Dyer: Star Image Introduction

Richard Dyer: Star Image

 

Who is he and what does he say?

 

He has written extensively about the role of stars in film, TV and music.

He found that no matter what medium they are in, stars have different key feature all in common, these include;

• A star is an image that has been constructed out of a range of materials (which include; videos, artwork and media appearances) and not actually a real person.
• Stars are commodities which are produced and consumed on the strength of their meanings.

A star has to depend on all types of media- magazines, TV and radio- to try and make an image for themselves, which then can be taken and marketed towards their target audiences.

There are many common values of music stardom, including;

Youthfulness

Rebellion

Sexual magnetism

anti-authoritarian attitude

originality

Creativity/Talent

Aggression/Anger

Disregard for social values

Success against that odds

Dyer believes that the star image is incoherent, incomplete and 'open'. He says it is because it is based on two key paradoxes

1. The star must be simultaneously ordinary and extraordinary for the consumer.
2. The star must be simultaneously present and absent for the consumer.



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