It sounds like the plot of a Hannah Montana episode:
Hannah Montana/Miley Stewart is super-excited when she finds out that she's going to be photographed by one of the most famous celebrity photographers around, known for her artsy magazine photos that reveal her subjects' inner characters. However, her excitement turns to embarassment when the published pictures turn out to be well, less artsy than revealing.
Unfortunately, this is real life. Vanity Fair magazine is about to hit the stands with a photo shoot of Miley Cyrus by Annie Leibowitz that features the 15-year-old clothed only in a satin bedsheet, with rumpled hair and much skin revealed. (NYT story here.) The Miley Cyrus camp is now claiming that MIley is surprised by how revealing the pictures are and that she thought the pictures would be "artsy." Leibowitz is saying that Miley's "parents/minders" were there all day and saw the digital pictures as they were being shot. (Vanity Fair has even posted a video of the shoot to back up this claim, although the video pictures both Miley and her dad in different outfits outside.) The pictures throw Miley in even a more embarassing light as a quote from Miley is printed across them -- a quote in which she states that Britney and Lindsey have good hearts and are "struggling."
Of course, in the TV show, Miley's dad, Robby Stewart, played by her real-life dad, Billy Ray Cyrus, would have stopped the shoot the second someone said, "OK, now Miley we want you to take all your clothes off and just wrap yourself in this sheet." We have to wonder why none of her parents/minders jumped in during real life. It's obvious why a photographer known for controversial celebrity photographs would want to get pictures of a 15-year-old squeaky clean Disney actress with bedhead in a bedsheet, but the parents that allow it seem to have to carry the heavy blame here.
At least I never stood in line for Hannah Montana tickets. . . .Gordon?
| Bookmark
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d8345157d569e200e55217ea428834
Links to weblogs that reference Life, Art & Hannah Montana:
1. Posted by Michael Risch on April 28, 2008 @ 11:14 | Permalink
Is it possible instead that all involved agreed that the photos are "artsy," but that the powers that be (who care little about art when it comes to the bottom line) are unhappy with the fact that the photos make her look like (an artsy) Lolita?
2. Posted by Gordon Smith on April 28, 2008 @ 16:20 | Permalink
Umm ... I am not sure what you want me to say, Christine. I agree with you about her parents' lack of responsibility here.
A few weeks back, someone pointed me to the video of Miley on American Idol. It's pretty clear that she is trying to make the transition from Hannah to mainstream, and these sorts of transitions are always awkward. Miley is eager to broaden her appeal while some of her fans are unwilling to allow her to grow beyond Hannah. Controversy is inevitable.
That's why I have a hard time believing that anyone was surprised at the explicit nature of the pictures. The whole event seems calculated to push her new image without offending the Hannah fans too much.
Which leads to my last point: I hope that I am not confused with fans of Miley or Hannah. Not my taste.
3. Posted by Taylor Wagner on April 29, 2008 @ 7:55 | Permalink
I DONT WANT YOU TO TALK ABOUT HANNAH MONTANA AND MILEY CYRUS SO YOU BETTER STOP I AM HER BIGGEST FAN SO STOP
4. Posted by anon on April 29, 2008 @ 7:56 | Permalink
Umm..Gordon, on April 5 you chronicled your experience obtaining a pink wristband in order to have the privilege of buying Hannah tickets. I think that's why Christine asked for your response!
5. Posted by Gordon Smith on April 29, 2008 @ 8:14 | Permalink
Anon, My memory sometimes fails me, but it isn't that bad. If you read that post, you know that I am not a Hannah Montana fan. I wasn't sure if Christine were calling me out for getting tickets, but I have no special investment in defending her.
6. Posted by anon on April 29, 2008 @ 12:19 | Permalink
Of course you're not a fan, but that's what makes it so funny! (Knowing that you got the wristband!) She was just teasing you, I think. I just pointed it out because it looked like you thought you were being called on for serious commentary.
7. Posted by argh on April 30, 2008 @ 16:39 | Permalink
There's a simple test for these pictures.
Put them on your laptop.
Carry the laptop to an international airport, and show the pictures to the TSA screener.
If you get to proceed, they're ok.
If they take your laptop, they're porn.
Trust your government, it knows what you ought to think.
And read.
And see.
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
