Richard Dyer

1. Richard Dyers star
theory

2. Richard Dyers star theory
suggests that celebrities and
icons are constructed for
financial gain through
institutions to target audience
of people.

3. Richard Dyer believed that ‘stars’ are
constructed to represent real people.
Furthermore he believed that stars are
manufactured by the music industry as
a way of making money.

4. Dyers theory is broken down into three sections:
1. Audience and Institutions
2. Constructions
3. Hegemony (Cultural Beliefs)

5. Audience and Institutions
Stars are made to make money, and solely for
that reason alone. The institution then modifies
the stars image around a particular audience.
For example One Direction are modified so that
girls will pay money for their merchandise or to
watch them in concert.

6. Constructions
The star is built up for an audience and is not an
actual person. The star is specifically constructed
to stand out or have a USP. For example Lady
GaGa’s fashion style.

7. Hegemony
Audiences relate to stars because they have a
feature that we want or admire. Which thus
develops a form of idolisation. Audiences may
replicate the stars image. However this can be
seen as negative as stars are seen as role
models. For example Justin Bieber is often
surrounded by controversy where his negative
actions may be replicated by others.