THE STAR THEORY

BY LIAM GILLIVER

WHAT MAKES A

STAR?

• YOUTH

• REBELLION

• SEXUAL MAGNETISM

• ORIGINALITY

• CREATIVITY/ TALENT

• AGGRESSION/ ANGER

• SUCESS AGAINST THE ODDS

• CONSPICUOUS CONSUMPTION, OF

SEX, DRUGS AND MATERIAL

GOODS

• AN ANTI- AUTHORITARIAN

ATTITUDE

RICHARD DYER

Dyer states that irrespective of the medium, stars have some key features in common. Whether it be in;

film, TV or music videos.

• A star is purely an image, not a real person but a persona that is constructed and reinforced through

the media. These ‘stars’ are commodities produced and consumed on the strength of their meanings-

not their personality.

• Stars are dependant on a range of subsidiary media such as radio,magazines, TV etc that allow them

to construct their image (which is usually directed to their target market).

Fundamentally, the ‘star’ in incoherent, yet to be complete and open. This is due to 2 key paradoxes;

• The star must be simultaneously ordinary and extraordinary for the consumer. Most artists follow this

statement by writing ordinary lyrics that are more than often relatable for the audience- but contrast

with an extraordinary image/ way of presenting their music. This links in with many artist’s music

videos having little relevance to the song meaning.

• The star must be simultaneously present and absent for the consumer. This is highly evident in social

media, where fans can go someway in interacting with the artists, but isn’t fully accessible. The same

applies for live music concerts and gigs, many fans rush to the front for physical interaction with their

idol- but this is of course short lasting and arguably fake.

THE STAR IMAGE

• The mystery of the star ensures that

fans will continually strive to ‘make

sense’ of the artists image. This is

primarily achieved through the

consumption of the artists products;

such as perfumes, clothes etc.

• Music videos are unsatisfying when in

comes to completing a stars image-

consequently, viewers will be

determined to carry on listening to

the artists in order to make sense of

their image.

• The stars image is more often than

not relevant to dominant social

values, similar to the concept of

‘Zeitgeist’ that is refereed to in Fiske’s

theory.

–Richard Dyer

“In these terms it can be argued that stars are representations of persons which reinforce, legitimate or occasionally alter the prevalent preconceptions of what it is to be a human being in this society. There is a good deal at stake in such conceptions.

On the one hand, our society stresses what makes them like others in the social group/class/gender to which they belong. This individualising stress involves a

separation of the person's "self" from his/her social "roles", and hence poses the individual against society. On the other hand society suggests that certain norms of

behaviour are appropriate to given groups of people, which many people in such groups would now wish to contest (eg the struggles over representation of blacks,

women and gays in recent years). Stars are one of the ways in which conceptions of such persons are promulgated.”

LADY GAGA

Lady Gaga is a prime example of a ‘star’,

with her quirky stage name and

extravagant outfits boasting her originality

and creativity. Most of the artists publicity

derives from her strange behaviour (such

as wearing a dress made out of raw meat)

rather than her vocals, which, could be

questionably edited and auto-tuned. The

persona often refers to her fans as her

‘monsters’, taking advantage of her

42.5million followers on Twitter- the star

follows the star theory by being

simultaneously present and absent-

providing viewers with a hopeful illusion of

interactivity. Her 2011 hit ‘Judas’ caused

great controversy, especially with the

christian community who deemed it “highly

offensive”- but her rebellion and anti-

authoritarian attitude simply boosted her

popularity.

MADONNA

The icon that is Madonna can certainly be

described as a ‘star’. Her entire look is

heavily inspired from the 1950’s sensation,

Marilyn Monroe- who can be seen even

influencing artists today such as Lady

Gaga. Madonna was born in Detroit,

brought up from a lower class family and

lost her catholic mother at the young age

of 5- her evident ‘success against the

odds’ strengthens the star theory. Her

1988 song ‘Like A Prayer’ featuring the

infamous cult ‘The KKK’ caused a great

amount of controversy, worsened by her

sexual implications throughout the lyrics-

Madonna definitely ticks the ‘rebellious’

category. It also conveys the artist being

simultaneous ‘extraordinary’ through the

context of her songs, yet ‘ordinary’ with

her classic, iconic look.