2. Dyers ideas
Dyer believes that ‘’A star is an image not a real person, and that it's constructed
out of a range of materials (eg advertising, magazines etc, as well as films)
He explains that celebrities do not usually represent an average human, although
they are constructed to seem real through the use of clever management. Within
the music industry, stars are controlled by their management team in order to
make money, they are acting in order to please the audience which in turn are
affected by their ‘personality’ to buy their records and other endorsements.
3. Audiences and institutions
Stars are only made to increase income.
Increasing the star’s popularity and identity benefits the
institution as their sales increase in all the media platforms
that they approach. The institution models the artist in order
to fit the target audience that they choose. For example
Beyonce was modeled around feminism and people that are
in support of powerful women, in order for the audience to
relate to her as a person, but also her music.
4. Constitutions
The constitution side of Dyer’s star
theory suggests that the star is built for
a specific audience, and not an
individual person, which is similar to
the audience and institutions idea.
However, the star is built with a
‘signature’ that makes them stand out
from other stars significantly.
An example is Lady Gaga and her
unusual outfits and fashion style.
5. Hegemony
This is when the audience idolise a star if they have something they share in
common. It can come to a point where fans want to replicate a star’s look and
actions, and this can either be a positive or a negative impact depending on the
artist. Stars represent shared cultural values and ideologies. The audience is
fascinated by those values and it enhances the star’s ‘quality’ building their
personality and helping them to express their opinions outside of music, to their
fans. For example, a star may wear something that would then become a fashion
trend as their fans would imitate them and their style.
6. Selena Gomez - How does she fit the brief of a Pop
Star?
1. Her good management.
2. Famous boyfriend/ girlfriend- She used to form a couple with
Justin Bieber, another very famous Pop Star.
3. New stories- Relationship and breakups, her illness.
4. Participation at events- MTV, Billboard music awards,
Magazines- Vogue, Dior and Women's magazine.
5. Played in ‘The Wizards of Waverly Place’ and other movies
such ‘The fundamentals of caring’ which has recently been
released in 2016.
7. Audience and institutions
According to Dyer; ‘Stars are commodities produced
and consumed on the strength of their meanings’
In 2014, Selena decided to sign with a new label, after
leaving the Disney-owned Hollywood Records in order
to help move her career in a more adult direction. This
goes to show that Hollywood Records had created her
image as a young artist that produces songs for teens,
which is clearly the image Selena did not want as she
has made the decision to produce slightly different
music videos, which include more mature matters such
as her feelings. Also, her appearance has changed
drastically from the Disney star to the beautiful solo
artist she is now.
