More On Richard Dyer's Theory

The Star Theory Applied To Pop Stars

For the public, whose emotions can often thrive off the messages portrayed by different types of artists through different genres of music, a "pop performer" and a "pop star" have become the same thing. However, in the media world of music they are two very different things. The not-so-famous are quickly turned into stars through their successful management teams. However, the artist that this is done to often has very little or no lasting significance. A 'true' pop star's messages and ideologies will echo of generations and still be as important and true today as it was then. 

An example of one artist's messages that were so clear were Sam Cooke's as me fought and gave the Black African American's hope & inspiration during the segregation of the Southern United States. 

Pop 'stars' are constructed artificial images, although they are being portrayed as real people. Many starts will have a unique selling point. Something for people to copy because they aspire to be like their stars. Perhaps one of the most famous USP's was Elvis Presley's hip-shaking, erotic dancing or his crisply slicked back hair. 

However, modern days stars are constructed for less of a purpose than attempting to get rid of segregation. Large music industry firms now create money. The music firms know what their audiences want to hear and see in modern songs. The majority want to see sex objects of either sex and hear sexual innuendoes in music along with rebellious lyrics and images. 

Flo Rida - Whistle

Stars are successful depending on how well they put across the meanings of their music. The more that an audience is able to relate to what has been created the more the record companies will receive in profits because of what they have created for their audience audibly and visually. However, some new stars may be hugely successful but only around for a couple of years. This is because of two factors. A) that something new and fresh is always being produced so people tend to quickly move on and forget about the other stars. Or B) The 'Golden Oldies' of our parents generation comes into play. 

Dyer states that he sees 'stars' as: "...representations of persons which, reinforce, legitimate, or occasionally alter the prevalent preconceptions of what is to be a human being in this society." 

Here, Dyer is saying that Pop Stars can have such a huge effect on people that it can end up changing every corner of their lives from the way they act socially to the clothes that someone wears every day.