Miley Cyrus’ dynamic and controversial performance at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards not only marked a striking pivot from her Disney persona but also catapulted the term ‘twerking’ into the annals of the Oxford English Dictionary. The dance move, characterized by a low squatting stance and a thrusting of the hips, has roots that stretch far deeper into cultural history than its modern association with pop culture might suggest.
Despite Cyrus’ association with the term following her widely discussed act, historical records indicate that ‘twerk’ and its derivations have been around since as far back as the 19th century. The dance itself is a part of a larger set of characteristic moves unique to the New Orleans style of hip-hop known as “bounce”. Originally used in the context of “twirk” to refer to a “twisting or jerking movement” or “twitch” around 1820, its present spelling ‘twerk’ was in use by 1901. Notably, the Oxford Dictionaries Online indicates that the term may have originated as “an alteration of work.”
The scholarly analysis places the dance within a historical continuum of African diasporic dance practices, tracing its lineage back to Central African origins. These dances, historically performed at block parties and second lines, emphasized group membership and Afro-Diasporic counter-narratives, often in resistance to cultural suppression. The term’s incorporation into the Oxford Dictionary Online came on the heels of its meteoric rise in popularity, largely due to Cyrus’ performance, which caused it to become the top “what is” search on Google in 2013.
It is crucial to note that the ODO reflects language used in present day and includes around 1,000 new entries a year, suggesting a commitment to capturing living, changing modes of communication that evolve as our world does. Consequently, ‘twerk’ joined other contemporary entries like ‘selfie’ and ’emoji’ in the dictionary’s quarterly update, underscoring its mainstream recognition in language and culture.
Beyond the academic and lexicographic discussions, the 2013 VMAs performance sparked a widespread discourse on cultural appropriation and the sexualization of dance moves within popular media. Yet, in spite of the initial backlash and heated debate over her performance, Cyrus’ career trajectory remained largely unscathed. In fact, the episode seemed to embolden her artistic expression, propelling her to dominate music charts with subsequent releases, including her transformation into a glam rock persona and chart-topping hits like ‘Flowers’.
The Oxford Dictionary’s inclusion of ‘twerk’ is not just a nod to a dance craze but a recognition of the evolving dynamic interplay between language, culture, and social phenomena.
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– TIL that the word ‘twerk’ was added to the Oxford dictionary after the infamous display done by Miley Cyrus in the MTV Video Music Awards.