Richard Dyer's Star Theory
Richard Dyer's Star Theory states that icons and celebrities are manufactured by institutions for financial gain. He believes that they are carefully constructed in order to generate the most money by giving the impression of 'real people' with certain personality traits that fans can relate to and therefore become fans of. These fans will then buy the media texts associated with the star. His theory is split into three sections:
1. Audiences and institutions
2. Ideology and Culture
3. Character and Personality
1. AUDIENCES AND INSTITUTIONS
'Stars' are manufactured by institutions to make money from record sales. They are often very similar, because the industry 'mass produces' what they think audiences want to see, listen to, or buy. However, there is a market for those who want something different-- institutions also have to cater to these groups of people in order to generate the most profit.
2.IDEOLOGY AND CULTURE
These 'stars' often display certain cultural values and attitudes, with the audience sharing these beliefs and therefore feeling closer to them (for example, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez and the Jonas Brothers all wearing purity rings). Stars often support the hegemony or dominant ideology of their time-- they appear as glorified versions of 'us', the audience. When we see them in other forms of media such as magazine and television interviews, the audience feels closer to them and are therefore more likely to purchase their music, which is beneficial for the institution.
3. CHARACTER AND PERSONALITY
Stars often exaggerate elements of their personality or create new personas entirely in order to appeal to a certain group of people or connect with their fans. Sometimes the institution will; create this image for them, such as the X-Factor, who shape the 'stars' from the beginning of their careers. Their images are constantly reformed to match the ideology of the time (for example, Taylor Swift recently breaking away from her previous 'girl-next-door' image to something much darker and more aggressive in order to keep up with what's popular today).
APPLYING THIS THEORY TO AN EXISTING ARTIST
ARTIST EXAMPLE: LANA DEL REY
Lana Del Rey, also known as Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, broke into the music scene with a 'Hollywood glamour' aesthetic that has stuck with her for much of her career. Her persona, Lana Del Rey, is a unique and timeless idol based on 50s and 60s female figures, but previously she was known as Lizzy Grant, also a persona of a sweet-but-dangerous young girl, drawing much inspiration from her interpretation of the well-known controversial novel, Lolita. Her strongest inspiration is Norma Jean Mortenson, a hollywood starlet who also took up a stage name and became known as the unforgettable Marilyn Monroe. Her image appeals to females aged 12-40, a wide age range because the glamorous lifestyle is something most people aspire to. She influences several other popular artists and social media influencers who copy her sweet, baby-doll style.
Her political attitudes are very evident in her newest music, again moving with the times and the conflict currently happening worldwide to create the most relatable content. She writes a lot of songs about the idea of world peace (i.e. When the World Was at War We Kept Dancing, Coachella -- Woodstock in My Mind, Beautiful People Beautiful problems, Change). Recently, all of her Instagram posts were deleted with only the single clip below remaining:
Her explanation for this was that some sentiments are so important that they are all that needs to be said.
ARTIST EXAMPLE: LORDE
REPRESENTATION OF LORDE ACROSS DIFFERENT MEDIA
Lorde, alternatively known as Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor, has created a persona for herself similar to the way Lana Del Rey has. She released her first singly at 16 in 2013 and since then has become increasingly more famous. Over time, her persona has developed into a mysterious and aloof character, but also one that is accessible to her target audience. She has created this persona to guard her own personal life from the spotlight, however she often tells a lot in her songs. She appeals to females aged 16-21 as her 'party girl' aesthetic and her political attitudes (intersectional feminism) are extremely popular and respected within today's female youth.
Below I have included a moodboard of Lorde represented in album covers, magazines, music videos and recorded live performances.
1. Audiences and institutions
2. Ideology and Culture
3. Character and Personality
1. AUDIENCES AND INSTITUTIONS
'Stars' are manufactured by institutions to make money from record sales. They are often very similar, because the industry 'mass produces' what they think audiences want to see, listen to, or buy. However, there is a market for those who want something different-- institutions also have to cater to these groups of people in order to generate the most profit.
2.IDEOLOGY AND CULTURE
These 'stars' often display certain cultural values and attitudes, with the audience sharing these beliefs and therefore feeling closer to them (for example, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez and the Jonas Brothers all wearing purity rings). Stars often support the hegemony or dominant ideology of their time-- they appear as glorified versions of 'us', the audience. When we see them in other forms of media such as magazine and television interviews, the audience feels closer to them and are therefore more likely to purchase their music, which is beneficial for the institution.
3. CHARACTER AND PERSONALITY
Stars often exaggerate elements of their personality or create new personas entirely in order to appeal to a certain group of people or connect with their fans. Sometimes the institution will; create this image for them, such as the X-Factor, who shape the 'stars' from the beginning of their careers. Their images are constantly reformed to match the ideology of the time (for example, Taylor Swift recently breaking away from her previous 'girl-next-door' image to something much darker and more aggressive in order to keep up with what's popular today).
APPLYING THIS THEORY TO AN EXISTING ARTIST
ARTIST EXAMPLE: LANA DEL REY
Lana Del Rey, also known as Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, broke into the music scene with a 'Hollywood glamour' aesthetic that has stuck with her for much of her career. Her persona, Lana Del Rey, is a unique and timeless idol based on 50s and 60s female figures, but previously she was known as Lizzy Grant, also a persona of a sweet-but-dangerous young girl, drawing much inspiration from her interpretation of the well-known controversial novel, Lolita. Her strongest inspiration is Norma Jean Mortenson, a hollywood starlet who also took up a stage name and became known as the unforgettable Marilyn Monroe. Her image appeals to females aged 12-40, a wide age range because the glamorous lifestyle is something most people aspire to. She influences several other popular artists and social media influencers who copy her sweet, baby-doll style.
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| Here is a popular social-media star (@babydarkokitten) who draws a lot of inspiration from both the Born to Die and the Lizzy Grant era of Lana Del Rey. |
Her political attitudes are very evident in her newest music, again moving with the times and the conflict currently happening worldwide to create the most relatable content. She writes a lot of songs about the idea of world peace (i.e. When the World Was at War We Kept Dancing, Coachella -- Woodstock in My Mind, Beautiful People Beautiful problems, Change). Recently, all of her Instagram posts were deleted with only the single clip below remaining:
Her explanation for this was that some sentiments are so important that they are all that needs to be said.
ARTIST EXAMPLE: LORDE
REPRESENTATION OF LORDE ACROSS DIFFERENT MEDIA
Lorde, alternatively known as Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor, has created a persona for herself similar to the way Lana Del Rey has. She released her first singly at 16 in 2013 and since then has become increasingly more famous. Over time, her persona has developed into a mysterious and aloof character, but also one that is accessible to her target audience. She has created this persona to guard her own personal life from the spotlight, however she often tells a lot in her songs. She appeals to females aged 16-21 as her 'party girl' aesthetic and her political attitudes (intersectional feminism) are extremely popular and respected within today's female youth.
Below I have included a moodboard of Lorde represented in album covers, magazines, music videos and recorded live performances.
Lorde's Target Audience:
Lorde's target audience is mainly straight young female reformers between the ages of 26-21. I believe that because of the content of her songs (i.e. partying, drugs and drinking, love) are all things that this age group stereotypically enjoys. Lorde appeals to reformers because of both her references to illegal activity and also her persona. As she is portrayed as a strong female and openly advocates feminism, female reformers are more likely to support her. She appeals to straight females because most of her songs that are about love feature men, and therefore straight females will like her more because it is more relatable to them.
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