Since I have three chillins of my own, I have many opportunities to see the latest in tween and teen entertainment ala The Disney Channel, ABC Family (don't get me started on this network) and the many iterations of Nickelodeon. I've probably blogulated about this before, but I believe there is a consistent cycle of female child stars from these networks (and other sources of star generating potential) to get introduced to the world, get famous, get really famous and then basically whore themselves out in the name of artistic expression and "growing up." It's every dad's dream for his little girl to "grow up" by increasingly exposing herself via the popular media. Just think back to tween/teen sensations like Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, etc. They all went through the process and were often heralded for their courage and artistic expression.
The latest is the wildly popular Miley Cyrus (also known as "Hannah Montana" from her television show of the same name), daughter of Billy Ray "Achey Breaky" Cyrus. We've seen this sassy but sweet tween turn into a multimedia teenage mega-star over the past few years. Her TV show and movie have completely blown up all over the world and her concerts regularly sell out to thousands of devoted little girls and their mothers (or nannies).
Recently, she showed up at the Teen Choice Awards on Fox to accept the admiration of her fans and decided this would be the perfect time to break out of her little girl cocoon and into this...
She's making the transition from teen idol to teen stripper as she pole dances before a studio and television audience of impressionable teenage girls (and boys--but that's another subject). Seriously...look at the expressions on the little girls in the audience. What are they thinking?
"Wow! She's so courageous!"This stuff REALLY annoys me. Our society is becoming more and more narcissistic and it's all fueled by the lust of men. Men, stand up and do something about this. You don't even have to be a dad to take a stand.
"I can't wait until daddy lets me do this on tv...or at the local club just off the highway."
"She is empowered!"
"Where can I get that outfit? I want to be the first one to wear it at school."
(stepping off soap box)
Ok. So, I guess you can all get back to whatever it is that you were doing.
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That's truly shocking. Has this not been talked about in the media or have I not been paying attention? Does anything shock anyone anymore? Where is her dad in all this? And isn't she ashamed to do that at all, let alone in front of the world? I guess not.
Here's what Billy Ray had to say about his daughter's performance from www.starpulse.com...
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But Billy Ray Cyrus insists his daughter's critics always go too far. He says, "I just think that Miley loves entertaining people."
And he has urged his daughter not to pay attention to the negative comments being leveled at her. He tells news show Access Hollywood, "I always tell her to love what you're doing and stay focused for the love of the art and not worry so much about opinion."
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So, she's just focused on the "art" of the stripper pole and entertaining people. However, you'd think she'd be making enough money with record sales and concerts that she didn't need to put herself on display for cash. I'm guessing that lap dances are next as that's the next step up on the artistic ladder.
I have a very simple solution to this problem. It’s called turning off the TV. We do not watch a lot of TV in this house, maybe one or two shows after 10:30 p.m. and the kids are in bed. We do not go to many movies. We do not expose our children to the stars who participate in the process you described. After our year of free satellite dish we downgraded to basic cable. We get 11 channels. The kids watch a tiny bit of PBS’s Word World type shows, and that is it. ABC? As soon as LOST ends I’ll be done with that channel. As for Billy Ray’s comments…his values are on display for everyone to see. Whatever happens to his daughter, he has no one to blame but himself.
The wheels are coming off. We are sinking fast.
A perfect commentary on the warped perspective of Hollywood. The bubble they live in is so far from any common sense it's ridiculous.
I KNEW THIS WOULD HAPPEN!!!
you are 100% right and we are like Arby - no TV. When my friends ask if I'm worried about damaging my kids because "the won't know about the common culture" (i.e. the Miley pic on your post) I turn it around, "Aren't you worried you are damaging your kids becasue they do?"
Everyone has the right to choose, but it is ICKY the way little girls are made into sex objects. No new, but stil ICKY!
BTW I hadn't heard about that Miley stunt, I'm glad you blogged about it!
I stopped by to see whether or not you had a new post and I reread the title of this post. It could have gone in a completely different direction! Anyway...have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.
BD, I'm sure you don't have to guess twice what I think about this. I had a post about it too, a bit ago. It's insane!
And while I to subscribe to the "turn the t.v. off" philosophy, some things you can't help but see just standing the grocery store line, or visiting a friend's house, etc. So while I don't necessarily want my young kids to know what's going on in the whole culture, I do want to know what's going on and feel I have an obligation to speak up. The adults surrounding Miley have done her huge disservice. She doesn't understand the message she's sending, she's too young and naive. It's a sad commentary on us when our talented young girls think that sexing it up is what makes them strong young women. Shame on us.
Very good analysis, I think overall I would agree. And there are more supporting cases here: http://childstartragedies.blogspot.com
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