RESEARCH: STARDOM

Dyer has written extensively about the role of stars in film, music and TV. Stardom has remained a key factor to the success of commercial production, distribution and exhibition of films and music.



One of the many reasons that pop performers are described as being pop stars is because they are so quickly promoted to this status by their management. This status can be achieved by judicious written stories, having a famous boyfriend/girlfriend, attending a variety of premieres and parties, and lastly, featuring in HEAT magazine. During this process, it isn't hard to forget about the artists music ability in the light of their love affairs and excentric outfits. However, a true pop star has a lasting remembrance, and has 'brand awareness' amongst a wider market over a period of time.



Despite them being ' real people', experiencing real feelings and emotions, pop stars are commonly constructed as artificial images. It helps if their image contains a particular USP ( unique selling point)- they can be copied and/or parodied by it. Their representation may be metonymic, such as Madonna's conical bra or Britney's belly or Justin Bieber's bands. The construction of a pop star and their image is consistent over a period of time, and isn't dependent on the creative input of others 

 For Dyer, 

' A star is an image not a real person that is constructed ( as any other aspect of fiction is) out of a range of materials (eg advertising, magazines etc as well as films) '

The music industry manufacture stars for a particular purpose: to make money out of audiences. Record companies shape, nurture and manufacture their star. They are fabricated by record companies to shape them and turn them into something that is specific to what audiences want to see. Pop stars are clearly the product of their record company, and at the end of all of it, they must be sold. For Dyer, 

' Stars are commodities produced and consumed on the strength of their meaning' 

Stars also represent a sense of shared cultural values and attitudes as they promote a certain ideology. 'Star quality' is achieved through audiences interests in these values. It is through conveying beliefs of ideas and opinions outside music that performers help create their star persona. For example, if a star begins a new trend, their fans will copy their hairstyles and clothing. Stardom, and star worship in general is a cultural value. 

A star begins as a real human, possessing different gender, ethnic and race characteristics. They exist against a particular historic background. The star is then constructed and transformed into something which fits in with the modern day trends. Stars arn't read as being entirely fictional, and instead they are recognised as being part of their own time and culture- the product of a particular generation. Audiences depend on stars and star trend as an idea of what they are supposed to look and behave like ( e.g for women to look think and beautiful). We compare ourselves to other stars. 

Rihanna is a good example of star trend. Rihanna is modelled on what trends are being set, with her persona's character and personality being based on what is the 'right now' trends. She was constructed by her record label company, Def Jam Roc Nation, with different fashions and hair-do's. We can see how over time, she has changed and adapted to fit in with the modern, up-to-date

trends.

Sources:

Richard Dyer — The Stars (BFI Education 1979)

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