage, their children to get into show business. It would be selfish and intolerant for me to judge those parents negatively because they won't raise their children in accordance with my principles, as long as the principles they are raising their children in accordance with are within the bounds of our society's laws.

That's why the law is so important in a pluralistic society like this. No one's personal principles matter in society's scope. You live according to your own principles, that's it. For everyone else, they live according to their own principles and therefore are to be judged only according to those principles and the consensus of our society: the law.

If you have a problem with that, I interpret that as you having a problem with the concept of peaceful coexistence. As such, I think folks finding themselves in that position should think about the ramifications of their perspectives in this regard.

 

[disneygal2007]

As the mom of Hannah Montana's biggest fan (and believe me I had the credit card bills and pictures to prove it) I have to say that although I think they are incredibly mature photos for a 15 yearold girl.... I also think that a parent who encourages their child to "admire" an actor/actress in anyway is worrisome.

They are entertainers, not nobel peace winners.... I really don't think children should be raised to have idols in their lives... How about being a good role model for your child...

I always tell my DD that Miley is an actress (and a mediocre one at that) and the music and show is for purposes of enjoyment, if my 9 y/old can understand that, anyone can... just my 2 cents

I agree

 

[disneygal2007]

I'm so glad I have boys.

ME 2 ME 2
My boys know nothing about it thank god.

Well my 4 year old saw it yesterday while at the doctors waiting room he said mommy She looks scary right lol

 

[Charade]

I wouldn't allow any child of mine to get involved in show business at all. Children should focus on school and family, and get a job after they've completed their education and are ready to start their own lives. However, that's me, and my principles. I don't insist that other people share them. The fact is that many parents allow, even encourage, their children to get into show business. It would be selfish and intolerant for me to judge those parents negatively because they won't raise their children in accordance with my principles, as long as the principles they are raising their children in accordance with are within the bounds of our society's laws.

That's why the law is so important in a pluralistic society like this. No one's personal principles matter in society's scope. You live according to your own principles, that's it. For everyone else, they live according to their own principles and therefore are to be judged only according to those principles and the consensus of our society: the law.

If you have a problem with that, I interpret that as you having a problem with the concept of peaceful coexistence. As such, I think folks finding themselves in that position should think about the ramifications of their perspectives in this regard.

I suppose, after what you just wrote, I'm just a bit confused as to why you would take the time to weigh in on this.

 

[allison443]

I thought it was interesting that the headline on the article in the New York Times cited by the OP yesterday was "Topless Photo Threatens Major Disney Franchise" and that was the headline in the actual print edition of the newspaper. If you click on the link now they have appended a correction and changed the headline to "Revealing Photo...etc." The correction noted that she is not actually topless, but covered in "what appears to be a bedsheet."
I'm kind of suprised they called it topless originally.

 

[stevenpensacola]

Believe it or not, it's quite possible to raise a teenage daughter that can accept the concept of "modesty". We are fortunate enough to have a 16 year old daughter that's never had a desire to wear a bikini or a formal dress with plunging neck lines or backs... and we didn't have to cloister her in a religious school or home school here to do so. Believe it or not folks, you don't have to "give in".

.....finally....a voice of reason. Well put Geoff M!

WHY is that type of photo even needed in the first place....IMO...it is NOT attractive in any way....almost makes her look like some sort of drug addict.

 

[BellvilleDad]

You know, I looked at the photo from the link provided by the OP, and I guess seeing the sheet, my mind assumed there was a bed. Looking at it again, I still would have assumed it was a bed. You can't really see what she is on. I never looked at the other photos of the entire shoot, just the one in the OP. It still looks provocative to me and creepy.

Exactly. If they didn't want it to look provocative, they would have plainly put her in a dress on a stool. Instead they chose to give the impression that she's at least topless with a satin bed sheet in front of her. It implies she was in the bed unclothed, even if she wasn't.

Why would you want to see a 15 year old child look like this? Can someone explain the artistry in this photo?

 

[disneyaggie]

A newscaster here in Dallas made an interesting comment when they were reporting this story. He said, "Where were the Disney reps? You would think since she represents Disney someone from that company would have been there at the photo shoot".

And now they want to turn the blame on the photographer and say that Miley was "coerced". Gee, I'm sorry . . .I must have missed the part of the story where the photographer held her at gunpoint to take the picture.

What disturbed me the most is not only the suggestive photo, but her look was almost something out of a Mary Kate Olson book. Very creepy. Not something I would expect from Miley or her family at all.

 

[bicker]

... I'm just a bit confused as to why you would take the time to weigh in on this.

I think perhaps you're misreading or misunderstanding my points, perhaps thinking I'm saying things that I'm not. For the vast majority of this thread, my contention has been, definitively, that the reaction to this situation is the significant problem. I'm not sure how else I can word it to make it clearer. Consider the quote you included. The most important part of it is, "they live according to their own principles and therefore are to be judged only according to those principles and the consensus of our society: the law." So, in a nutshell, my objection is to people asserting that other people should live according to principles that they themselves haven't subscribed to.

 

[disneyaggie]

Why would you want to see a 15 year old child look like this? Can someone explain the artistry in this photo?

I agree. No artistry here. I think the only one who would enjoy this photo would be a pedophile. Ewww!