Richard Dyer's star theory about music videos

1. Richard Dyer’s Star
Theory

2. Introduction
Richard Dyer’s star theory can be split into three areas:
• The star as a construction
• The star as a commodity
• The star as an ideology
Richard Dyer also proposed the ‘paradox of the star’

3. The star as a construction
• Richard Dyer states that the star is a construction
and not a real person.
• This star is constructed through music videos,
magazines, advertising etc.
• For example Miley Cyrus has become famous for her
twerking and riding on a wrecking ball naked
however she wouldn’t do any of this stuff in the
privacy of her own home meaning that the person
Miley Cyrus and the star are two different people.

4. The star as a commodity
• Stars are produced to create a profit off of related
merchandise e.g. t-shirts, posters and the like.
• Record labels will create similar stars as they know
certain patterns and trends will work to generate
them money.
• This is why we get so many boy bands who are very
similar e.g. one direction and the wanted.

5. The star as an ideology
• Stars will represent certain social groups and views
and will therefore create certain ideologies.
• As a result fans of the star will often copy their style
and share the same views as them.
• Many fans of Beyoncé will share her view on women
and how they are independent and shouldn’t be
controlled by men.

6. Paradox of the star
Richard Dyer explains that there is a paradox of the ‘star’.
The paradox is as follows:
• The star must be both ordinary and extraordinary
• The star must be both present and absent

7. The star must be both ordinary and
extraordinary
• This part of the theory means the star needs to be
ordinary to allow the audience to relate to the
audience but posses an extraordinary talent or quality
which will make them be idolised by the general
public.
• For example Adele is an ordinary woman from
London who speaks and acts like most people,
however she has an amazing voice which people will
idolise. This allows her to be the star that she is.

8. The star must be both present and
absent
• The second half of the theory explains that the star must
be present in our lives whether it is through their
merchandise, social media or involved in chat between
friends but also absent in the fact that they are not actually
there or are ‘out of reach’
• This is shown by Harry Styles, he is a key part to most
teenage and young girls lives, they may have his poster or
other merchandise however he is not obtainable to them
allowing him to be present and absent at the same time.