Unit 29 - Richard Dyer's 'star theory'

Richard Dyer's star theory

Richard dyer's star theory tells us what makes a star, how their star personality is created, which is either something they do themselves or has been created for them by the record label they are signed too, to help that artists/band gain more recognition from the audience.  



Stars as constructions 

This is when starts are moulded by record labels to be different versions of themselves or being changing them completely. This is done so that star can appeal to a certain target audience. This can sometimes benefit a star as there are so many of them out there, this lets them have their own look and own way on how people will identify this star, as it helps them to differentiate these stars and see if they like them or not as they are able to create a personality for them. However, not all the time is this good because this takes away who they are and changes them to somebody they are not just so people can like them. Usually when there is a new artist/band they are constructions they conform to so they audience can keep coming back. For example, girl bands. They are skinny, pretty, giggly and girly. This is a construction girl bands become so they can attract an audience usually a younger audience. Little mix are a good example because they all conform to what a girl band usually is like. 

Stars as personalities  

In order for a star to become popular and success with their music they need to be able to connect with their fans on a personal level and also admire this person as they listen to their music. This is usually because if an artist is connecting with their audience then they less fans they will have. An example of a star is Adele. Her songs are about love. They vary from suffering from heartbreak, happiness to moving on and breakup. These songs help her to connect with her audience in a deeper love as many people go through all these stages when in love which helps them to relate to her. She is famous for her songs 'Somebody like you.' and 'Hello,' which the audience can connect too as they if they listen to her songs some people can relate them. For example, in 'Somebody like you.' she says 'Sometimes it lasts in love and sometimes it hurts instead.' This is a line some people would be able to relate too if have been hurt in a relationship. I also know that this song was actually written by her and is about one of her exes that it was dedicated too. Usually some songs are written by people and people will sing it but this song was something she wrote from the heart which makes it more powerful and appealing because she's writing from experience. 

Not only is it because of her songs that help to make her have a connection with her audience but because she wasn't born into fame. She made her way up which helps motivate her audience that they can also do it and be like her as Adele is a well known artist. 

Another example of Adele connecting with her fans is because of her personality is real. She hasn't put on a facade to make people like her. She is herself and hasn't changed herself for people to like her, which in my opinion is something good to have in an artist. I've said this because also of her north London english accent. It's not the most appealing accent and usually stars will practice to get rid of theirs. However, even though being signed to a record label Adele didn't lose her accent or her personality as she sticks to herself, gaining more fans while also not changing herself. 







Stars as products 

Stars/bands are able to make more money by having their fans buy the merchandise that are sold to them. This works both ways as they make more money when selling these items and the fans are able to buy something that relates to them. Justine Bieber is a good example as the majority of his fans are girls so there will be a lot of merchandise that relates to them so they will buy anything that has something to do with him. For example, he would release merchandise such as, perfumes, posters, cups and clothes etc. Its anything girls will get their hands on that is Justine Bieber related. This gets the fans more wild as they own something that belongs to Justine Bieber and would make them return in the future to buy more merchandise.



Stars as embodiment's of ideologies and cultures

This when artists start a fashion trend or cultural discourse. This is something that happens quite often in our society where a star/band will make a change in our society and their fandom's (followers) will make this popular if they like it. If a lot of people are into what this artist/band have done it will become a trend where then more people who particularly listen to that artist will also become involved expanding it to more people because of the way they influence the audience. It has been something that artists have done for a long time but can become more popular quicker due to social media. 


An example, of this is Drake a well known Canadian rapper who back in 2011  released a song called 'The motto.' He said a phrase that started to trend a lot and had many young people repeating it. He made the term “YOLO,” an acronym for “you only live once." very popular.  He had said the lyrics 'Now she want a photo / You already know though / You only live once ‒ that’s the motto ni**a YOLO." He doesn't own the word but after he had it many people started copying it and were using the acronym. He isn't the owner and didn't come up with the acronym but he made it popular for young teens who started to say the words back in 2011 as a way to do something you wouldn't normally do.