Research: Richard Dyer's ''Star Theory'' - Ms Begum

Richard Dyer's ''Star Theory''

 

What is star theory?

- Richard Dyer states that 'star' are constructed, artificial images, even if they are represented as being ''real people'', experiencing real emotions. It helps if their image contains a designed audience so that they can be copied to the interests of that audience.

- Pop stars have the advantage over film stars in that their constructed image may be much more consistent over a period of time, and is not dependent on the films they choose as star vehicles.

 

Richard Dyer

 

- Richard Dyer (1945-) is an English academic currently holding a professorship in the Department of Film Studies at King's College London. Specializing in cinema (particularly Italian cinema), queer theory, and the relationship between entertainment and representations of race, sexuality, and gender.

 

- Distinction be made between those who are simply known for performing pop music and those who are known for being pop stars.

 

- Richard Dyer said star is incoherent, that it is incomplete and ''open''.

- ''The star must be simultaneously ordinary and extraordinary for the consumer''.

- '' The star must be simultaneously present and absent for the consumer''.

 

 

 

 

 

Difference between performer and pop star:

 

Pop performers are described as pop stars = promoted to this status by their management = synergy.

- Performer: May/may not be famous. Just perform music e.g. The Passengers, Foxes...

 

 

A true pop star does have a lasting significance and has ''brand awareness'' amongst a wider market over a period of time.

- Pop Star: Image constructed to an audience e.g. Chris Brown, Usher... 

 

 

 

- He identified four elements to recognising a star:

 

1) Stars and constructions

2) Industry and audience

3) Ideology and culture

4) Character and personality

 

Stars and Constructions

- Star are constructed, artificial images.

- Helps if their image contains a Unique Selling Point.

- TV programmers such as ''The X Factor'' show us the supposed construction of process, how an ordinary person is groomed, styled and coached into fulfilling a set of record company and market expectation

 

Industry and The Audience

- Stars are manufactured to make money.

- Pop stars, whatever their nature are quite company and they must be sold.

- There's always someone fresh to choose from. Another way is to produce a star/s with long lasting appeal, who, once their brand is established, can cater to a fan audience for decades.

 

Ideology and Culture

- Stars represent cultural values and attitudes, and promote a certain ideology. Audience interest in these values enhances their ''star quality'', and create their star persona.

- Social network give pop star the opportunity to established their own values outside their music. 

 

Character and Personality

- The star is a construct, but the construct that has a foundation of realism.

- Stars provide audiences with a focus for ideas of ''what people are supposed to be like''.

- Stars may support hegemony/dominant cultural ideology by conforming to it (thin/beautiful) or providing difference (fat/still lovable).

 

 

- Music stars normally doesn't have much control of their star image due to their managers and record labels wanting them to look or dress a certain to keep and enlarge their fan based and most of the time look like ''Stars'' no matter where they are.

 

Conclusion

- All the information above has helped to give me a better perception of star image and star theory and how it works within pop stars, pop performers and their appearances. Within my music video, I will present my artist/band in a suitable way in which come across appropriate, catchy and attractive to engage and draws the audience to watch.