Miley Cyrus... why?

[bicker]

I'm kind of suprised they called it topless originally.

It sells more papers that way.

 

[Charade]

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?

Annie L. was quoted saying she's sorry that people misinterpreted the photos.

OK Annie, what message were you trying to convey that so many apparently missed?

 

[stahshee]

Why does it have to be half nude to be 'artistic'?

.. I have to agree with you! maybe the next photo shoot will be on the jonas brothers in thongs .. (we love the J brothers)

 

[LotsOfQuestions]

Originally Posted by bicker
That's the message: If parents have any say in their child's life (and they surely do, to start), it should include who the children idolize, and parents should vet the candidates, not based on how they seem on the surface. What has Miley Cyrus ever done to qualify her as a valid alternative to Condalezza Rice?

I'm not sure Condalezza Rice belongs up on the pedestal either.

Umm, she sings better, and she is fun???????? Isn't that ok too? Do people have to be scholars to hang on our kids walls?

Hey, Condi is a great shoe shopper. That should earn wall space.

Would I ever let my daughter pose like that for a national mag? NO

But is America falling apart - NOPE

Every generation of teens seems to be the end of moral society, yet most of us turn out ok.

I remember my parent's generation going bonkers over the fact that tube tops and short shorts (daisy dukes) were in style. OMG. Everybody was convinced that America's teens were the end of society. But most of those 70's kids are now employed, are good mothers and fathers, and are stressing over a bare back in a picture.

Of course, you have a few high profile ones that are morons , but for the most part, those 70's kids are pretty good adults.

All we can do is teach our kids our values and hope that they emerge from that alien teen stage mature, good people.

 

[LotsOfQuestions]

Funny, the same people who are saying why would we point to actors as rold models for our kids, probably think Angelina Jolie is a saint that is doing such good in the world.

Not a saint. She definitely has her, umm quirks.

But I would never take away from her humanitarian work just because I don't agree with some of her other choices.

At least she literally puts her money where her mouth is, unlike other celebrities who only show up for photo shoots just to bolster their public image.

It is possible to have a reasonable discussion with a teen and talk about how people make some good choices and some not so smart choices.

Teens aren't morons. Most I know have pretty good heads on their shoulders. They might go to the mall in the rebellion clothing of the month, but they are good, solid kids.

 

[AmberDaClown]

There is a scene in American Beauty where Thora Birch takes off her top while Wes Bentley is filming her. She was only 17 at the time when the movie was filmed. Her parents were on the set as were child labor reps.

Watching that films does not make one a pedophile nor does looking at the pics of Miley wearing a sheet. As posted in the linked photos above, she certainly does not look coerced.

BTW, some of her clothing choices in her 3-D movie were far more provocative looking than that photo, imho.

 

[bicker]

OK Annie, what message were you trying to convey that so many apparently missed?

She made that clear in her statement. Please read her statement again.

 

[damo]

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.

I think the shoot was planned so people would make that assumption. That's where I have difficulty with this whole situation. I am certainly not apologizing for seeing what I am seeing in this photo shoot. I believe I am seeing what was intended for me to see. Why not just have her in a dress? When I see someone with a sheet wrapped around them, I assume there is a bed involved, not that someone is sitting on a stool and I believe that is what I was lead to believe.

I don't think this reflects badly on Miley but rather on those around her and especially the photographer.

 

[quidam373]

I was surprised these photos werent worse. While I agree with everyone that it's unnecessary and too bad that she did it (whether she did it willingly or being pressured into it), it's not as bad as she could have done. And at least she's saying she's sorry about it. It's just too bad that she's growing up in a mindset where she can mistake that for being appropriate.

 

[LotsOfQuestions]

Read my earlier post... This has NOTHING to do with 'growing up'.
Miley's role as a child-family star is not in her past... it is TODAY.

And, this was not 'Miley's mistake'... this is premeditated and controlled and approved by the adults around her.

This isn't a teenager in the back-seat with their boyfriend... This is a professionally arranged and orchestrated event. HUGE difference. In the former - teenager making a mistake.. In the latter.. a much more important issue.

First of all, let me say that I am NOT a Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus fan. The girl cannot sing, cannot act and for the life of me, cannot see where her fame comes from.

That said,

You were at the photo shoot? You know this was premeditated and previously controlled? You know that the parents went in and said "Let's do a nude photo of her back?"

I spent a few of my teen years in NYC. One of my best friends was an up and coming model. I went to a few photo shoots with her.

I remember it was a very flowing thing. There was an idea of what they wanted to capture, but it was more like free-association. One pose led to another as the photographer got ideas as the shoot progressed.

I remember he told her to strip down to her underwear. This was not planned nor was it ever discussed. Thankfully my friend said no, but I can completely understand the seduction of trusting a very famous photographer to look out for the interests of your child and being in the heat of the moment of the photo shoot.

I am sure all of you who are saying that Miley is going to become a trashy tramp from this one incident have NEVER had a "Could have had a V-8" moment.

You have NEVER in your life done something that you are now embarrassed about? There is not a single incident in your lives where you say "Wow, what was I thinking?" Luckily for us, our V-8 moments are not in public view and only those closest to us may remember a few years down the road.

While I didn't like the picture and definitely think Annie L. took advantage of a young girl and her family, I will reserve judgement about how trashy Miley becomes when she emerges from puberty.

And I agree that the photographer should shoulder the blame for this. She was the expert the parents consulted to take pictures of their daughter.

The mistake was in trusting this particular photographer. She has also not always shown the best judgement in public relations, etc. Remember the flak she created when she asked Queen Elizabeth to remove her crown? Not a smart move, but shows that Annie will go to any lengths for her OWN personal gain.

 

[LotsOfQuestions]

Teen idols have a limited shelf life, and any media star who's as omnipresent as Miley Cyrus risks overexposure (no pun intended). I think this is probably an attempt by Team Cyrus to use a respected photographer like Annie Leibovitz to broaden her appeal outside the teen set and help her eventually transition out of the Disney Channel era of her career.

IMHO the apology is window dressing and may even have been required by Disney.

Kiddie porn? Not remotely close--it does a disservice to that horrible crime and its victims to call the pics that.

Excellent post - last line needs to be emphasized again.

 

[bicker]

I don't think this reflects badly on Miley but rather on those around her and especially the photographer.

As I've already made clear, I don't see the sexuality in the photo that others claim to. However, having said that, if there must be blame for this, then that blame rests squarely and completely with the parents and the parents alone. The photographer is an artist, doing her job, better than most anyone else. The magazine is working hard to sell subscriptions and copies of a magazine. The only people who are responsible for making decisions with respect to Miley's morality are her parents.

 

[robinb]

The problem I have with this photo is the same problem I have with all the movies that have been brought up, the A&F ads, Hooters, etc. It's the sexualization of young women and girls for profit.

Vanity Fair is making a boat load of money off of Miley's "come hither" look and bare back. How many page hits do you think there have been on their website? How many issues will be sold?

Annie Liebovitz can increase the price for photo shoots and the sales of her photo collections are going up and up. Her book "A Photographer's Life: 1990-2005" has a an astoundingly low sales ranking of 3,719 on Amazon. Coincidence?

The Cyrus Family gets their #1 money-maker out in the public eye and positioned for the transition from teeny-bopper to more adult roles.

Plenty of people have a lot to gain with these pictures. The young women and girls in our society have a lot more to lose. If the stigma and taboo of semi-erotic photos of girls is lessened then where does that leave our girls once the societal pressure is gone?

 

[Charade]

She made that clear in her statement. Please read her statement again.

This is from the OP's article.

A Disney spokeswoman, Patti McTeague, faulted Vanity Fair for the photo. “Unfortunately, as the article suggests, a situation was created to deliberately manipulate a 15-year-old in order to sell magazines,” she said.

IMO, That is the reason for the shoot. Period.

The article, written by Bruce Handy, seems to support that claim, quoting Ms. Cyrus as saying, “Annie took, like, a beautiful shot, and I thought it was really cool. That’s what she wanted me to do, and you can’t say no to Annie.” She also said of the photo, “I think it’s really artsy. It wasn’t in a skanky way.”

Ms. Cyrus had a different view in a prepared statement released on Sunday:

“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.”

Beth Kseniak, a spokeswoman for both Vanity Fair magazine and Ms. Leibovitz said, “Miley’s parents and/or minders were on the set all day. Since the photo was taken digitally, they saw it on the shoot and everyone thought it was a beautiful and natural portrait of Miley.”

What's natural about a 15 year old in a sultry photo partial covered with a bed sheet?

IMO, "everyone" on that shoot is a knucklehead.

Obviously they had second thoughts after the photos were released otherwise there would be no need for "damage control".

 

[Charade]

The problem I have with this photo is the same problem I have with all the movies that have been brought up, the A&F ads, Hooters, etc. It's the sexualization of young women and girls for profit.

Vanity Fair is making a boat load of money off of Miley's "come hither" look and bare back. How many page hits do you think there have been on their website? How many issues will be sold?

Annie Liebovitz can increase the price for photo shoots and the sales of her photo collections are going up and up. Her book "A Photographer's Life: 1990-2005" has a an astoundingly low sales ranking of 3,719 on Amazon. Coincidence?

The Cyrus Family gets their #1 money-maker out in the public eye and positioned for the transition from teeny-bopper to more adult roles.

Plenty of people have a lot to gain with these pictures. The young women and girls in our society have a lot more to lose. If the stigma and taboo of semi-erotic photos of girls is lessened then where does that leave our girls once the societal pressure is gone?

Pretty much my thoughts as well.

This didn't happen by accident nor was it a case of poor judgment. Of course, no one will admit it.

 

[DanMedix]

Well, the old saying is definitely true today: There's no such thing as "bad publicity" (except the obituary)......look at how much publicity we're giving them on here (myself included)! And just think what's happening out there in the big wide (psycho-hollywood) world!....

heeheehee

 

[bicker]

Vanity Fair is making a boat load of money off of Miley's "come hither" look and bare back.

Maybe they are maybe they aren't, but they are surely making a boat-load of money off of the over-the-top reaction to the photo-shoot.

 

[LotsOfQuestions]

It is our job to steer young girl's into a good role model, not one at 15 that would take their clothes off, for what reasons we will never know!!!!!!!!!

Just curious - your pic looks like you have had experience with 15 year olds.

If they were surrounded by an entire team of adults and was having their picture taken by probably the most famous and respected photographer at this particular time and this photographer asked your 15 year old to wrap themselves in a sheet and look over towards the camera, that they would immediately stand up to all these adults and say no?

I think we forget how young 15 year olds are. We, as adults, are still there to guide them. They still trust the adults in their lives to help them make the right decisions. They still think that adults know so much more of the world than they do. We still expect 15 year olds to conform, to do as we say.

So, now, we as adults are condemning a 15 year old because she did conform and do as the adults told her to do?

What a confusing message for a teen and especially a teen with sudden and enormous fame thrust onto her. Puberty is confusing enough.

I agree, the picture is not something I would want my daughter to do.

But I cannot with all certainty say that if I was in the same situation, dealing with a very famous photographer, that I wouldn't have been lured into it.

And then came to my senses the next day and said, "What the hell was I thinking."

 

[bicker]

This is from the OP's article.

Disney doesn't speak for the photographer. Disney is looking out for their interests, and they (should) see profit in participating in the over-the-top reaction to the photo shoot.

What's natural about a 15 year old in a sultry photo partial covered with a bed sheet?

I see nothing "sultry" in the photo, so your premise is wrong.

Obviously they had second thoughts after the photos were released otherwise there would be no need for "damage control".

There is nothing obvious here. The Cyrus family perhaps played a very risky game, and perhaps everything has gone according to their plan and therefore they have "won".

 

[robinb]

Maybe they are maybe they aren't, but they are surely making a boat-load of money off of the over-the-top reaction to the photo-shoot.

But they knew that a picture like that of a 15-year old superstar would get that kind of attention. That's my point. They used Miley Cyrus and her naked back to sell magazines and ads on their website. A wholesome Miley would not have attracted as much prurient interest.