perpustakaan.uns.ac.id digilib.uns.ac.id CHAPTER III ANALYSIS This chapter provides the answer to the two research questions. Thus, this chapter is divided into two subchapters in order to give a clear answer to each research question. The first subchapter discusses the changing images of Miley Cyrus as an American celebrity represented in Miley Cyrus‟ official music videos and the second subchapter discusses what triggers Miley Cyrus to change her images to stay popular. A. The Changing Images of Miley Cyrus as an American Celebrity Represented in Miley Cyrus‟ Official Music Videos As an American celebrity living in constructed images, Miley Cyrus has done some image changing related to her persona in media which is intended to maintain and raise her popularity. To answer the first research question, “How are the changing images of Miley Cyrus as an American celebrity represented in Miley Cyrus‟ official music videos”, here are the changing images I find within her six music videos. 1. 7 Things (2008) In 2008, Miley released her first studio album entitled „Breakout‟. The album which consists of three songs was commercially successful as the lead single 7 Things hit the top teen charts in various countries. However, the album got criticisms because it was her first record that was not affiliated with her television series Hannah Montana. The criticisms said that there was a difference in her image. Miley commit to user 59 perpustakaan.uns.ac.id digilib.uns.ac.id appeared as a pop rock youth star in the album, while she appeared as a cute Disney star in Hannah Montana television series. Therefore, it can be clearly noticed that there is a transition from a kid‟s idol (Hannah Montana) into a youth‟s idol (Miley Cyrus). Moreover, in this year, Miley had triggered another controversy by posing half-naked in Vanity Fair. Her pose got many incisive criticisms. Because of the criticisms, Miley apologized to all of her fans. Another reason why she apologized was the contract. She had engaged with Disney‟s contract from 2006 until 2011. Since she was under the contract, she had to keep her images as clean as before. Even though she shows some changes toward her images in this year, but the images of Hannah Montana still dominates her persona in this year. It is clearly seen in her 7 Things music video released in 2008. Her images in this music video were overall similar to Hannah Montana‟s images showing a cheerful and optimistic girl. In this music video, the images of a cheerful and optimistic girl can be seen from its narrative. The narrative in the music video which is created through the correlation between image, lyrics and music has placed Miley Cyrus as the center of the story in this music video. This helps me find the significant images delivered in this music video. There are two significant images which appear within this music video. The images are as follows: a. Optimistic Girl In this music video, Miley is the main character in the story. The music video tells about Miley‟s experiences dealing with her personal life. commit to user 60 perpustakaan.uns.ac.id digilib.uns.ac.id She appears as a teenage girl who is wearing a black dress, with some colorful patterns on it. Her hair is long and loose, but neat. Her face is covered with natural make-up. The black dress with colorful patterns, loose but neat hair and natural make-up are things that express optimism. The black dress represents power. The colorful patterns mean rainbow which carries the meaning of hope, promise and dreams. Therefore, by dressing in black dress with colorful patterns on it, she delivers message of power to chase hope, promise and dreams. Hope, promise and dreams are things which signify optimistic mind. The music video starts when the camera shoots Miley and her band personnel using the eye level technique. It also uses pan camera movement that it stays in one position. This technique forces the audiences to focus on Miley‟s appearance while singing the song. When the music starts, Miley starts to sing the intro and verses. She keeps her position in the center of the screen. She stands and dances confidently along with the song. commit to user 61 perpustakaan.uns.ac.id digilib.uns.ac.id The kind of lighting used in this music video is high key lighting. This high key lighting shows a clear mood filled with optimism. Moreover, it is added with the white backdrop which adds the bright mood within the scene. From the setting of place, costume and lighting, this music video wants to give message that Miley Cyrus is an optimistic teenage girl. Besides, the clear and optimistic mood is also seen in her face when singing the song. She smiles and gazes confidently toward the camera. She smiles sincerely during the whole scenes. Her eyes gaze clearly and straightly toward the camera. The way she smiles and gazes toward the camera bears a meaning that she is a confident girl. The confidence itself is strongly related to the idea of optimism. Therefore, the image appeared is an optimistic girl. commit to user 62 perpustakaan.uns.ac.id digilib.uns.ac.id In this music video, the image of an optimistic girl is also supported by the lyrics of the songs. I probably shouldn‟t say this But at times I get so scared When I think about the previous Relationship we‟ve shared It was awesome but we lost it It‟s not possible for me not to care And now we‟re standing in the rain But nothing‟s ever gonna change until you hear, my dear The first verse gives the message of Miley‟s uncertainty and scared feelings. It is because her ex seems to ask her to reunite, but she feels afraid. She feels confused and afraid to recall her memories in their previous relationship. However, in the next verse, she says, “But nothing‟s ever gonna change…”. She clearly states that she is not going to reunite. It shows that she is an optimistic girl who already makes her choice wisely and clearly. commit to user 63 perpustakaan.uns.ac.id digilib.uns.ac.id Even, she adds one more explanation to her ex that whatever he will do, she insists to not reunite. It‟s awkward and silent As I wait for you to say But what I need to hear now Is your sincere apology When you mean it, I‟ll believe it If you text it, I‟ll delete it Let‟s be clear Oh I‟m not coming back You‟re taking 7 steps here Miley wants a sincere apology from him, but he does not give a convincing explanation. Therefore, she makes it clear that he should let her go. From the lyrics above, it is known that Miley has just ended her relationship with her ex. Meanwhile, her ex tries to ask Miley to reunite. Yet, after all the things she has been through, she decides not to reunite. She keeps commit to user 64 perpustakaan.uns.ac.id digilib.uns.ac.id smiling and thinking about her happy life without looking back to her broken relationship. She keeps her mind positive that everything will be fine. The way she thinks positively clearly presents an optimistic mood. Therefore, in this music video, she is represented as an optimistic girl. b. Cheerful Girl In this music video, Miley also appears as a cheerful girl. She appears with her fancy colorful dress as before. She also smiles sweetly and laughs cheerfully during the whole scenes. Her fancy colorful dress bears a meaning of excitement. Excitement is strongly related to cheerful mood. Thus, her costume also outlines her image as a cheerful girl. The image of a cheerful girl is also noticed as she smiles and laughs cheerfully as shown in the pictures above. The first picture is taken in a long shot to show the whole body of Miley. She is squatting her body and then dancing. In the next picture, she dances and jumps while her mouth is widely open. Her loosely hair is boosted. Her face, hair and half body which cover almost the whole scene express her cheerfulness. From the way she commit to user 65 perpustakaan.uns.ac.id digilib.uns.ac.id dances, jumps, smiles and gazes in this music video, she is expressing a cheerful life. Besides, the introduction which implies the strummy verses with acoustic guitars slowly changes into moderate punky-pop when it reaches the chorus. It signifies that „7 Things‟ speeds up dramatically and Cyrus‟ vocal becomes more aggressive and powerful which represents her cheerfulness in singing the song. The 7 things I hate about you [Chorus:] The 7 things I hate about you (oh you) You‟re vain, your games, you‟re insecure You love me, you like her You make me laugh, you make me cry I don‟t know which side to buy Your friends they‟re jerks When you act like them, just know it hurts I wanna be with the one I know th And the 7 thing I hate the most that you do commit to user 66 perpustakaan.uns.ac.id digilib.uns.ac.id You make me love you The chorus states the things she hates from her ex. She hates the way he plays with her feelings. Even though she hates those things, she is not sad and not depressed. Instead, she keeps dancing and singing the song cheerfully.