Why MVC Entity Controller's View @Html.DisplayFor(par => item.Object.Property) is used instead of directly accessing property?

Question

In MVC entity controller there is generated view code(below). Author of the tutorial I am following wanted to add HTML helper which cuts Artist's name which are longer than 25 characters.

Then he uses that helper in that manner: @Truncate(item.Artist.Name, 25).

Why DisplayFor(modelItem => item.Artist.Name) was originally used istead of item.Artist.Name?

@helper Truncate(string input, int length) {
    if (input.Length <= length) {
        @input
    } else {
        @input.Substring(0, length)<text>...</text>
    }
}

  @foreach (var item in Model) {
        <tr>
            <td>
                @Html.DisplayFor(modelItem => item.Genre.Name)
            </td>
            <td>
                @Truncate(item.Artist.Name, 25)
            </td>
            <td>
                @Truncate(item.Title, 25)
            </td>
            <td>
                @Html.DisplayFor(modelItem => item.Price)
            </td>
            <td>
                @Html.ActionLink("Edit", "Edit", new { id = item.AlbumId }) |
                @Html.ActionLink("Details", "Details", new { id = item.AlbumId }) |
                @Html.ActionLink("Delete", "Delete", new { id = item.AlbumId })
            </td>
        </tr>
    }