Miley Cyrus Research Paper

In today’s popular culture a big topic of discussion is pop singer, Miley Cyrus. She was a former star on Disney Channel’s Hannah Montana and now we have all seen her transformation from a girl to a woman. To avoid fading away like many other celebrity teen stars as they aged, Miley decided to reinvent herself as an adult musician by pushing the limits. Many people only see Miley Cyrus for her unadulterated VMA Performances and her frowned upon behavior, which most individuals don’t care to get to know. There is another side of Miley that has made a huge impact on society and has reached new levels in giving back to the community. Miley has dedicated herself to feminism, improving society’s image of women, leading the fight against LGBTQ discrimination, charity work, and using social media to expose societal issues.

Like most modern celebrities, Miley and Monroe both received their fame due to the movie industry and modern technologies of the time. Without the technological advances of the time, neither celebrity would have received near the amount of fame that they do now. Miley Cyrus and Marilyn Monroe are also very similar in their great wealth and egotism that comes with it. Monroe once exemplified this characteristic when she demonstrated her great wealth by saying, “I always love finding new places to wear diamonds!” (Rudnick 2). Most of all, however, these celebrities are very similar in their complete lack of care for the socials norms and political correctness. Both have been known for performing radical actions that could insult specific groups of people, but they justify these actions with the fact that “heedless movie stardom defeats all common morality” (Rudnick 2). For these reasons, Marilyn Monroe can be closely compared to similar “star” Miley Cyrus in the media

Hannah remains a wonderful role model to her peers in all of her work ethic, kindheartedness, and her spiritual life. No one would be able to find one cruel bone in her body. Passionate about everything she does, she never gives up on anything. She is not swayed by the majority; she finds joy in being her own person. The following quote perfectly sums up Hannah’s outlook on life. “Do not compare yourself with others. It is our uniqueness that makes us who we are.” - Tina J.

has conformed to their societal standards. Although she has gained society's approval, she has lost herself. Growing up, this is something that most everyone can relate too.

Miley is important to MHK students is that he supports the lower, working class of US citizens. He pays, “tribute to all soldiers who served”(USA Army) and goes to other countries to support families with a member in the army. Some people might not agree that paying tribute to other soldiers is supporting the lower class, but it is. It supports the lower class because most of the members who died were in the lower class, therefore it supports the families of the people who died. Also, supporting families who have members in the army is supporting the lower class because families with member in the army have to support themselves on one person's job, therefore making the income less. This is supporting the lower class because it helps to show that people care about the families in the

“So many people look at [my depression] as me being ungrateful, but that is not it- I can’t help it. There’s not much that I’m closed off about, and the universe gave me all that so I could help people feel like they don’t have to be something they’re not or feel like they have to be fake happy”(Gevinson). Although not many people know much about this part of Miley’s life, it is a big

Miley Cyrus can easily be explained through the eyes of Sigmund Freud, the father of Psychoanalysis. Freud was the first to develop the “talking cure”, in which one makes their unconscious thoughts, beliefs, and motives, conscious by means of catharsis, or a free discharge of emotions. In this approach, it is thought that our behavior is a result of our unconscious motives. Therefore, psychodynamic therapy bases its treatment of mental disorders on the relationship between the unconscious and conscious mind. After working with many different people, Freud came to the conclusion that repressed memories, fears, and emotions stored in the unconscious mind must be brought to light to the conscious mind, in order for them not to manifest themselves through symptoms. The key internal mechanism for change here is insight of how the unconscious thoughts influence their behavior.

Through Miley Cyrus’s years on her hit sitcom her brand identity and start text were made. Her original star text was known a young sweet innocent teenage girl that believed in love. As Miley and her audience matured she began to revolutionize her image by creating herself a new star text that was the polar opposite of her previous. Her new star text was completely self and media driven. Now her current start text identifies with heartbreak, drugs, activism and nonconformity. The extreme change of start text shocked and dismayed individuals. Many social media users and celebrity journalist wrote the transformation of, implying it as a lost girl in her twenties making mistakes she will eventually regret. Despite the negative comments she has embraced her star text using it for free publicity and media attention. Miley Cyrus purposefully modified her star text in order to make it in the music industry, she targeted a new market and generation using her controversial change, boosting her self-success, making her one of the greatest known evolved celebrities to a mass media level.

As Miley Cyrus’s audience matured, she purposefully changed her image by creating a new star text that was the polar opposite of her previous. A star text is everything that we associate with a start, including their promotion and body of work. Her hit sitcom Hannah Montana built her previous brand identity that connected with her audience of adolescent children. Miley’s original image was known for being a sweet and innocent teenage girl. Now her current start text identifies with heartbreak, drugs, activism and nonconformity. The extreme change of start text shocked and dismayed individuals. Many social media users and celebrity journalist wrote the transformation off implying it as a lost girl in her twenties making slipups she will eventually regret. Despite the negative comments, Miley has embraced her star text using it for free publicity and media attention. Despite Miley Cyrus’s claims that her controversial change was not for reward or fame. Her old star text became mundane to mainstream media and her maturing audience, compelling her to reinvent her star text in order to continue being famous and successful in the music industry.

As an artist, she has gone through undoubtedly the most growth and has remained unwavering and successful, through the test of time, clearly shown through her leading the charts and being recognized through endless nominations

Why should I live up to other people’s expectations instead of my own.” She also throughout the story goes against the norm. Even being popular is scary for her. Both of these show that developing your own identity on your own can be scary and pushed

Stardom often challenges the artist’s process of finding their true identity. From Hannah Montana to “Wrecking Ball”, Miley Cyrus has gone through a series of dramatic changes in style and personality. People went outrageous on her performance at VMA in 2014, questioning her authenticity as an artist as they could not believe that she went from a role model to a latex wearing “seductress” with suggestive dance moves (“twerking”) (Arruda 2013). Started out her career being a child star on Disney Channel, Miley was initially seen as a role model to her peers in the public’s eye. Little did people know, she wanted more than just acting according to the scripts. “I worked for five years on something that

The difference is that now Miley has the chance to express herself without direction from others. “My whole life it was never about having control. Shit would just come out with my face on it, and that was it. So now nothing can have my face on it, my name on it, that isn’t dope -- that isn’t a part of the movement.” In an interview featured in her documentary, Miley adds a comparison between the lifestyles of other pop icons in their youth to her own. “Most people don’t have their kid photos put up and then be like, ‘She’s changed.’ Well, yeah. If you put up a picture of Lady Gaga at eight, and then Lady Gaga now, yeah, she’s changed” (Schillaci). Therefore, Miley’s new dubious movement into adulthood is not so out of the ordinary. Nonetheless, the essence of her movement embodies the revolutionary truth of self discovery, and teenagers worldwide who struggle with the fear of persecution should take note of her effortless ability to express herself.

Appearing naked swinging on a wrecking ball, many claimed this was inappropriate for young girls to see as their role model; but Miley seems to be trying to normalize this for women, allow them to control their sexuality, not allow men to define it. It’s consistently pointed out if star women are sexual but when male stars have naked women in their music videos it is not questioned. This double standard is furthered with the use of drugs; shortly before the release of the video, Miley smoked weed at a MTV Europe music awards in Amsterdam, which outraged people although drug use by male stars is widely

Miley’s life in the spotlight led to the young star to suffer from severe bouts of anxiety and depression. Long hours, a demanding schedule and tons of attention coalesced into a wave of emotional instability. “I would have anxiety attacks. I’d get hot flashes, feel like I was about to pass out or throw up. It would happen a lot before shows,and I’d have to cancel. Then the anxiety started coming from anxiety.” (Miley Says Hannah Montana Caused Body Issues, Interview). “You get in this hole that seems like you’re never going to be able to get out of.” She has also struggled with weed. “I think weed is the best drug on earth. One time I a smoked a joint with peyote in it, and I saw a wolf howling at the moon.” Hollywood is a coke town, but weed is much better. And molly, too. Those are happy drugs- social drugs. They make you want to be with friends. You’re out in open. You’re not in a bathroom.I really don't like coke. It’s so gross and so dark. It’s like what are you,from the Nineties? Ew.”Many celebrities have/is overcoming anxiety disorders/ drugs and it can be very serious at some point.” Source information? Last but not least, Miley’s accomplished music career and