Theory of Stardom ; Richard Dyer

 This blog post shows what we (my teammates and I) have learned in class regarding Richard Dyer's Star Theory.

"Stars are constructed personas designed to appeal to audiences."

WEEK 4 - REEL AND REAL PERSONA (Stardom Theory) - Classwork

Names:	Jasmine, Rachelle, Beatrice
Celebrity:	Camila Cabello Classwork : Theory of Stardom (blog’s title)
REEL persona:	What image to they project through their work (films, music, social media) Camilla Cabello portrays herself as a seductive and iconic figure. She is always confident and is a feminist.
REAL persona:	Have there been any cracks in this image (examples) Camilla had a picture of her in a bikini taken by the paparazzi where she doesn’t look ‘ideal’, she then went on social media and expressed her upsetness to the public. Audiences then discussed how Camilla was being insecure and how she isn’t as seductive as she portrays herself to be.
Love:	Shawn Mendez, as she is infamous for being his muse. She kept on breaking up and getting back with him. She dated Shawn Mendez from 2019 - 2021, and eventually announced their breakup through instagram as “the best of friends”. Website link : Camila Cabello's love life
Ordinariness:	Camila Cabello posted on her instagram using her ‘daily outfit’ which resonates with a lot of the audience.  Moreover, she occasionally posted her working out on her social media. By her speaking openly about her body image, and the societal pressures she feels to look a certain way, it resonates with the audience who face similar difficulties, especially in a world influenced by beauty standards. Through her experiences, she has also been vocal about the unrealistic beauty standards often imposed on women, especially in the entertainment industry. Additionally, by showing the ‘imperfect’ side for her, it invites empathy and respect from the audience, which strengthen her image of an “ordinary” person rather than as someone with an achievable lifestyle. pinkvilla - ordinary
Success:	What is their success story? How is it told?  At first, Camilla Cabello was in a group called Fifth Harmony where she often got comments that said her voice is so different (unique) compared to her other group members that it overshadows everyone else. Due to this, Camilla Cabello quit the group to pursue a solo singing career. She began to release a few collaborative singles like "I Know What You Did Last Summer" with Shawn Mendes which peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100. Her solo career has been peaking ever since.  Camila's success story
Consumption:	Luxurious lifestyles: She has been seen to consume products such as this ice-handbag which costs $22.5k. This proves that she has enough funds in order to support this kind of spending, allowing her to purchase products which are generally seen as a waste by the public. In addition, this handbag caused quite a backlash as people on platforms such as Tik-tok have been seen making posts about her, calling her out for the useless purchase of this handbag which will melt anyways, not being worth $22.5k.
Dream turned sour:	Has this celebrity had a downfall? How is it reported? Did they recover? An anonymous twitter account posted screenshots of Camilla Cabello’s old tumblr and twitter posts which consists of her re-shared gifs and memes that reinforce black and asian stereotypes. She later on apologized formally on her Instagram story and was later on reported to require going to therapy to stop being racist.  Sources: https://www.teenvogue.com/story/camila-cabello-weekly-racial-healing-sessions  https://www.cbsnews.com/news/camila-cabello-tumblr-language-in-posts-singer-apologizes-for-n-word-racial-stereotypes-2019-12-19/

Reflection : I think this classwork has been incredibly useful as it deepens our understanding of this theory. By understanding its concepts, we can create a music video that resonates with our target audience by effectively using the artist’s personality and public image. Balancing the "real" and "reel" personas allows us to build authenticity and relatability while crafting a distinct style for the artist that appeals to a broader audience, which also helps to establish a memorable and recognizable identity.  Overall, this theory guides us in shaping a captivating star image that resonates with audiences on a deeper level, enhancing the emotional impact, narrative, and appeal of our music video to make it more memorable and impactful.