<p>
Well, maybe. I’m always skeptical of the message when it fits in lucratively with the marketing. When the marketing and the message diverge, it’s interesting, and it rarely happens. One example I can think of is the Dixie Chicks.</p>
<p>^^^Based on the reaction to MC, I’m not buying that society as a whole actually does approve of simulated masturbation and explicit tongue action in public. I think there might just be a pretty significant element that finds subtlety more attractive than in your face “look at me and if you don’t like it there’s something wrong with you.”</p>
<p>Yeah. I can see that I view gaga and Madonna as entertainers and not as artists. But it doesn’t mean they don’t know what they are doing. </p>
<p>Brittney, Miley, they have no idea of what they want to say. Brittney, given the fact that her father has custody of her even as an adult, arguably has no clue what she is even doing half the time. I think of Judy Garland, sans the vocal talent, with some of these young performers. </p>
<p>Bieber? Michael Jackson type imho</p>
<p>^^^For all his faults, Michael Jackson lamented his lack of a childhood and how he was essentially exploited. It might even explain in part some of his more disturbing actions.</p>
<p>“we obviously all watched this Miley performance.”</p>
<p>We did? I didn’t even know what a VMA was, and I still don’t know if Miley one (and I have no idea what she used to look/sound like, nor what she looks/sounds like now.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>right. The point I am trying to make is that society is okay with putting females of all ages on display sexually for the amusement of an audience. Boundaries are continually pushed. Simulated masturbation seems to cross the line. Why is that where society draws a line? It seems a bit hypocritical to me. I could argue that the simulated masturbation empowers the performer. I have no idea if that has any basis in reality. I have no idea whether Madonna, gaga and the rest are empowered or exploited. Lots of really smart folks have had lots to say and write on the subject.</p>
<p>ETA
correction: everyone but Mini has watched the performance :)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>You could argue just about anything. So?</p>
<p>mini- Why are you posting on this thread? Your posts mainly are simply reminding us that you didn’t watch Miley and have no idea who she is or how she performs. We get that.</p>
<p>I didn’t watch the show “live”, but certainly watched the recap of her performance so I knew what was going on and could participate in the discussions- which were happening all around me. Our local paper indicates that Billy Ray is still formulating what he is going to say. I suspect he wants to convey support and love for his daughter but not approval of this performance and he can’t quite figure out how to do that.</p>
<p>“Our local paper indicates that Billy Ray is still formulating what he is going to say. I suspect he wants to convey support and love for his daughter but not approval of this performance”</p>
<p>I hope he reads your words and just comes out and says it. Just like that. Not bringing up religion, blaming the performance on anyone else, but simple and sweet. Any parent could understand that, as many of us have been in the situation of absolutely loving our children, but saying/thinking, “What ever are you doing?!” Of course, not to this extent.</p>
<p>Remember the deli orgasm scene in When Harry Met Sally? I thought Meg seemed empowered over whimpy Billy and clearly made her point.</p>
<p>I did not think the restaurant patrons’ expressions were ones of disgust and the “Ill have what she’s having” line brought roars from the audience at the show I attended. Different era I guess.</p>
<p>Yeah, I really think you’re mistaking what many of us are talking about on here.</p>
<p>Miley’s performance was embarrassing. It had nothing to do with it being sexual, which, by the way it really wasn’t, in any erotic sense. It had to do with it being really embarrassing and uncomfortable to watch.</p>
<p>It was a really BAD performance, and incredibly inauthentic to who she is, as can be seen in how badly done it was and in how awkward and uncomfortable it made the audience, not because of it’s sexuality, but because it was so bizarre.</p>
<p>nuff said.</p>
<p>How was she “empowered” by that? She simply proved her point that she could allegedly fake a good orgasm. If by empowered you mean that she convinced him that perhaps he had been fooled in the past, okay. But in general, I’ve never needed to expose my sexuality in public to achieve a feeling of power. I don’t think performing sex acts in public or simulating the same is an avenue towards personal “empowerment.” But I guess that could be subjective depending on the person.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>In this day of cell phone and other technology where one can be filmed with or without one’s consent, one can only hope. Gulp.</p>
<p>There was a thread that was active here last week about the song Blurred Lines, the lyrics, meaning, etc. What’s amusing is that there were absoutely no lines in Miley’s performance.</p>
<p>There are those with class and those without…</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I don’t think she’s embarrassed. Was it embarrassing for some people to watch? Obviously it was, but so what? I am embarrassed for a LOT of well known singers when they sing live because they can’t carry a tune. I automatically think they should be embarrassed too. They probably aren’t. I don’t understand what being embarrassed to watch something has to do with anything.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>missypie–EXACTLY. I have read one review that argued that everything that went on (bizaar, gross, overt, blunt, slime) was Miley’s intent especially with RT being made so completely NOT in charge or control of what was happening to him. A 20 year old girl beat him with “slime.” “Blurred lines?” Hey, you RT, you couldn’t handle it if a woman called your bluff.</p>
<p>Someone mentioned Bruno Mars upthread. Did anyone here pay attention to the lyrics of the song he sang? Were you embarrassed? If so, should he care? Miley is being judged very harshly, largely because she is a young woman.</p>
<p>[Miley</a> Cyrus carrying on long tradition of VMA provocation | NJ.com](<a href=“http://www.nj.com/entertainment/music/index.ssf/2013/08/miley_cyrus_carrying_on_long_tradition_of_vma_provocation.html]Miley”>Miley Cyrus carrying on long tradition of VMA provocation - nj.com)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Her album drops on October 8th and she did exactly what she wanted to do in order to maximize that drop. She has been embraced by current hip hop royalty. They don’t care what any of us thinks and neither does she. That’s how it should be.</p>
<p>poetgrl–</p>
<p>I doubt that you believe it (and I am on the fence in the belief area on this), but if MC really did understand the abuse and control that she had been under and intended exactly what happen as a declaration of independence from this treatment, wouldn’t that be a “positive” for her?</p>