Research: Dyer's Star Theory

Dyer's Star Theory

 

 

What is star theory?

 

The term 'star' refers to the set of meanings constructed around music performers in order to sell the performer to a large and loyal audience

 
Richard Dyer's star theory is the idea that icons and celebrities are manufactured by institutions for financial gain. He believes that stars are constructed to represent 'real people' experiencing real emotions. Stars are manufactured by the music industry to serve a purpose; to make money out of audience, who respond to various elements of a star’s personality by buying records and becoming fans. 

Who he was?

Richard Dyer is an English academic currently holding a professorship in the department of Film Studies at King's College London.
 
Dyer said that:

• Star image 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.

 
Further analysis on Dyer's 'Star Theory'
 
There is a distinction to be made between those who are simply known for performing pop music and those who are known for being pop stars.
 
Pop performers are described as pop stars = promoted to this status by their management = synergy.
 
A true pop star does have a lasting significance and has "brand awareness" amongst a wider market over a period of time.
 
Dyer then identified four elements to recognizing a star:

Stars As Constructions

Stars are constructed, artificial images
It also helps if their image contains a USP (unique selling point)

TV programmes such as X Factor shows us the supposed construction process, how an ordinary person is groomed, styled and coached into fulfilling a set of recorded company and market expectations.

Example: JLS & One Direction







Industry And The Audience

Stars are manufactured to make money. Pop stars, whatever their nature, are quite clearly the product of their record company - and they must be sold.

There is 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.

Examples: James Arthur & Madonna








Ideology And Culture

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

Examples: Michael Jackson & John Lennon









Character And Personality

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

Star provides audiences with a focus for ideas of 'what people are supposed to be like'.

Stars may support hegemony (dominant cultural ideologies) by conforming to it e.g. (thin/beautiful) or providing difference e.g. ( fat = still loveable)

Examples: Drake & Adele






Control

Artists within the current music industry, I feel, do not have as much control over their star image as they would like to have. This is due to the label or company, that influence their status, that take advantage over the artist and strategically plan how they should perform and act to appeal to a certain audience or gain acknowledgment in the media's eye.

Without the over-activeness of an aritsts label or company it would become a challenge for artists to reach stardom as they would not have the tools and ideas needed to get into this particular field. Thus making the label important and heavily needed for success.



Conclusion

Overall, I believe that star theory holds great importance for artists of the old and of the new . Star theories are key fundamentals to an artists success into stardom and success. I will try to represent my artist using a Character & Personality approach, this is so that I can help push cultural views and ideologies out, in hope the audience will conform to it. By giving the artist the avenue to support hegemony with their star image will allow them to become more relatable to their audience thus making more of a connection with their music.