February 20, 2014

Why does Miley Cyrus, in her current show, "stuff a thong in her mouth and simulate oral sex on a Bill Clinton impersonator"?

I'm not going to talk about the parents who are complaining that the show is pornographic and unsuitable for youngsters. Exercise parental control, parents, you nitwits. It's not like the general sexual aspect of the performance was a surprise. I don't think the parents' pettish performance in The Theater of Outrage had to do with the specific aspect of the show that made sport of Bill Clinton. That was a surprise, and if that made the difference in where you draw your own okay-for-kids line, then I'd like to hear the specifics of your particular outrage, because I'm closely following the subject of the continued viability of the story of Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky.

Some people think this story belongs in the past, even as Bill Clinton seems likely to renew his residence in the White House, the site of his "inappropriate" and "in fact... wrong" interactions with Monica. Others, notably Rand Paul, seem to believe that it's relevant to Hillary Clinton's presidential candidacy. But members of the opposing party will use whatever material is useful in attacking her, and the question whether this material works is something I've been writing about in other posts.

What I want to talk about here is a popular entertainer dragging this old story out of the shadows. Presumably, Miley Cyrus is either a liberal or would like to have the reputation as a liberal. She's an entertainer. That's the norm. I feel I need to presume that she and the people who design her shows do not want to undercut the public image as a properly leftish character — not too political, perhaps, but safely and comfortably in bed with the good people.

I Googled "is miley cyrus a liberal" and the first thing that came up was an article from 2010 titled "Religion, politics and Miley Cyrus":
Miley Cyrus has been pretty open about her Christianity–she brings up God’s plan in interviews with the media, quoted the Bible on Oprah and thanked “my Lord and savior Jesus Christ” at an awards show. But plenty of people think her Jesus talk doesn’t match her walk, since she often walks around in short shorts (or dances up on a pole or takes scandalous cell phone pics or does a number of other typical teenager things)....

As Billy Ray Cyrus’ daughter, Miley maintains a connection to the red-state-style country music industry, so they fear she’s going to infiltrate their scene with her new, “California” values (She watches Ru Paul! She likes Michelle Obama! She’s interested in Buddhism!). That’s right: Miley Cyrus is the liberal “Trojan horse,” according to conservative watchdog site Big Hollywood.
2 years later, in 2012, there's "Miley Cyrus Is Hipper and More Liberal Than You. Oh, and She Hates Rick Santorum." So, apparently, some people are trying to help her position herself correctly, and now, in 2014, the chosen position is in front of Bill Clinton's famously bent penis.

So let's get this straight. The idea is (probably) to make Miley seem very hip and to cancel out any red state-ish stains on her got-to-be blue dress hot pants, but it must be consistent with the fun, sexy, sassy image, so... give a blow job to Bill Clinton.

But what about Hillary? You're making a show of disrespect for Hillary. Maybe respect for marriage is another one of those red-state values Miley needs you not to associate with her. Or maybe it means that Hillary herself is too old, too moderate to meet the needs of today's leftish hipsters.

And yet, whatever you think about Hillary, giving Bill Clinton a blow job doesn't connect well with present-day feminist values. Or is this the new thing, not giving a fuck about sex in the workplace? Could Monica Lewinsky ever emerge as a feminist heroine? "Feminism" is a receptacle of whatever meaning it receives, and the recipients are the women of today, an ever-changing group. The fusty oldster feminists move on. Hell, they accepted Bill Clinton as their champion back in the 90s when Bill's inappropriate and in-fact-wrong relationship was first in the news. And Hillary herself was one of them.

There's so much confusion of meaning here. It's 6 o'clock in the morning and I only intended to address the question of what Miley meant. I haven't even gotten to the question of why put the thong in her mouth, which was actually the part I found most puzzling. Maybe it's all part of God’s plan.

95 comments:

Hammond X. Gritzkofe said...

"Why put the thong in her mouth?"

Thong represents Hillary

joethefatman said...

Maybe she was trying to show that, dick or pussy, it's all good. And by doing so build her LGBTQRSA cred.

iowan2 said...

The Monica storyline is of value because it silences the war women phony talking point. It is forcing the left to adhere to their own rules.
The rule?
Sex is about power, not pleasure.
a male in power is forbidden by Holy Commandment to have, even consensual sex, with a subordinate.

To force the left to live by their own rules it is incumbent on Conservatives to keep this and other examples in the public conversation.

Ann Althouse said...

"The Monica storyline is of value because it silences the war women phony talking point. It is forcing the left to adhere to their own rules."

That's the opposite of explaining what Miley meant.

Don't go back to the question of whether this issue works for Republicans. We've done that one in at least 3 recent comments threads.

JackWayne said...

There's no meaning. Miley is looking for PR and Clinton is available. Cue Madonna wannabe.

rhhardin said...

The wrecking ball was about Obama's administration.

rhhardin said...

Thong in vagina is the usual edgy performance art since forever.

KCFleming said...

Quien es mas escandalosa?
Miley o Gaga?

Althouse is thinking too hard.

It's the weed and 'molly'.
I doubt Miley thinks in paragraphs.

SGT Ted said...

Miley Cyrus was a much more well known Disney Child Star than anybody from the Mickey Mouse Club that has since went down the slutty performer route. My grand daughers worshipped that show, Hannah Montana, and parents approved.

People are shocked because I think they thought she'd have more class. I know, big shock right?

And I think a big part of it is that Miley isn't carrying it off as well as other female performers that went from child star to "I'm a woman now, watch me shake my butt" Pop Tart route. It seems forced, or maybe even fake, when its coming from her.

Miley isn't artist enough to pull off this big switch from nice girl to Stage Slut. She reminds me of how Lady GaGa also seems forced and clunky, rather than naturally artist-like.

Tom said...

Maybe Miley Cyrus exists because as a kid, she heard about the cool president getting a blowjob in the Oval Office. Full circle

Matt Sablan said...

She did it so people would talk about her. It's JUST vulgar/out there enough to make people talk about her, without being SO out of bounds as to make people not want to talk about her. She gored a sacred cow, but not The Sacredest of Cows [that would've been a JFK impersonator, maybe?]

dbp said...

A thong, Bill Clinton and blow jobs are all totems. Ms Cyrus wants to be edgy and relevant so the expectation that it all makes some kind of sense involves putting more thought into the performance than she did.

What I think might have been more transgressive and used the same totems would be for Ms Cyrus, dressed as Lewinski to flash a thong at the Clinton impersonator, resulting in (simulated) oral sex done by the Clinton impersonator on Cyrus--while she sings a song. Maybe wrecking ball.

This song choice may or may not be because that is the only song I know of by Ms Cyrus.

Bob Boyd said...

Bill's dick is bent?
I'll be jiggered.

policraticus said...

Kurtz: Are my methods unsound?
Willard: I don't see any method at all, sir.

Trying to "analyze" Miley Cyrus is futile.

Anonymous said...

She Could have Simulated Fellatio on Samuel L. Jackson Dressed in a Laurence Fishburne mask. Meta-Edgy, and a Statement on Racism. She Would Be Hearlded as Healing the World with Her Esophagus.

Bob Boyd said...

Its typical Miley Cyrus. Copy something another woman did that was shocking at the time.
This is her Monica Lewinsky cover.

Renee said...

Consider the age difference, young woman with baby boomer aged man.


Some age difference is common in older relationships, but the idea of being with a man in any way or form that could be my dad's friend bothered me when I was in college.

Why am older guy for an affair, when you could hook up with any younger guy?

So what if he's the President, he's old. Eww.

KCFleming said...

Miley Cyrus = Camille Paglia - Albert Einstein

KCFleming said...

Miley = Dionysus and the Belmonts

Anonymous said...

http://althouse.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-woman-who-taught-motown-stars-to.html

From the Betamax3000Vault:

"And There Will Still be Room to Go on the Spiral.The New Craze Will Be the Evolution from the Shake to the Twerk to the Bukkake. A Ring of Background Dancers Simulating Ejaculation on the Pop Star. Scandalous, I Tell You."

Miley is On Her Way. They Could All Be Wearing Clinton masks. maybe an Obama Mask for Added Relevance.

virgil xenophon said...

Miley Cyrus copying Lady Gaga copying Madonna....nothing more, nothing less..

GOT to be the most outre hip thing out there, n'cest-ce pas?

Anonymous said...

Who can turn the world on with her Tongue?
Who can take a nothing Show, and suddenly make it all about Cum?
Well it's you Miley, and you should know it
With each Twerk and every Mimed Fellatio you show it
Love is all around, no need to waste it
You can make a Scene, why don't you Taste it
You're gonna make it after all
You're gonna make it after all

virgil xenophon said...

PS: Forgot to insert au courrant between "outre" and "hip" NOW it works, lol

Bob Boyd said...

Betamax 3000 said:
"maybe an Obama Mask for Added Relevance."

They were going to have her fellate Obama, but Miley protested saying, "I'm a singer, dammit, not a journalist!"

Renee said...

I watched the video.

It was silly, but I felt there was a message in there that was more the a sexual gag.

Here was the Statue of Liberty, the Liberty Bell, and Mount Rushmore..... then Bill Clinton.

"Party in the USA" totally get it.

The scandal (and the previous women) was an embarrassment for a President who supported women's issues on the left. There were feminists deemed as your equals and then there were women you objectified and used.

Why get angry at Miley? Bill Clinton is responsible for his decisions.

B said...

There's no deeper meaning to this than Cyrus saying 'look at me, look at me'.

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

David said...

1. Her rebranding has been a smashing success.
2. She's a hot little monkey who does not give a damn about the political agenda of feminism.
3. She's competitive. Who the hell is Katy Perry, anyway?
4. Next stop could be an actual stage appearance by Monica. The Monica and Miley Show! Tape at 11, and every 5 minutes thereafter.

Anonymous said...

Diamonds, Daisies, Crotch Shots,
That Girl
Fellatio, Rainbows, Showtime...
Is That Girl
She's Tinsel on a Tramp,
She's everything that every girl should be!

Sable, Bong Pipe, Dom P,
That Girl
Thongs, Spandex, Short Shorts...
Is That Girl
She's Miley alone, but luckily for you...
If you find Miley to love,
Only one girl to love,
Then Miley'll be That Girl too...
That Girl!

Anonymous said...

I have recently watched the American movie Back To The Future. I now wish that Doc would have gone to the future and given Billy Cyrus a condom.

The young girl Miley, she is talented, but with too many drugs addling her brain, which may not have been high-power to start with.

Anonymous said...

Miley Cyrus Robot says:

Of Course I Wear Thongs, It Is An Expression of Freedom and Good Waxing. I Do Pilates and Exercise for Hours and Hours and Hours: My Buttocks are My Show Ponies. And Why Would You Have Show Ponies if Not to Show Them? It's Really Simple, People.

Illuninati said...

Miley Cyrus thinks that what Bill Clinton did is cool. She is doing what she can for the Democrat cause by rejuvenating the image of an old politician into an advant-garde sex idol. Hilary will benefit because she is married to this sexual superstar.

Anonymous said...

Miley Cyrus Robot says:

I Stuff a Thong in My Mouth to Symbolize The Many Women Out There Who Do Not Feel Free to Talk About Their Vaginas: They are Mute in the Trappings of Male Fantasies. By Stuffing the Thong in My Mouth I Am Saying I Am One of Them, Yet I Am Also Open to those Very Men Whose Sexual Fantasies Involve Thongs and Mouths in Some Combination. I Work on Many Levels. The Thong is Always Laundered Before the Show, I Have an Assistant that Takes Care of That.

Anonymous said...

Miley Cyrus Robot says:

I Like to Think I have a Family-Oriented Show. Why, I Even Get Dads Who Come Without Their Children. It's Sweet, Really.

Anonymous said...

Miley Cyrus Robot says:

Sometimes People Ask Me "Miley, Do You Have to Go THAT Far?" I Tell Them I Am an Artist, and My Body is Part of My Art. For Instance, Inside My Mouth My Tongue is the Tool That Helps Me Sing My Songs from the Heart. Outside of My Mouth My Tongue is A Statement That it Is Okay For Teenagers of All Genders and Orientations to Masturbate. Today's 13-year-old Boy Masturbating to Me is Tomorrow's Father of a beautiful baby Girl. I Like to Think I Am Part of the Circle of Life.

Freder Frederson said...

Presumably, Miley Cyrus is either a liberal or would like to have the reputation as a liberal.

Do you have any evidence to support this contention, other than in the fever swamp that is your brain entertainer = liberal? And if you do believe that, how do you explain the vast majority of modern country music entertainers?

Hagar said...

Miley Cyrus is too young to know or think much. This is the fault of her parents and the adults producing the show.

And the "Monica Lewinsky Affair" is relevant as long as Bill Clinton remains a public figure. It is his behavior that thus still is of public interest; not Monica Lewinsky's.

Likewise Hillary! It is not about a Hillary!'s "war on women," but that she ruthlessly attacked anyone causing Billy Jeff's behavior to come to public notice and so threatening the fortunes of Clinton, Inc.
She quite well knows what Bill Clinton is like, and has always known. It is just something she has had to live with and devise measures to counteract the effects of the "bimbo eruptions." And in fact, she has been suspected of sometimes having manufactured a "bimbo eruption," when other acts of the firm have threatened to develop into a public scandal and criminal investigations.

And that is indeed something we are justified in keeping in mind when she is running for office again!

Anonymous said...

Miley Cyrus Robot says:

Lately I've Been Doing a Lot of Deep Thinking About the Clitoris. So Far Though, I've Only Rhymed "Syphilis" and "Bitter Kiss": I Want the Song to Be Happy, Not Scary. Writing a Song is Hard Work.

Freder Frederson said...

Oh, and btw, Miley Cyrus was 6 when the Lewinsky scandal broke. I doubt it was on her radar.

Otto said...

"There's so much confusion of meaning here". Watch out that kind of thinking is going to make your tower of babel crumble. The trouble is that you have no 8 1/2"x 11" crib sheet.Yea i know you don't need it, you have your brain and the NYT.

carrie said...

Miley is just paying homage to the moment that started all girls today down the path that Miley exemplifies. If you had teenagers when Bill Clinton was President, you know that the news about Monica and Bill was a game changer for all girls--if it was ok for the president and Monica to be doing that (and it apparently was because he suffered no adverse consequences from it), well then it was ok for everyone to do it---and girls you had all better be doing it!! Miley is just celebrating the beginning of . . . (it is too depressing for me to say it).

carrie said...

Miley is just paying homage to the moment that started all girls today down the path that Miley exemplifies. If you had teenagers when Bill Clinton was President, you know that the news about Monica and Bill was a game changer for all girls--if it was ok for the president and Monica to be doing that (and it apparently was because he suffered no adverse consequences from it), well then it was ok for everyone to do it---and girls you had all better be doing it!! Miley is just celebrating the beginning of . . . (it is too depressing for me to say it).

Anonymous said...

Miley Cyrus Robot says:

At My "Miley Cyrus charity Twerk Camp for Disadvantaged Youth" I Teach the Children That Twerking Must Come from a Place of Love, Not Hate. I Think This is an Important Lesson for Eight-Year-Olds Everywhere to Learn.

Anonymous said...

Miley Cyrus Robot says:

I am Writing a Song Called "Tail Gate Party (Yeah!)": it is About Having a group of Friends get Together Before a Football Game and -- you know -- Just Hang Out and Have a Good Time, Beer, Barbeque, Music. It Also Is About My Ass. It is Complex That Way.


Ann Althouse said...

"Oh, and btw, Miley Cyrus was 6 when the Lewinsky scandal broke. I doubt it was on her radar."

1. What is "oh, and" supposed to mean? It's one of the lamest phrases in on-line writing. I blogged about that years ago.

2. So what if Miley was a kid when those things happened? Follow through! That's my question. What does the Bill-and-Monica story mean to the new generation. Possibly something completely different from what it meant to us oldies. Maybe they think it's hip and cool.

3. Miley doesn't design her own show. She may have some role, but this is a big music tour, with who knows how many people working on it. Someone, probably not Miley, decided it would be good to do this Bill Clinton routine. Who and why?

J Lee said...

To someone of Cyrus' age, they're not going to be fascinated by Bill Clinton's politics or his legislative achievements while president -- if anything interests them about him, it's the fact he had oral sex in the Oval Office.

Which may be shocking to older people, but Miley and her entourage may actually think it's kind of cool, so that the on-stage simulation is some sort of 'tribute' to the 42nd president, albeit in a slightly warped way.

And part of the 'cool' factor may be that, thanks to Hillary's impending run, Bill isn't considered part of the past by young adults and late teens paying at least a casual interest to politics. It may be embarrassing for Team Clinton and Miley may be put on double-secret probation by some of the older liberals in the entertainment industry, but for the target demo she's shooting for, it probably won't have any negative effect on them voting for Hillary (if they bother to vote).

Renee said...

At six, kids can name and know the President.

Mine know Barack Obama.

Every day they had a press conference, not just CNN but NBC in the afternoon. They would always interrupt Days of Our Lives.

Anonymous said...

Miley Cyrus Robot says:

With My "Twerk the Vote" Foundation I am Trying to Drive Youth to Understand the Importance of Voting. I Mean, if You Were Twerking Which Politician Would You Want Moving Directly Behind You? See, You are Already half-Way There.

SteveR said...

1. Miley doesn't think at this level.
2. Whoever designs her shows thinks about being edgy and PR. Not politics.
3. Whatever people may want, Hillary 2016 will bring this out, over and over. Get used to it. There is a world of ways to spin up the Monica story that didn't exist in 1998.

Anonymous said...

Miley Cyrus Robot says:

Sometimes I Don't Wear Underwear. It is Not a Political Statement, I Just Like the Fresh Air. Except The Ecology IS Important: I Don't Want Global Warming Gases Blowing Up My Skirt and Touching My Muffin. Ew.

alan markus said...

@AA

Someone, probably not Miley, decided it would be good to do this Bill Clinton routine. Who and why?

1st,why Bill Clinton? I guess if you need some mock-worthy sexual/political icon Bill Clinton is the gold standard. 15+ years of prime comedy material that writes itself. Jay Leno's bank account owes many thanks to Bill Clinton - talk about "staying power"

2nd, I have wondered about the motivations of her "handlers" and image makers. Hard to tell who she is supposed to appeal to. Has made a dramatic departure from he Hannah Montana days, so I assume her old fan base is irrelevant. My guess is that she is being packaged to appeal to the teenage boys that could not get girls like Hannah Montana at that age. Or the fathers who sat with their daughters watching Hannah Montana while secretly fantasizing about getting it on with their daughter's nubile underage friends, or their neighbors's nubile underage daughters. I sense a certain darkness that most people don't want to delve into.

rhhardin said...

If Hillary had been doing her job, Bill would have been okay.

Unknown said...

It's her stage to proform as she see's fit !!! ,,,Bill,thong, what-ever ... Got U all talken ,,!!,, Hu!!?!!

Unknown said...

It's her stage to proform as she see's fit !!! ,,,Bill,thong, what-ever ... Got U all talken ,,!!,, Hu!!?!!

traditionalguy said...

The Clinton Media operation carefully taught Miley's generation that oral sex does not mean a real sexual relationship ...it's sort of playing at sex. Like the murder of the American Ambassador to Libya is internet video playing Muslim violence...not the real thing.

In Clintonia there are no real things except the Great Glass Ceiling Wars.

Scott M said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
madAsHell said...

She has to do the visuals because her music sucks.

Scott M said...

Some people think this story belongs in the past, even as Bill Clinton seems likely to renew his residence in the White House

Anyone else throw up in their mouth a little bit when you got to this bit?

Skeptical Voter said...

Trash is trash Ms. Althouse. Why do you want to spread it on your front lawn as it were?

Martin said...

Performing oral sex on Bill Clinton is now and always has been a feminist act!

"I'd be happy to give him a blow job just to thank him for keeping abortion legal." —Nina Burleigh, former White House correspondent for Time magazine, in an interview with the Washington Post.

Grimstarr said...

I can see plainly what Miley is trying to do here Professor. She knows that the carefully scripted "Hannah Montana" personality she helped craft for all those years will do nothing but hold her back as an adult. She is doing her best to insult, shock and offend those fans who still hold her to that outdated persona so she can get on with making the real money. Appeal to an adult (18-24) demographic and you start making adult money.
Regarding the sexual aspect, what the Lewinski affair taught the young people of that era is that as long as dick don't meet muffin it's not REALLY sex. Blow jobs? Anal? Totally not sex because the vag wasn't involved.
Thanks Bill!!!

Anonymous said...

I don't think she meant anything and any meaning she may ascribe to it would be after the fact. The Lewinsky scandal happened when she was about 5 years old. It's just a set prop. Bill Clinton=blow job.

Last I heard she was pretty aggressively pro monogamy
Especially as regards her and her parents' relationship. This whole phase could be an elaborate acting out in fact, but at an age when it becomes your own iterating if mistakes rather than a reflection on those of your parents or ex-boyfriend.

The Crack Emcee said...

Because of Hip-Hop, whites are getting a LOT of their racial buttons pushed - from many different directions - but, because they "don't care about race," they're completely at a loss of what to make of it.

Now it's the crazy white girl, with black support, violating every white piety she can wrap her legs around.

She's slowly working (twerking?) her way to greatness,….

The Crack Emcee said...

Whites really should've been nicer to us,….

Illuninati said...

The Crack Emcee said...
"Because of Hip-Hop, whites are getting a LOT of their racial buttons pushed - from many different directions - but, because they "don't care about race," they're completely at a loss of what to make of it.

Now it's the crazy white girl, with black support, violating every white piety she can wrap her legs around."

Delightful. Funny thing - this American black culture. I don't remember ever seeing anyone act like Miley Cyrus when I lived in Africa. The Africans were much like traditional middle class white folks, they kept their private lives private.

Alex said...

If Blogger had an ignore feature it would make things so nice. No more garage, Crack. Inga I can take. I just can't take the one-note idiots.

Saint Croix said...

I'm not going to talk about the parents who are complaining that the show is pornographic and unsuitable for youngsters. Exercise parental control, parents, you nitwits. It's not like the general sexual aspect of the performance was a surprise.

There are a tremendous number of people who are immune to pop culture, who pay no attention to it. These people hear "Miley Cyrus" and think "Disney movie."

People like to take shortcuts and put artists in a specific category (a.k.a. brand). Switching your brand, as Miley Cyrus did, causes upset and dismay and controversy.

People were pissed when Dylan picked up an electric guitar. Imagine Dylan picking up an electric guitar, while he's dressed like a woman.

People are unhappy about the sex, and the artistic change. But what really upsets is the sexual change, a change which mimics puberty.

It's not that Miley Cyrus has a sexualized show. Lots of rock stars have a sexualized show. It's that Miley Cyrus used to be cute and innocent. And now she's not.

This causes absolute panic in parents. They are afraid their own daughters are shifting and changing. They are going from cute and innocent to...what? Miley Cyrus?!

clint said...

I suspect you're putting more thought into this than she (Miley Cyrus) did.

It's about attention -- and it worked.

The old "no press is bad press" idea, and in the case of tabloid celebrities/reality stars, it really seems to be true.

Even if she really, really crosses the line, that just gets her front page again a month from now with her tearful confession and apology.

Alex said...

I wonder how these things get decided. Is Miley an empty vessel for a Svengali manager who comes up with all thees perverted ideas or is she the one conjuring them up?

Saint Croix said...

And yet, whatever you think about Hillary, giving Bill Clinton a blow job doesn't connect well with present-day feminist values.

There's an element of sexual degradation in Cyrus' work. Why else adopt the Monica Lewinsky persona?

Most female rock stars (think Madonna) treat human sexuality as empowering for women. Have sex and feel your power! But Miley Cyrus is suggesting that sex is not always empowering for women. It can be degrading and ugly and unhappy. Monica Lewinsky is a very obvious example of that.

The simplistic view of Miley Cyrus is that she's just dumb. She has no idea of how degrading her routine is.

Another possibility is that she wants girls and women to be aware of the degrading possibility of sex and to reject it.

In other words, she wants girls to reject her persona. She's bringing a negative vision of sex to the world so that people will be appalled.

A lot of female rock stars do a Slut Walk. Miley Cyrus is doing a Slut Walk, too, but she's emphasizing the degradation involved with such a persona.

Saint Croix said...

I have no idea how much of Miley's show is conscious, and how much is subconscious. She might just have a deeply negative view of her own sexual history.

n.n said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Thorley Winston said...

Do you have any evidence to support this contention, other than in the fever swamp that is your brain entertainer = liberal? And if you do believe that, how do you explain the vast majority of modern country music entertainers?

Well let’s see the fact that she comes from a family of politically active Democrats (her grandfather was a Democratic state legislator and her dad has actively campaigned for Democratic candidates) and that she tweets her support of Obama, I’d say there’s a better than 50 percent chance that she identifies as one as well.

And as far as the “vast majority of modern country music entertainers” (of which she’s not but her father arguably is), it’s actually closer to a 50-50 split. I could probably name more self-identified as Democrats than Republicans.


n.n said...

Saint Croix:

That's a reasonable assessment. Swift sings about it. Cyrus acts it out. It may be a response to unhappy experiences or unmet expectations. Cyrus may have been less capable of coping, or perhaps carried a latent hostility, which would explain her sudden and extreme behavior. Unfortunately, there are plenty of people who have seized the moment to exploit and sustain her confusion.

Lydia said...

Anyone here know what the name of her tour/show -- "Bangerz" -- means?

William said...

I confess to having some unworthy and inappropriate thoughts regarding Katy Perry. At my age, my thoughts should be on the next world and not on Katy Perry's breasts, but such is our fallen nature......I must say that decadent as I am, I have never directed carnal thoughts in the direction of Miley Cyrus. And this despite the fact that she's cute and somewhat depraved.......Perhaps that's the secret of her success. Despite Betamax's poignant observations, I think older men regard her more as a turn off than a turn on. The plus side of this is that younger men have her all to themselves and don't have to compete with older men for her affections. Her sexuality is a joke, but it's an in joke that only younger people get. Woody Allen would never cast her as the love interest in one of his films.

Lydia said...

Miley says she's actually educating kids about art:

Even though parents probably won't think this, I think my show is educational for kids. They're going to be exposed to art most people don’t know about. People are taught to look at things so black and white, especially in small towns. I'm excited to take this tour to places where [art] like this wouldn’t be accepted, where kids wouldn’t learn about this different kind of art.

n.n said...

Lydia:

So, she has aspirations to be a teacher and humanitarian. She is reviving yesterday's progressive morality (i.e. 1.0), which is probably favored by sentimental liberals. This is consistent with the progressive confusion hypothesis, and speaks of an early rebellious phase to which many people are vulnerable. Hopefully, she will right herself before sliding into progressive morality 2.0, where dignity and value are antiquated concepts.

SGT Ted said...

Anyone here know what the name of her tour/show -- "Bangerz" -- means?

She's named her tour after a British sausage?

That's kinda different.

Is Jimmy Dean a sponsor?

Anonymous said...

Professor,

If there is any meaning in this at all, I'd go with how she was raised.

Assumption: She grew up in a conservative southern household that didn't like or approve of the Clintons and their time in the Presidency.

Maybe she heard a lot about Bill Cinton in her home? My daughter is 13 and knows nothing about politics, yet she is always telling me things about Obama as if she knows. Bad things. How he is the worst President ever. And I ask her, "How do you know this darling?" and she has no answer, just what she hears from her mother. And so I tell her we need to respect the President, but she really doesn't like Obama.

But, as my daughter gets older she will start to think for herself. And she may rebel against parents (Me). And she may become a flaming liberal. But even if she does, she may find it difficult to overcome her childhood feelings of dislike for the Obama's.

In this case, maybe Miley is the same way. Maybe she learned not to like the Clintons from her parents. Even though she is now a liberal Democrat and loves the Obama's, doesn't mean she likes all Democrats. It's an impression upon her from a young age, one that is tough to shake.

And so she mocks Bill Clinton because she sincerely doesn't like him and the impression she has of him from a young age.

Saint Croix said...

I have never directed carnal thoughts in the direction of Miley Cyrus. And this despite the fact that she's cute and somewhat depraved.......

I'm the same way. Katy Perry is hot, Miley Cyrus is not.

So what's the difference?

Miley Cyrus seems to take all the fun out of sex. A lot of sex has degradation in it. We're doing it like a couple of animals! But Miley Cyrus is all about degradation. It's hard to get in the mood for that.

The other thing too is that her stage show seems to sexualizes childhood. Her tongue thing, for instance. A woman sticking her tongue out is cute. It's cute because it's childish. But Miley Cyrus sticks her tongue out in a very sexualized way. It's childish and sexualized (and obsessive). I find it creepy.

Katy Perry is an idiot but there's nothing wrong with her sexuality.

Matt said...

I would think most Miley Cyrus fans would neither know nor care about what happened to Bill Clinton in the 1990's. So her performance would have close to no impact politically. Unless, of course, the media carry on about it.

The Crack Emcee said...

Matt said...
I would think most Miley Cyrus fans would neither know nor care about what happened to Bill Clinton in the 1990's. So her performance would have close to no impact politically. Unless, of course, the media carry on about it.

Politically? No, but culturally - BIG TIME. And I guarantee you they know:

Bill Clinton lied he didn't inhale.

Bill Clinton lied about a blow job.

Bill Clinton lied and is still considered a player.

Bill Clinton lied and,...

The Crack Emcee said...

Matt said...
I would think most Miley Cyrus fans would neither know nor care about what happened to Bill Clinton in the 1990's. So her performance would have close to no impact politically. Unless, of course, the media carry on about it.

Politically? No, but culturally - BIG TIME. And I guarantee you they know:

Bill Clinton lied he didn't inhale.

Bill Clinton lied about a blow job.

Bill Clinton lied and is still considered a player.

Bill Clinton lied and,...

ken in tx said...

The high school students I taught in the 90s, thought Clinton was cool because he was a 'Playa'. Maybe Miley works with and is influenced by people of that age.

Tom said...

At age six, I knew Reagan had been shot. I also respected the president, who seemed like a 3rd grandpa for me. If Miley was six when the Lewensky story blew wide open, she's known about it her entire life. For her, presidents get blowjobs - it's normal. And famous girls give blowjobs. And older women defend him because he is helpful to women. Behold what the mixed message as wrought - a hyper-sexualized, empowered, successful women. She's not fighting for sexual equality like Madonna kinda was. She already has sexual equality and is celebrating it in the most transactional way possible. And really, blowjobs aren't even sex - Daddy says so.

Sydney said...

What I want to talk about here is a popular entertainer dragging this old story out of the shadows.

For someone Miley Cyrus's age, the whole Clinton fellatio thing is part of our American mythos. "Look at how cool we are. We have presidents who get blow jobs in their office. Heck, even while they talk to other politicians on the phone. And it's no big deal! " I suspect she and her handlers truly believe that is something to celebrate. That's why it is on stage with the Liberty Bell, Mount Rushmore, and the Statue of Liberty. God help us.

a psychiatrist who learned from veterans said...

You've been talking about art and saying that perhaps there usual rules don't apply and a function is to finish sentences that go places that illuminate what has been hidden and unspoken, unthought through.

SGT Ted said...

A lot of sex has degradation in it. We're doing it like a couple of animals!

No, we're doing it like humans have always done it.

The degradation I have seen in my lifetime is when sex is portrayed as some sort of "dirty thing" to be put up with in order to have children.

Not seeing the "degradation" of normal human behavior.

Now, What Miley is doing is the degradation part. Crack is correct is his assessment of the cultural impacts of the Clinton BJs.

David said...

She'll be dead from a drug overdose within 20 years.

tshanks78 said...

I think Miley is a lot smarter then people think. In my eyes the "Bill Clinton" routine is a greater critique on the media and the noble elite who continue to lionize him. Miley Cyrus is a stage performer whose whole mission is to both shock and entertain. When she twerks for the cameras the media establishment goes berserk and cries out "What happened to our culture?!!". Meanwhile this same media parades around President Clinton as one of the greatest Presidents of our generation and seeks to install his wife so that his wonderful legacy may continue. What happened to our culture? Miley knows and hopefully through her performances the rest of y'all will catch on.

tshanks78 said...

I think Miley is a lot smarter then people think. In my eyes the "Bill Clinton" routine is a greater critique on the media and the noble elite who continue to lionize him. Miley Cyrus is a stage performer whose whole mission is to both shock and entertain. When she twerks for the cameras the media establishment goes berserk and cries out "What happened to our culture?!!". Meanwhile this same media parades around President Clinton as one of the greatest Presidents of our generation and seeks to install his wife so that his wonderful legacy may continue. What happened to our culture? Miley knows and hopefully through her performances the rest of y'all will catch on.

ghum said...

The reason for all this is to get people to talk about Miley. She is doing this kind of "shocking" stuff to get people talking about her. No such thing as bad publicity. Frankly, given that she doesn't care about reputation, she's a marketing genius.

JR said...

It's not about Monica Lewinsky, who was doubtless a willing participant and possibly the initiator. It's about Hillary enabling predatory behavior towards unwilling participants while she and her feminist fan club berate alleged conservative misogyny.

Finally, I wonder how Bill Clinton would fare under the campus anti-rape/anti-harassment standards currently being pushed by likely Hillary voters.

viator said...

Because the zeitgeist is getting ready for Clinton 2.0?

joe said...

Not too long ago i read a 'where are they now?' piece on Lewinsky and it painted a very sad picture of a lonely depressed woman who doesn't like to go out in public for fear of ridicule. It seems to me that this is rarely if ever mentioned; how she is just another bit of human wreckage in the clinton wake...she is a hated thing unworthy of sympathy...how must she feel watching the clintons go from success to success as the world praises them?