Miley Cyrus: Lifestyle Glamorization In Music Videos

Great Essays
one during its first week and sold more than one million copies during that same period (Billboard).
While it is entertaining to watch these celebrities blossom in their careers, their success does not come without stipulations. One can assume that these three pop artists will work toward the good of those that do not have such an influential grasp on the nation’s people. It is true that they have completed philanthropic duties; there is a long list of supported charities between the three including Red Cross, Stand Up to Cancer, and Make-A-Wish Foundation ("Charitable & Philanthropic Celebrities"). Even so, the musicians’ actions which go beyond donated money and time do not align with the intentions of the Black Lives Matter movement. Perhaps it is that these issues are unimportant or they are not willing to take a risk to defend Black America as much as they are willing to exploit it.

Lifestyle Glamorization in Music Videos Music videos are a significant outlet in which the glamorization of celebrities can be observed. The visual pairings of Katy Perry’s song “This is How We Do”, Miley
…show more content…
After admitting to becoming “disconnected” with her previous work, Miley Cyrus has adopted a style which is much less conservative (Diehl). Her latest album takes on a brashness is far from the pop-country vibes of her previous hits. This new demeanor is portrayed in the video “We Can’t Stop” as Cyrus backs a rebellious message by cutting her probationary ankle bracelet off, declaring the lyrics “this is our house, this is our rules”, and condoning drug use. In an interview with V Magazine, she compares herself to rapper and convict Gucci Mane, "In my mind I’m Gucci Mane, but on paper I’m a pop artist” (Nostro). The artist, who has no record with law enforcement herself, seems to be poking fun at the idea of being on the receiving end of the

Related Documents

  • Decent Essays

    Music has been a major impact on our culture. It has been around since the beginning of time, evolving and becoming more diverse over the centuries. Many talented artists have left their mark on the music industry over the decades. Britney Jean Spears, an American singer and former actress, has definitely made her mark as a pop icon. Britney was credited for the revival of the pop culture in the late 1990’s.…

    • 85 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    This documentary "Dreamworlds- Desire, Sex, and Power in music Videos" tries to explain how the popular culture influences contemporary music video and how this is affecting today’s culture. “Dreamworlds” insists that these narratives and cultural attitudes have shaped these music videos into sexualizing women, and filtering the identities of both men and women into “myths” about sexuality and gender. The subject group in these music videos tended to be mostly about women and how they are misrepresented and used in popular culture. Overall I agree with the film message that these music videos are misleading and only demonstrated with one point of view in which the audience can see through. For instance, the women are sexualized and presented as mere objects of for the video and men as well.…

    • 673 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Elton John Research Paper

    • 1498 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Music and society have a large impact on each other, and how they shape the way people view and act in the world. There are four themes that identify and characterize how music has evolved over the past one hundred years. These themes also show how music affects and expresses the culture that not only we live in today, but also how we have changed in our views on numerous aspects of today’s society. The four themes that are explored directly with a specific artist and, or, band are how they impact society, politics, and several cultural issues that have stood the test of time and the way race, class, and gender are expressed in music. The development of the music industry and the technology used in it are widely affected by the change in music over decades, but also by outstanding individuals during their careers, which span over a variable amount of time.…

    • 1498 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Las Krudas Thesis

    • 166 Words
    • 1 Pages

    Besides making use of hip hop songs that are already made by professional artists, using the talent here on campus expressed through their own hip hop songs or spoken work. There are many artists who utilize hip hop to turn their own personal struggles into art. Some artists even cover the intersectionality of their struggles in their music such as the three women who together comprises a Havanan hip hop group named Las Krudas. Together Las Krudas speaks on the intersectional oppression that they face from being Afro-Latina, a women and poor (Armstead, 2007). Respectively, there is something to be said when combining modes of artistic protest expression such as hip hop music and dance.…

    • 166 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    One of the biggest celebrity feuds in 2016 is Kim Kardashian versus Taylor Swift: Snapchat Gate. Snapchat Gate gave a worldwide audience an answer to the infamous question- did Taylor Swift give Kanye West permission to use the two lines referencing her in his song “Famous”? The answer to the question is an inconclusive “sort of,” however the repercussions of these snapchat videos provide an interesting peek into the social culture of the United States and how social media is used as a new rhetorical device. The feud between Kim Kardashian and Taylor Swift would be nothing without the context of the feud between Taylor Swift and Kanye West.…

    • 1162 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “As a proud American, a father who lost his own dad in a senseless act of violence, and a black man, … I grieve with the families who have lost loved ones, as I know their pain all too well.” Michael Jordan, a hall of fame basketball player and successful business man, speaks on black lives and law enforcement. As quoted above he compares his own life experiences and the shooting of his father to inform the families struggling with these tragedies that he has been through it as well. Trying to give comfort and support to these families. Jordan speaks out in support of the “Black Lives Matter Movement” and support of the law enforcement.…

    • 1254 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    It is evident that music industry and its trends has transformed throughout the ages. From the emergence of rock n’ roll in the 1950s, to the rise of disco in the 1970s, and the popularity of R&B and hip-hop in the 21st century. Although different musical movements defined different decades, the one thing that transcended through the metamorphosis of music was the topics and subjects behind the lyrics. Whether that be sex, race, love, money, or work, all artists have been singing and writing about the same themes since music itself was created. One of the most prominent and controversial issues addressed was politics and race sung through protest songs.…

    • 651 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Beyoncé Style Jambalaya: Lemonade Beyoncé’s visual album Lemonade goes beyond the supposed emotional turmoil of her marriage with Jay-z. Throughout the album and film, Beyoncé touches on subjects of social injustices and black culture while also incorporating various genres and other successful celebrities. Through Beyoncé’s visual album “Lemonade”, Beyoncé does what any Beyoncé fan (or observer) would expect her to do, she performs greatly to her equally as great music. But not only is “Lemonade” a musical masterpiece, but also a firm demonstration of how Beyoncé is an Unapologetic Black Woman and feminist. Emotional Turmoil: Beyoncé begins her album with a prologue “praying to catch” Jay-z “whispering” along with “praying” he’ll actually…

    • 948 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Melissa Avdeeff’s essay “Beyonce and Social Media: Authenticity and the Presentation of Self is about how celebrities or musicians create their public private persona through the use of visual aids. Ms. Avdeeff explains that scholars who study the current popular culture, especially in the music or entertainment industry view the digital social media and what is “authenticity”. Beyonce and others like her use social media to reveal specific visual images in order to control how her fans view their public private selves and give an altered view such as being glamorous which might not be quite accurate. Social media and fandom is an expanding area of research the use of person is very common.…

    • 818 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    In this essay, “The Impact Celebrities Have On Our Lives,” the author Deborah King, discusses the topic or main idea, How celebrities have an impact on our lives. To begin with, “King” points out that celebrities are playing a huge role in our lives. The author also indicates that celebrities are Serving as our role models of taste, style and public opinion throughout the world. Their endorsement and creative input enables them to bring attention, credibility and other intangible benefits to us. Furthermore, the biggest structure or foundation of this essay is that even celebrities have leaders or people they look up to but us the people are the celebrities followers.…

    • 195 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    One aspect of the media where gender and sexuality is used largely in a negative way is in music videos. In order to attract attention, video producers will create extremely risque content. Beyonce, who is know as the queen of pop, displays sexual content, and gender stereotypes in the music video for her song ‘Drunk in Love’. It takes place on a beach at night where she walks through the sand wearing a very skimpy bikini with a see-through dress over it. She poses for the camera as it scans up and down her body, and in these scenes her face is either shadowed or covered by her hair.…

    • 832 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Celebrity Controversy

    • 777 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Suffering is an ever-present concern across the globe and it spurs the need for charities and advocacy groups to help bring it to an end. Often times, celebrities become the voices of these charities and advocacy groups because of their popularity and impact on the public. This, however, strikes a controversy regarding the ethicality of having celebrities as public figures for humanitarian causes. It is debatable that celebrities’ vast influence on the public can negatively impact the cause. Realistically, the celebrities influence on the public is the reason that celebrity humanitarians are successful advocates.…

    • 777 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Pretty Hurts Analysis

    • 1363 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Beyoncé a well-known singer/ songwriter was recently dubbed “queen bee” by generation z due to her extraordinary voice, and inspiring, powerful personality. She is a feminist icon, promoting self love and equality for all. The music video “Pretty Hurts,” was recorded as a part of her fifth album. This song sent a viral message about self-empowerment and beauty standards that society has placed upon itself. “Pretty Hurts” analyses the effects of expectations on how women should look, instead of how women should feel on the inside.…

    • 1363 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Superior Essays

    All rappers degrade black women and the people who support these corrupt rappers hate black women also. Jennifer Mclune’s “Hip-Hop’s Betrayal of Black Women” creates this biased inference within its readers after reading the text. Mclune is a writer, activist, and librarian that lives in Washington D.C. Her article, “Hip-Hop’s Betrayal of Black Women,” first appeared in an online magazine called Z Magazine in 2006. The story discusses how rappers feel that they have a privilege over women and they rap about it in their music.…

    • 1405 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Black Lives Matter Effect

    • 1585 Words
    • 7 Pages

    The Effects of Black Lives Matter Black Lives Matter is a movement that was created in 2012 after the death of unarmed, African-American teen Trayvon Martin, who was killed at the hands of a Caucasian man. The movement aims to stop violence and the killing of African-Americans (About-Black Lives Matter). Black Lives Matter has become more well-known in recent years and the movement has led many protests, marches, and rallies. Also, the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag has become very popular on Instagram and Twitter.…

    • 1585 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays