Activity p. 90

Wrecking Ball

MILEY CYRUS

In his review of Miley Cyrus’ music video for her hit single, Wrecking Ball, Joseph R. Atilano, a writer in the Entertainment section of The Inquirer, uses claims of value to express the immoral and indecent nature of the video. He gives both the song and the video a thumbs-down, arguing that the lyrics are shallow, the song weak, and the music video widely inappropriate for young viewers. Atilano questions what message Cyrus is trying to send to her fans in producing an over-sexualized music video in which she is barely clothed and delivering very suggestive double meanings in licking a sledgehammer and riding a wrecking ball. He balances his attacks by ceding to the fact that Cyrus’ lyrics express some sincerity in reflecting her personal struggles with the end of her recent engagement and to the fact that she was one of the songwriters, which gave Wrecking Ball some credibility. Atilano proceeds with his harsh critiques in countering his concessions, stating that the song sounds like a standard pop song that one would hear on the radio. He debases the song by indirectly stating that it has nothing of substance to it, the video by calling it immoral and indecent, and Cyrus herself by portraying her as another unoriginal and over-sexualized pop star. Atilano mocks Cyrus’ art and points out how ironic it is that she has released a single with a title that labels her exactly for what she is – a wrecking ball.