Richard Dyer's theory on 'Stars'

What is Dyer's star theory?

Dyer's star theory is that the most well known singers or actors that we know as 'stars' are really just normal people with talents. They're just sold to us in creative ways to make us think that they're better then us but in reality there are millions of people around the world with the same amount of talent that aren't discovered or don't have the connections or money that some stars did when they were younger. A star is an image and not the real person (a character).

Record labels will take elements of their personality and create a ideal character from that for their audience. 

Stars are influenced and controlled, however the star must be ordinary to relate to their audience but also extraordinary for the audience to aspire to.

Take Nicki Minaj for example. 

Nicki Minaj's star image has been extremely sexualised. One of the aspects she is most known for is the sexual dance move 'twerking'.

Nicki Minaj is recognised by these characteristics as record labels want to create, an extraordinary character for the audience to aspire to. However, the record labels also want to create an ordinary character for the audience to relate to. Nicki Manaj was from a very unwealthy family and her music helped her family pay funds. This could relate to a lot of aspiring supporters in similar situations.