Ariel Levy - Women and the Rise of Raunch Culture

Ariel Levy critiques the highly sexualised predominately American culture in which women are objectified both within their songs and their visuals. She refers to this as "raunch culture". Levy claims that the enjoyment of "slutty stereotypes of female sexuality" has existed through the ages but has seen an major increase in recent years. It was once a phenomenon that existed in the male sphere but has now become more mainstream and highly visible in women. Raunch culture has overtaken "political life, the music industry, art, fashion and taste". Here is one artist who closely fits in with Levy's theory.

Miley Cyrus

In the past year, Miley Cyrus has conformed to the ideas given by Ariel Levy. Her countless controversial moves from twerking on Robin Thicke at the VMA's to wearing little clothes in public have spiralled her into the music industry with a brand new identity from her Hannah Montana days that started in 2007. Her three new video releases this year have shown her in a more sexualised way. Her most controversial video Wrecking Ball sent the world into a frenzy after her posing naked on a wrecking ball and licking a hammer in a provocative and almost suggestive way. Her changes in style of music can be determined by her change in management and record label. This is highlighted predominantly through her album covers. Her 2007 album Breakout shows Miley dominating the cover wearing a simple outfit with a neat title across the middle with a star. Her 2013 album Bangerz is very different. Her outfit and stance is more provocative and the neon pink title shows a different and more sexual and edgy colour scheme.

I think that Ariel Levy's ideas are applicable to the video Wrecking Ball because it objectifies Miley in a sexual and provocative way. The song and video would have been just as successful if the video was tamer and fitted in with the true meaning of the heartfelt lyrics. However, knowing the massive media attention it gives her, Miley chose to make the video provocative to portray her message further. 

I think that some male recording artists put themselves out in a sexual way but it is less documented and carries less negative media attention than women therefore meaning that it is less of an issue within society. This could be because it is seem as deviant for a women to act provocatively. Recently, pop singer Lily Allen released her new single Hard Out Here which states just how women are objectified and how men's objectification of women is ignored by the media. This video and song have been given a lot of media attention and some say that Lily was wrong to right a song like this. But isn't she just highlighting a modern day problem within our media obsessed society?