Star Image- Richard Dyer

Richard Dyer is a British media theorist, who discussed a star's special place in the audiences' lives.
He suggests that a star's narrative impact on the consumption by the audience. He argued that the stars image is manufactured and artificial and that individual stars have their own unique selling point (brand values) in order to grab and hold our attention e.g. Justin Bieber's hair, JLS' colour codes.

The Paradox of the star 
Dyers' central idea was that the star image could be discussed using 2 key paradoxes (a statement that contradicts itself). Dyer suggested that a star image simultaneously has 2 contradictory representations.

'...a star is both ordinary & extraordinary'

Dyer suggested that a star must be represented simultaneously as, just like us (the audience/regular people), but also at the same time possess something we do not have something that makes them special, different, extraordinary etc. This might mean that they are more talented, gifted, confident, passionate, artistic, sensitive, carefree or sexy; But this might also mean that they are allowed to be rebellious, anti-social or angry. They are the idealised version of humanity... idols.

'...a star is both present & absent'

Dyer also thought that the audience struggles with another paradox; this being that the star is simultaneously present in our lives, be this in our social groups chat, our style, our identity, and our consumption habits. However, they are also absent, something that we perceive as out of reach, on a pedestal, and not actually there.

Dyer argued that as an audience we strive to complete the star image through consuming their products, shows, merchandise etc. A star will strive to complicate things by constantly changing their image over their career, this is essential if the artist is to have long term success as they need to continually strive to both keep their audience entertained and widen the audience as fans often get bored with repetition.