Explanation of Richard Dyers Model for Analyzing Star Image - Essay Example

Richard Dyer’s model for analyzing star image Explanation of Richard Dyer’s model for analyzing star image Introduction Richard Dyer explains that a star is a vital creation of the media that serves a specific purpose of representing a specific ideology. As such, the success of a film therefore relies on the audience’s perception of the star. The term a star in this context refers to an established actor who enjoys a degree of fame. Films systematically develop a particular star in a unique way owing to the thematic issues and social values such characters present in their films. Eventually, viewers develop their own perceptions about the star. Any other successive film that the star features therefore will elicit criticism from the audience based on the film’s utilization of the star. Dyer explains that stars are images and not actual people. As images, every star should represent a particular ideology. The success of a star arises from his ability to represent such ideologies both consistently and effectively. This way, the audience develops a unique perception about the star a feature that influences their consumption of successive films starring every star (Being & Rutsky, 2001). A star must therefore represent particular social values. Successful stars make successful films. However, the success in this context originates from the ability of a director to use a specific star effectively in a manner that makes him or her represent the various social values the audience anticipates from them. Additionally, Dyer explains that the media creates a star out of several materials including adverts, films, magazines and even music videos among others. In order to create a star, all the above media content must present the star in a similar manner thus making such stars represent consistent ideologies. Institutions create celebrities and icons for financial gains. This implies that celebrities sell specific ideological dimensions to their target audience thus earning financial gains for the developers (Allen & Gomery, 1985). People pay billions of dollars to watch films for various reasons key among which is the character staring in a film. Audiences develop divergent views and mindsets about a star. They therefore watch a film while investigating the portrayal of the particular star. Such explanations validate the star theory, which defines stars in four key points. The theory explains that stars have capital value, are deviant, constructs and have cultural values. Stars break rules in the society a feature that enhances their ideologies as presented in the films. Cases of stars committing such crimes as assault and verbal abuses among others make the stars controversial often possibly fostering their images. Audiences therefore watch films with the view to observing such deviant personalities in the stars. The persona of a star just as is the case with most films is a fictional character thus of fictional identity. Such is a basic understanding that validates the ability of the famous stars to engage in diverse activities besides acting. Stars have fashion lines, television shows and produce famous phrases. This implies that they have a normal life besides their fictional identity. Their normal life often endear to their fans thus influencing the consumption of their films and the prevailing perspective about them. Dyer, (2002) asserts that capital value refers to the financial benefits that stars earn their creators. Directors and producers earn money simply by creating stars. An effective utilization of a star enhances the profitability of the venture. As constructs, stars represent specific features of a society that the developer of a film seeks to represent. This way, a star assumes a fictional role in order to enhance the construction and passage of the message through the plot of the film. Among the American ideologies that developers of American stars often strive to capture include success, wealth, love and work among others. Race is another fundamental ideological factor effectively represented in American films. Directors have progressively portrayed the changing social structure in their systematic representation of races in their films through stars. Culture refers to the way of life in a particular society. This includes the various social values that influence the behavior of people in a society. Stars have cultural value since they influence the behavior of people in a society. Stars introduce new designs of clothes and even words among many other cultural feature (Dyer, 1986). Their target audience readily emulates their way of life, a feature that progressively changes the culture in the society. As such, directors have the moral obligation of creating positive cultural changes in the society. Finally, stars are deviant. This implies that stars are different and therefore represent specific features and values in the society. Application of Dyer’s model Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio is arguably one of the most famous American actors of all times. The star has acted in numerous films thereby developing a unique fictional identity in the films. He portrays charisma and adaptability in the films as he readily fits various roles in the various films most of which address various thematic issues. Most of the films portray Leonardo Di Caprio as a loving and successful man. Love and success are two main thematic features that Hollywood filmmakers strive to present thus creating a wealthy society in which both sexual and brotherly love remains a contentious issue. In developing such a society, the films often portray how the numerous social and cultural features affect the two. Dyer therefore provides an elaborate star creation process broken down into five segments. The creation of Leonardo DiCaprio fits into the five as the discussion below portrays. I. The making of a star Making of a star is the preliminary stage that involves the identification of the possible selling points in a character. Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio is famous for his charisma and charm, which he displays easily in most of the films. Such are his intricate personality features that the numerous directors and producers he has worked with identified and therefore developed successfully developing a unique identity. Most of his audiences readily identify with his charm and charisma. DiCaprio first featured in Romper Room, a television series for children. He was removed in the series for being disruptive. Being disruptive is a fundamental personality feature that subsequent directors exploited, as DiCaprio became a professional actor. He began his career a fresh at the age of fourteen with television commercials. His appealing personality earned him an opportunity to appear in the ad of matchbox cars. He later played in the film Parenthood before playing small parts in other films such as Roseanne and Santa Barbara among others. At the creation stage, the directors that DiCaprio worked with sought to perfect his fictional identity. They therefore gave him roles that portrayed his charm and charisma while others found place for his destructive personality.   II. Constructions Richard Dyer explains that stars lose their stardom if they do not have any cultural and sociological value. Successful stars have cultural and sociological impact. Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio has worked hard to maintain his stardom. Besides exhibiting diversity in his personality in order to fit the roles he played in such films as Titanic and the recent Wolf of Wall street, DiCaprio strives to add vital sociological and cultural value both of which he uses in constructing and maintaining his stardom. DiCaprio is an ardent environmentalist. He owns a series of cheap cars including an electric Tesla Roadster, a Toyota Prius and a Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid. Additionally, he works with various conservative agencies to encourage the use of green energy. He has solar for example in his home and therefore encourages green societies. He recognizes global warming as a leading global challenge. Leonardo DiCaprio has donated billions of dollars to various environmental conservation initiatives. Together with his mother for example, they donated $35,000 for the construction of "Leonardo DiCaprio Computer Center" for a branch of LA public library at Los Feliz. He made this in a portrayal of his dedication to supporting the academic development of children in the society. He has made several other donations to support various environmental initiatives as well. He donated $1 million in 2010 to the Wildlife conservation society at the famous Russia tiger summit. Such are avid examples of his attempts to maintain his stardom by adding value to the society. He engages the society at such levels thus endearing to his fans. Dicprio has since then acted in many other films as he progressively developed into one of the most famous artists globally. Titanic was one of his great successes. Some of his most recent films include Catch Me If You Can, Gangs of New York, Blood Diamond, Inception and Wolf of Wall Street among many others. . III. Audience and institutions Richard Dyer explains that directors and producers create stars with the view to using them in making money. Stars can make money only if they appeal to their fans thus entice them to buy the various media products. This way, a star must have desire personality features that his or her target audience identifies with. Such features sustain an audience (Dyer, 1990). Leonardo DiCaprio is such a star, one that never disappoints his audience with every film that features him. As explained erlier, the films portray Dicaprio is a successful and charismatic man who will always win his way out of every situation. Wolf of Wall street portrays this effectively as he resiliently builds a successful stock brokerage firm by talking investors into believing in his ideas. IV. Character and personality Dyer, (1979) explains that the characters of a star earn him dominion and influence over his fans. This makes it easier for stars to make more money in their films among other engagements. A star must have a definite character and personality that makes him endear to his fans. Stars are images and must portrays appropriate and profitable traits. They begin as humans but immediately transform into appropriate images. Leonardo DiCaprio as an image has appropriate character and personality that earns him the fame and influence he enjoys. Additionally, his directors often portray his personality appropriately thus make the films endear to the fans. As a wealth stockbroker, he lives the life of a fictional New Yorker. He readily fits the role owing to his ability to adapt into such diverse roles. Conclusion In retrospect, stars are creations of the media whose primary purpose is to earn money. Richard Dyer explains that the construction of a star is an in-depth process that requires the involvement of both the prospective character and an effective director. As fictional characters in a film, stars are therefore images who must provide an appropriate representation of the society. Successful Hollywood stars represent various American ideologies through the thematic issues in the films. Among the themes in most American films are love, wealth, success and work among others. Various American actors such as Leonardo Dicaprio therefore fit various fictional roles just in order to depict such thematic issues. Besides their roles in the films, the stars engage their audience in various platforms thus adding both cultural and sociological values to the society. This way, they maintain an intricate relationship with their audience thus maintaining their brands. References Allen,R. C. & Gomery, D. (1985). Social Film History. Film History: Theory and Practice. New York. McGraw Hill. Being, K. & Rutsky, L. R. (2001). The End of Cinema as We Know It: American Film in the Nineties. New York: OUP. Dyer, R. (1979). Stars. London: British Film Institute. Dyer, R. (1986). Heavenly Bodies: Film Stars and Society. New York: St. Martin's Press. . Dyer, R. (1990). Now You See It: Historical Studies on Lesbian and Gay Film. London: Routledge. Dyer, R. (2002). The Culture of Queers. London: Routledge. Read More