Croghan: Society pushes child stars to act provocatively

Contrary to Jay-Z's song lyrics, no one can stay "Forever Young." Not even child stars.

This month's issue of Cosmopolitan featured teen pop star/former "Wizards of Waverly Place" actress Selena Gomez on the cover. And for many — myself included — the initial reaction is one of disdain. Why? Because Gomez is a "child" actress, and is dating a "child" (Justin Bieber). Associating Disney with a sex-ridden magazine is problematic.

My suggestion: leave Selena alone!

Our culture has this insane standard: We expect youthful role models to keep their squeaky-clean image for eternity. When they grow up (and start making grown-up mistakes), we shun them. Their well-being isn't even an afterthought.

Selena's "provocative" cover is just the tip of the iceberg. Last month, Dakota Fanning graced Cosmopolitan's cover. Fanning isn't new to controversy: Her sexual ads for Marc Jacob's Oh, Lola! fragrance upset a lot of people. Her role as punk rocker Cherie Currie in 2010's "The Runaways" bothered quite a few people as well. Mostly because of her make-out scene with Kristen Stewart, who played Joan Jett.

We just want to see her as Sean Penn's daughter in "I Am Sam." Too bad that film was released 11 years ago.

To make matters worse, Fanning was two weeks shy of 18 when January's Cosmo hit newsstands. Uh-oh. Is this an example of sexualizing a child? People are bothered by young girls who become sexual objects. However, I've heard no complaints about Taylor Lautner's rock-hard body being shown everywhere — before his 18th birthday.  

I am just pointing out the logical hole in condemning Dakota's career choices.

My point is this: Child stars struggle to be perceived as adults well into their adulthood. Wanting to remain relevant in Hollywood and in tabloids, they take their clothes off in front of a camera. Wrong? Maybe. Effective? Generally, yes.

Ashley Tisdale (of "High School Musical" fame) posed nude for Allure Magazine last year. There wasn't much publicity surrounding the event. Tisdale told the magazine, "I'm 25, almost 26, but people think of me as much younger because I look young. Being in this shoot was me saying, ‘I'm not just the young girl everybody thinks I am. I'm actually a woman.'"

Another High School Musical alum, Corbin Bleu, posed nude in 2009. His naked pics were part of a shock ad campaign for "The Beautiful Life," a failed sitcom that aired on CW.

This view of perpetual childhood has hindered the growth of many actors. Another example of a Disney child star is Lindsay Lohan.

For its January/February issue, Playboy went back to its roots. For those who don't know, Marilyn Monroe was the first centerfold in 1953. It made her iconic. She is known as the fun, fearless female (yes, that's Cosmopolitan's motto).

And troubled actress Lindsay Lohan paid tribute to Monroe. This has pissed off quite a few people, including the general public and Marilyn's enormous fan base. However, I would argue that "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery," as Charles Caleb Colton once said.

People are troubled by Lohan's Playboy tribute simply because she's a former Disney child star. We give these former children/current adults no room to grow up. Appearing nude is the most defiant thing they can do and sometimes, it's the only way they gain legitimacy as a grown-up.

Sure, her teeth were tarnished until very recently. Yeah, she's troubled. But we're drawn to the troubled female pop icon. Marilyn Monroe is one of many. We're drawn to celebrities with issues.

Judy Garland (yes, Dorothy from Kansas). Amy Winehouse. Rihanna. Britney Spears (a former Mickey Mouse Club member). The list could go on and on.

Am I the only person who notices the parallels between Lohan and Monroe? Both had substance abuse problems. Both faced harsh criticism for their relationship pursuits. Monroe was divorced multiple times when it was still taboo, and Lohan dated Samantha Ronson, pushing the acceptance of same-sex relationships.  

All of this, however, is old news. Lohan has already imitated Monroe for a photoshoot. New York Magazine published photographs of Lindsay mimicking "The Last Sitting" (the infamous photos of Monroe taken weeks before her death in 1962).  

Lohan's pictures were gorgeous! I'm not saying she's on the same scope as Monroe, but the photos are classy and underrated. A lot of this stems from one truth: Whe name "Lindsay Lohan" is now associated with scandal rather than with her talent.

Oh dear. I've admitted believing that Lohan is talented. That's a whole different debate.

Another argument that's made in opposition to the photoshoot is Lohan's celebrity status. Is she still a legitimate celebrity, or just another tabloid fixture who needs to step out of the limelight?

Lohan's failures are definitely her own doing. However, it's unfair to say that she was the sole initiator of her unraveling. Society has impossible expectations of Lindsay (and other former child stars) to stay perceivably chaste forever.

Becoming a centerfold isn't the end of the world. And even if it is, oh well. It's all over in 2012, according to the Mayans. Lohan may as well do a strip tease to announce her adulthood and herald in the apocalypse. The alternative is doing it clothed, and with everyone seeing her as both twins in "The Parent Trap" well into her 40s.  

Damien Croghan is senior news-editorial and international studies major. Reach him at damiencroghan@dailynebraskan.com.