Cyrus' recent performance at the VMA's sparked an overwhelming amount of attention. Dressed in a skin coloured bikini number the grown up child-star stole the show with a sexy dance routine featuring twerking and pelvic thrusts. The result: a simply unforgettable performance that birthed a new controversy to keep the world talking.
If Facebook is anything to go by it seems that her performance has entered the conversational spheres of almost every demographic. Feeds have been riddled with pictures, memes and articles written in both criticism and defence of this star.
With headlines titled 'Miley Cyrus criticised for raunchy MTV Video Music Awards performance'[The Guardian] and 'Miley Cyrus loses Vogue cover, thanks to MTV Video Music Awards act' [DNA India] magazines, newspapers, blogs, televised news and radio platforms have all joined the conversation to inform their diverse audience bases and add their 50 cents worth too.
Yet, despite the global criticism of her performance the 20-year-old star has kept herself in high spirits and stated that she thinks the world is simply "overthinking" it.
Besides, as Cyrus said herself in an interview with MTV in the US, "Madonna's done it, Britney's done it. Every VMA performance, that's what you're looking for; you're wanting to make history."
And making history is exactly what she was doing.
However, it appears that the implied nudity and her sexed-up performance at the VMA's was simply the prologue to a new marketing antic: take it all off.
This week she went in for a second round on the international entertainment news headlines in the release of the music video for her new track 'Wrecking Ball'. With just under 40,000,000 in the first two days of its release this video features the young star dancing provocatively with a sledgehammer and swinging on a giant wrecking ball, only this time, in the nude.
It is clear that she is competing to one-up her entertainment forerunner, Madonna. And while some are cheering her on to feed their cravings, the rest of the world is left asking "why?"
Making History
What was it that led this young star to think that taking her clothing off would 'make history'? Has society degraded so far that the only history that really 'makes' it these days is that which is more sexualised than the rest? It appears that this is the case.
Thus whether it is due to external pressures or Cyrus' own ideas, the young star has chosen this as the quickest way to get attention. And unless something drastic changes, she has chosen this image as her legacy.
For Cyrus, the world is watching. What she decides to do and how she decides to make herself known is far reaching.
A Legacy
But just like Cyrus we too leave a legacy.
Her recent antics highlight the weight of our actions and how-in-which they are a megaphone of our life onto society. Daily we are faced with choices as to how we will act or react to different situations; life is simply a culmination of the decisions that we make in response to these. And whilst stardom is her career, Cyrus reveals an innate desire common to us all: a desire to be known, noticed and acknowledged.
Cyrus' recent headlines have caused me to reflect and ask myself: What would I like to be remembered for? Where should I direct my desires for attention and acceptance? The following has helped me answer these questions…
John chapter 15 verse 19 reminds us, "If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world…therefore the world hates you." The crux of this verse: we are called to be counter-cultural and are only on earth temporarily; our true destination is heaven.
As such, our endeavours should be directed by a future perspective; not in conformity to the patterns of this world but characterised by faith and the Spirit that dwells inside of us; "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." [Galatians chapter 5 verses 22 to 23]
And although we may not be acknowledged in this world we can hold fast knowing that we are indeed God's handiwork [Ephesians chapter 2 verse 10] created by Him [Psalm chapter 139 verse 13].
May we be encouraged to pursue a life that Jesus would rate in faith and characterized by the fruits of the Spirit and thus leave a legacy that is honourable to Him. And when the going gets tough and we find ourselves feeling unnoticed may we also be encouraged that although we may not be making global headlines, that we are known and acknowledged by the creator of the universe.
So again there stands the question faced by both Cyrus and ourselves: What will you be remembered for?
Charlotte (Charley) works in youth ministry and is studying a Bachelor of Theology at a bible college in Melbourne. Charley enjoys writing children's stories, playing guitar and dreaming the impossible.
Charley Goiris' previous articles may be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/charley-goiris.html
