2008 Woodie Awards
Public reaction to photos marks hypercritical trend
Issue date: 5/2/08 Section: Editorials
Recent photos of 15-year-old Miley Cyrus, pop sensation and star of the Disney Channel's Hannah Montana show have sparked controversy, calling into question whether she should remain a role model. Cyrus posed in Vanity Fair's latest issue, covered by only a bed sheet. Critics have voiced their concern over the racy pictures, attacking Cyrus' age and the impact it will have on her target audience. Renowned photographer, Annie Leibovitz took the photos for Cyrus' Vanity Fair shoot attempting to paint Cyrus in an artistic light. While Cyrus needs to remember that she is a product of The Disney Channel and appeals to an adolescent audience, she was attempting to create an expression of art, and should not be attacked by the media for trying to portray herself differently.
Young celebrities are often the target of harsh criticism, and the American public is quick to critique every outfit and every dance move to judge if they're too provocative or seductive. No one can forget the retaliation Britney Spears faced after her first cover spread on Rolling Stone posing in only lingerie. Spears was only two years older than Cyrus. However, both stars appeared on magazine covers that appealed to a mature audience and not their younger fans. Magazines such as Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair are typically not read by 10-year-olds and are credible magazines with a history of doing artistic and on-the-edge reporting.
Additionally, the evolution of Youtube.com has eliminated any small amount of privacy that Hollywood used to hold. The rapid dissemination of news, photos and stories posted on the Internet has the ability to taint anyone's reputation within seconds. Magazines such as US Weekly and Star thrive off any negative publicity of child celebrities. It only took minutes after Cyrus' pictures surfaced before bloggers, such as Perez Hilton, posted their comments. Cyrus is facing the brunt of America's fascination and obsession of scrutinizing young stars' lives, waiting for a wrong move or mistake.
As a poster child for Disney and role model for young children, Cyrus' photo scandal has gained a wide array of attention ranging from Bill O'Reilley to the commentators on The View. While it is not nearly as important as world affairs, Cyrus appears to be currently attracting more news coverage than the Iraq War. This shows how the entertainment industry has a profound effect on American lives, trumping political and international issues.
Cyrus has issued a statement calling the pictures "embarrassing," while trying to remedy the negative attention that she has gained by these pictures. She is only 15 and should keep in mind that she is respected by millions of children. However, it is also the mutual responsibility of American public to remember that these Hollywood stars will make mistakes just like any other human-only their mistakes will appear all over the internet in seconds.
Young celebrities are often the target of harsh criticism, and the American public is quick to critique every outfit and every dance move to judge if they're too provocative or seductive. No one can forget the retaliation Britney Spears faced after her first cover spread on Rolling Stone posing in only lingerie. Spears was only two years older than Cyrus. However, both stars appeared on magazine covers that appealed to a mature audience and not their younger fans. Magazines such as Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair are typically not read by 10-year-olds and are credible magazines with a history of doing artistic and on-the-edge reporting.
Additionally, the evolution of Youtube.com has eliminated any small amount of privacy that Hollywood used to hold. The rapid dissemination of news, photos and stories posted on the Internet has the ability to taint anyone's reputation within seconds. Magazines such as US Weekly and Star thrive off any negative publicity of child celebrities. It only took minutes after Cyrus' pictures surfaced before bloggers, such as Perez Hilton, posted their comments. Cyrus is facing the brunt of America's fascination and obsession of scrutinizing young stars' lives, waiting for a wrong move or mistake.
As a poster child for Disney and role model for young children, Cyrus' photo scandal has gained a wide array of attention ranging from Bill O'Reilley to the commentators on The View. While it is not nearly as important as world affairs, Cyrus appears to be currently attracting more news coverage than the Iraq War. This shows how the entertainment industry has a profound effect on American lives, trumping political and international issues.
Cyrus has issued a statement calling the pictures "embarrassing," while trying to remedy the negative attention that she has gained by these pictures. She is only 15 and should keep in mind that she is respected by millions of children. However, it is also the mutual responsibility of American public to remember that these Hollywood stars will make mistakes just like any other human-only their mistakes will appear all over the internet in seconds.
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