STAR IMAGE Andrew Goodwin Dancing in the distraction factory 1.

. The creation of character for stars provides a point of identification for the audience/spectator which is especially important when lyrics often lack depth. 2. The construction of stars is central to the economics of the music industry only stars guarantee sales and long careers 3. Star loyalty is a key ingredient fans to star 4. The audience knows its own tastes but the music industry has long been able to work around this The construction of stars is one of the ways they do this. 5. The record industry is very dependent on stars many record companies rely on a few big stars (or even just one) to provide stability Richard Dyer Stars (originally writing about cinematic stars) 1. Stars are a phenomenon of consumption 2. There are a ranger of audience -> star relationships a. EMOTIONAL AFFINITY i. Most common, where audience feels a loose attachment b. SELF IDENTIFICATION i. When the audience member places themselves in the same situation and persona of the star c. IMITATION i. This is apparently most common among the young and takes it beyond the ordinary. The audience -> star relationship acts as a sort of model d. PROJECTION i. This is when imitation ends up when it becomes extreme it doesnt happen often and it is when the fans behaviour becomes more than simple mimicking of clothing, hairstyle etc. Richard Griffith quote for thought... No machinery ever of itself and by itself made a star. That takes place in the depths of the collective unconscious Stardom is food for dreams and has escapist qualities Its about conspicuous consumption the way the wealthy show off the fact that they are wealthy.

Stars are ambiguous both ordinary and special especially in history their behaviours were modelled and lifestyles desired. Stars could stand for whole segments of society. However, stars also tap into the ordinary and more recently perhaps, the notion of the dream life of a star has died. Nietzsche announced that God was dead and it has almost become like society doesnt have anything to believe in any more those extravagant lifestyles of the rich and famous have fallen before our eyes they have been deconstructed in their own lifetime (Mrs T quote). They do sell a lifestyle we think is ordinary all selling relies on this to some extent. Conspicuous consumption may not be as acceptable as it once was.how do stars deal with this? Have they all adapted or are some genres or stars still very conspicuously consuming? The music industry/rock business has been seen as a destroyer as well as a kind of dream factory Has the industry become more or less rebellious? Destructive?
Stars can be political. Stars can serve legitimate interests.

Love is a predominant theme, with heterosexuality still the norm. Are stars typed are there good guys, bad guys, rebels albeit with different labels can we categorise them by image rather than by genre or label? (And some have multiple images e.g. Madonna, Kylie) STAR IMAGE
PROMOTION PUBLICITY CRIT/COMMENTS BODY OF WORK

Who is the author of a star? 1. INDIVIDUAL do they decide? 2. MULTIPLE many authors can be seen in one piece of work plurality 3. COLLECTIVE the author is the sum of a teams work 4. CORPORATE the author is actually the company/business/institutional structure(s) What do you think? And from the AUDIENCE point of view How do we view a star?

What positions do we take? Why do we watch/listen? Finally STARS ARE Idols of consumption