Research: Dyer's star theory

Introduction:
 The star theory applies to not only music but film as well . This theory is stated by theorist Richard Dyer.

Richard Dyer:

Richard Dyer is a academic professor he states fundamental beliefs that makes the core of his theory, he states that a distinction must 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, they are usually promoted to this status by their management, this is part of synergy. A true pop star has lasting significance and has 'brand awareness' amongst a wider market over a period of time.



Difference between performer and pop star:
 A performer is someone who is very talented, who does not always have to be famous, they just perform music.

A pop star is someone whose Image is constructed to an audience.



Examples of a pop star and performer:

 Chubby Checker is a example of a performer. He was definitely famous for his performance of his songs most notably the twist song. Further more, he wasn't an Image that was strongly constructed by his record company. Akala is another exampled of a performer, he wasn't part of the mainstream culture but he is well known for his performance of his lyrical ability as a rapper.

 

 

Rihanna is a example of a pop star whose Image is constructed to the mainstream audience. The Image that is constructer of Rihanna is quite seducing especially to males within the mainstream audience. But this influences her appeal, giving her a good chance of  having lasting significance within the mainstream culture.

 

 Stars as construction:

 

Music stars are constructed, this helped by artificial Images if they have a unique selling point to the audience.  TV programmes like the X factor shows us the supposed construction process, how an ordinary person is groomed. Attitudes to the music industry has changed, this is largely due to the way the running of the music industry has changed. Before stars were mainly signed to record labels to show their talent. But nowadays the main purpose of the record company signing a artists is to manufacture the star to make money. Whatever their nature, pop stars must be sold as they are the product of their major record company that they are signed to. There is always someone fresh too someone

 

Examples:

Miley Cyrus is a perfect example of an artist who is manufactured to make money for her record company. This is largely due to the Image she had before as Hannah Montana that she had to grow away from that Image, that came with controversy. Clearly, her current Image is attracting huge audiences meaning she is marketable for her record company to make profit of her.

Industry and Audience:

The music Industry's purpose is to make profit out of the star. This will mean the Industry will have to survey their target audience for a particular star to make them appealing and marketable for their audience to buy into them as a product rather than a famous pop star. Further more, the pop star wouldn't be attracting audiences just through music, it will be have to be through other ventures like acting, fashion etc.



Example:

Doctor Dre is a perfect example of a pop star who has managed to attract audiences through other ventures most notably his entrepreneurship of his headphones the Doctor Dre which sold billions of dollars and later on being sold to apple for $3 billion. This has helped him to be more attracting to his target audience and he is manufactured by his record company to produce profit by attracting his target audience not only from his music but other talents.

 

 

 Ideology and Culture:

 

Shared cultural attitudes and values are represented by the pop stars, a certain Ideology is promoted. Cultural attitudes and values that are popular within society will have to be supported by the pop artist or else the pop artist could risk losing their fan base if they don't support the popular  attitudes and values that society has.

 

 

Examples:

 

Katy Perry is a huge pop star that supports the current values and attitudes of society. For instance, Katy Perry has portrayed her support for the LGBT community as she is a gay rights activist supporting Stonewall. She also has expressed this value in one of her songs 'I kissed a girl'. This has influenced her popularity amongst her target audience and has partly attracted more people to her for her Ideology and culture belief in LGBT.

 

Character and Personality:

Stars need to have a character and personality to be able to attract their target audience. In other words, they need to stand out to make themselves noticeable . The pop star's character and personality is part of their Image that they are constructed to by their record companies. Usually an artist will show their personality and character through their music. As Richard Dyer explains even though the pop star is a construct there is a foundation of realism. The audience is provided with by the star of what people are 'supposed to be like'. Stars may support hegemony.

 

 

 

Example of a pop star with character and personality:

 

Lady gaga is an example of a pop star who publicly shows her personality and character. Her personality it quite weird and controversial but this is what makes her appealing to her target audience. For instance on twitter she calls her followers my 'little monsters'. This represents her weird personality along with her controversial actions. One of her controversial actions was when she was seen wearing a meat dress at the MTV awards in 2010. In addition, her character and personality has had a influence in her support for LGBT, the fact that her character and personality is to be expressive and open controversial or not. 

 

 

Conclusion:

 

This post has shown me the importance Dyer's star theory has when it comes to the music industry and how pop star's Image is constructed to the mainstream audience. This has also helped understand the different categories that comes with the Image of the pop star.