The use of Pop Videos to Market an Image; Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus is an excellent example of the change and power of the pop video. Before Miley's transformation into her most latest image she was use to be known as Hannah Montana in her younger days at the age of 16+ who was a role model to young child, young girls in particular looked up to her as someone they would like to resemble when their older. She was part of a Disney TV programme called Hannah Montana and was also a pop artist as she released several singles and albums.

 

Miley Cyrus then revealed her new image at the VMA awards this year as she came out of a Teddy Bear in her performance half naked. She displayed a number of sexual references as she later started twerking on Robbie Thicke who she made a joint performance with and is old enough to be her dad. She then continued to reveal her rebellious side as she made references to 'Molly' which is a street name for the drug ecstasy. This was evident in her music video 'We can't stop'

 

Miley didn't stop there, her most recent pop video 'Wrecking Ball' created a number of controversy as the opening sequence to the video was inspired by Sinead O'Connor music video 'Nothing compares to you'. In a section of the guardian newspaper Sinead was said to have wrote to Miley with a sub title saying 'Don't let them prostitute you'. This article consistes of of Sinead writing 'In the spirit of motherliness and with love' as she warns Miley not to let the music business make a 'prostitute' of her. She also comments on her views on the music industry as she says that 'they're there for the money' and lack the caring nature for individual artists as all the they care about is selling records and profits. It was then later said that Miley did not appreciate the advice and after the letter was published she tweeted on twitter a screen grab of Sinead's Twitter feed, cpmaring the singers publiv breakdown in 2012 to that Amanda Bynes the actress who was recently held for psychiatic treatment after a seris of incidents including starting a fire.

On the other hand i have come across another article featuring two observer writer debate on whether Miley is being exploited or empowered. One the debaters Berties Brandes says empowered.She points out the fact that she is still only 20years old and there are millions of other girls at that age who would despritatly want to be sexy. She states that the only difference between other girls and Miley is that 'Her idea of sexiness is pretty extreme'. The writer then later concludes that people should not victumise Miley and that it is not entirely her fault for the image she is portraying that the blame should be on the record company as she is only doing what is being adviced.

In addition to this it is evident that Miley is not the only young female artist to do something like this. This act can be seen in the actress/pop artist Lindsey Lohan. She also use to be an idol to young children as she was in alot of childrens films such as Parent Trap, when she grew up she went to rehab due to her addiction to drugs and alchol. The negative publicity and shock can be seen to be abit over the top as Miley is simply one of many female celebrates to potray such an image.



Miley's rebilous and reckless now look and gain her alot of publicity which can be seen as a good thing as many people who had never heard of her now have. Miley has been all over newpapers and magazine covers due to her new look and also seems to be gaining new fans/audience as her views on YouTube on her recent music videos show very high figures.