Richard Dyer's theory is that celebrities are manufactured by the music industry to make money from audiences. Celebrities represent certain ideologies that influence their fans. One Direction conforms to stereotypes of a boy band through their appearance and music videos, which helps them attract female fans and sales. In contrast, Meghan Trainor challenges stereotypes of female singers' appearances in "All About That Bass." The actors in the student's own music video conform to popular stereotypes, resembling celebrities like Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber, to appeal to audiences.

1. Richard Dyer
Star Identity
Building a Brand

2. Theory
• Richard Dyer’s theory is the idea that icons and celebrities are moulded by
institutions for financial gain. He believes stars are manufactured by the
music industry to serve a purpose - to make money out of audiences, who
respond to various elements of a star’s personality by buying records and
becoming fans.

3. Ideology
Celebrities normally represent or stand for something. This
would lead their fans and other people who follow them on
social media to view things a similar way. eg. Lady Gaga and
her unique fashion sense is copied by her fans (Little
Monsters.)
•

4. Examples of music videos
•
•
•
•
•
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJO3ROT-A4E
One Direction’s video “What Makes You Beautiful”
does conform to the hegemony because they look like a
stereotypical boy band – jeans, trainers, good looking.
This means they will have a lot of female fans who will
buy albums, posters and go to concerts. This is how
their record company make money.

5. Examples of music videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PCkvCPvDXk
Meghan Trainor’s video “All About That Bass” doesn’t
conform to the hegemony because she isn’t what the
media think singers and popstars are ‘supposed to be
like.’ They think female singers should be young, skinny
and beautiful and because Meghan doesn’t necessarily
look like this, she may be scrutinised by the media. This
is what she is singing about in her song.

6. Our Music Video
• The actors we use in our music videos conform to the hegemony. We have
two lead characters, one boy and one girl. They both wear stylish clothes
and are good looking which means they are similar to popular artists that
also conform to the hegemony eg. Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber. They’re
represented as stereotypical teenagers who go to parties and like the
opposite sex which is viewed as ‘normal’ in our current society. We can see
this by them holding hands at the end of the video.

7. Our Music Video
• The actors we use in our music videos conform to the hegemony. We have
two lead characters, one boy and one girl. They both wear stylish clothes
and are good looking which means they are similar to popular artists that
also conform to the hegemony eg. Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber. They’re
represented as stereotypical teenagers who go to parties and like the
opposite sex which is viewed as ‘normal’ in our current society. We can see
this by them holding hands at the end of the video.