Looking at the idea of stardom in modern society.

1. What is it to be ‘A
Star?’

2. Star Quality
• ‘Star Quality’ is the collection of features and
characteristics that make a person more
interesting and/or marketable to a large audience.
‘Stars’ typically have large numbers of fans and
are considered celebrities, often being seen on
pedestals and idolised by their supporters.

3. Aspects of a Star
• ‘Stars’ generally have a particular set of features that lend to their
fame, such as:
• The right ‘look’ for their target market
• The right skills or talent (e.g singing, dancing, reality television)
• PR and advertising (making their face visible to the public as often
as possible in videos, photo shoots, media coverage etc)
• Connection to fans (not all stars interact directly with fans, but
they usually appear on social media to give fans the impression of
being ‘connected’, and to keep them updated with the star’s
movements)

4. The Big Stars
• In today’s society, people rise to stardom without ever
having done much. Some of the biggest ‘stars’ of today hail
from the Kardashian family who, through having their own
television show and being given constant media coverage,
are always in the public eye and have become popular
purely for their actions on a show about their lives.
• Other big stars are pop acts, such as One Direction and Ed
Sheeran. While groups such as One Direction were formed
by someone else and thrust into stardom on a reality show,
some people such as Ed Sheeran reach star level by
climbing the ladder and gaining popularity gradually.

5. A Star Example: Gerard Way
• Gerard Way began his career in music after the 9/11 attack,
forming My Chemical Romance soon after. Their careers moved
slowly, building popularity through their first two albums, with the
second being the ‘breakthrough’ that led to stardom.
• Once they had gained public attention, the media took hold, with
magazines such as Kerrang and Alternative Press publishing
articles about them on a regular basis, and their videos being
shown regularly on television. Additionally, Gerard himself
became a teen icon, appearing on the cover of magazines aimed
at young teens, giving him the edge when it came to stardom.
• However, not all the press was good press, with The Daily Mail
famously releasing an article condemning the band for starting a
‘cult’. The band gained even more media courage by
encouraging fans to protest outside the Daily Mail headquarters,
and the story put the band’s and, in particular, Gerard’s name in
everyone’s mouths.

6. Career Peak
• At the peak of their success, the band were playing in
stadiums and being talked about all over the world. Their
videos racked up millions of YouTube hits, and their fans
were devoted, even through the band’s stylistic changes.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpbC7xW6uD8

7. Present Day
• After My Chemical Romance’s split in 2013, Gerard
moved on quickly to begin a solo career, and due to
his star status, he had an existing base of support,
allowing him to release an album quickly and sell out
tours all across America and the UK.
• Gerard released his debut solo album ‘Hesitant Alien’
in 2014.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsDSIEq7O08