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...That is NOT the question! And I'll tell you why:
The past few days have been charged with mostly negative comments about Miley Cyrus' performance at the Video Music Awards. Upon seeing a single clip from her performance, I must admit, like most viewers, I initially couldn't believe what I was watching. However, when I saw more, my focus shifted. Among other issues, I'm specifically addressing the "twerk" session with fellow singer, Robin Thicke. Demographically speaking, Thicke is 16 years older than the twerking 20-year-old, and has been married since 2005. Red flag or raised eyebrow, anyone? No? Well, let's continue. Thicke, who is known for his "Sex Therapy," has already quickened the feet of anti-rape activists, with what most may identify as even more notable: his "Blurred Lines." These, and other activists, have criticized the seemingly, even if subconscious, support of rape culture that is found lurking in the lyrics. But I digress on this topic, for now. Twerking… I mean, moving on. Ah, yes. The famous "twerk" dance move. There are many who have attempted to take part in this cultural and evolutionary "phenomenon." For those who are unfamiliar, and of course I'm no expert, it seems as if twerking is similar to an earlier dance form: "grinding." Now both entail using the pelvic area, in some form, which I'm not going to go into detail here, to make contact with the pelvic or buttocks area of another participant. In this case, Cyrus has been the talk of the tabloids, and other conversations, when she debuted her twerking video earlier this year. But let's get into the meat of the matter, no pun intended. I don't want to focus so much on the twerking aspect of this situation. To twerk, or not to twerk, is NOT the question here. The question is: Why is Miley Cyrus pretty much the sole receiving party of backlash in this situation mainly from our society? The question is: Why are we pretty much letting Robin Thicke, and many of his male counterparts "off the hook?" There are other male artists who receive lap dances from women and grind on them during a performance, amongst other things. And what do we do? We swoon, we sigh, and we hardly consider that as inappropriate. We are pimped out groupies. The question is: So, what, if she wears an essentially skin-tone bikini during her performance? Leggings, short skirts, revealing clothing, have absolutely NOTHING to do with another person not being able to control themselves in whatever sense. ***Please note: For all of my Christians and other believers in modesty in apparel, I am not necessarily condoning or opposing her clothing, or lack thereof. I personally was raised to wear one-piece bathing suits only to the pool area, and I have continued this practice in my young adult life. But aren't bikinis simply underwear anyway? I just want us to look at things differently. The spin-off question is: So, what about men who walk around with their shirts off in the dead of summer? (Please, people no lusting.) But think about it. What about men who sag their pants? This topic throughout the years has caught the attention of the public eye, and even legislation in some parts. But still, it would seem that men aren't, and have never really been, held to the exact same standards as women. Disagree? Let's discuss! Yes, Miley had some very sexual dance "expressions" in her performance. Yes, Miley was once, I repeat, WAS ONCE, portrayed as the Disney character Hannah Montana. But even in the show, Miley struggled with the performing her and the "real" her. So the question is: Why do we put so much pressure on child actors/actresses, especially when they decide to branch out into not-so-expected, but seemingly expected, means of expressing who they "truly" are? Or even in this case, they may be simply finding themselves. Our society needs to simply consider and then DISCUSS these and similar aspects - not just conduct the typical conversation. Let's dig deep! I am by no means the know-it-all to look to for answers. I am also not endorsing shifting the blame to men, just because it's convenient. I think we ALL are at fault. I'm just expressing things that have bothered me for a long time. "If you're not part of the solution, you are part of the problem." Let's get to problem-solving! Leave a comment!
2 Comments
Renee Childs
8/27/2013 05:00:39 pm
There is nothing new under the sun. The game never changes just the players. Remember the story of Adam & Eve, the woman made me do it. How about the woman taken in the "very act" of adultery? Where was the man or did she commit adultery alone? I say that to say this, society as a whole, has and probably always will, have a double standard when it considers what is appropriate dress and conduct for a woman. The sad thing about it all is, God, who created male and female, created He them, has clearly set the standards. If only society as a whole would embrace the Word. --Ijs
Erica Lewis
8/28/2013 10:16:49 am
I think the hardest thing to come to terms with is that when you watch a show for so long you really start to believe the characters, that its possible that they are showing some of their true-selves.....and some might be. We fall for the false concept of how life should be as we watch the fictional characters go about their fake live and miss the reality of; when the lights turn off, the camera shuts down and the actors leave the stage, that it was all and act and they continue their lives off camera we don't know how they are off camera. Jamie made a point of saying that Miley was showing her true self "off camera." We don't know these people personally we don't know their true mannerisms and true character, so we shouldn't just judge them based off of what we see, there is a lot of truth to this blog most child actor/actress' are always told who they are and molded into what their managers believe would make them the most money when they get away from all of that, and start doing things on their own, they are only now trying to figure out what works for them, "finding themselves" and who they are trying to become in this career. Leave a Reply. |
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"Wise shall be the bearers of light."
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