Hannah Montana Tells Kids To Be Themselves, Or Better Yet, Someone Else

At the end of the film, Miley decides that she is sick of playing Hannah Montana, and reveals her true identity at a concert. She is subsequently booed and shunned, with the Tennessee townsfolk all begging her to put the wig back on and keep pretending. Blankenship writes: “the conclusion tells viewers that being yourself is acceptable when you’re with a very intimate circle, but otherwise, it’s preferable and even honorable to lie about who you are. Hannah Montana: The Movie suggests that we can make people happy by always being who they want us to be, so we should maintain a performance at all costs. What’s a little personal integrity when the entire world will be placated by our perpetual public disguise?” [NPR]