In Richard Dyer’s “Stars as Specific Images,” Dyer wants to emphasize that celebrities “embody social types” (Dyer, 1). Dyer suggests that their images are portrayed “across a range of media texts” (Dyer, 1). He discusses the categories in which these texts fall under: “promotion, publicity, films, and criticism and commentaries” (Dyer, 1). He begins with promotion, saying that the celebrity is “part of the deliberate creation/ manufacture of a particular image or image- context for a particular star” (Dyer, 2). Here, Dyer wants to say that in these certain texts, the star gives consent, or promotes, the portrayed image. Next, Dyer talks about publicity. He says that in these texts, “it is ‘what the press finds out’” (Dyer, 3). These types are usually found in magazines, or on social gossip columns. I think that with publicity, Dyer wants to stress that these texts can be misunderstood and taken advantage of. After publicity, Dyer talks about a star’s image throughout films. He says that these texts “have a distinct and privileged place in a star’s image” (Dyer, 3). He goes on to say “their celebrity is defined by the fact of their appearing in films” (Dyer, 3). I think here, Dyer is trying to suggest that movie productions create a star’s image. Dyer wants to say that the way a celebrity appears in a movie is how the general public will view that certain celebrity. Finally, Dyer talks about criticism and commentaries. As Dyer says, “this refers to what was said or written about the star in terms of appreciation or interpretation by critics and writers” (Dyer, 4). In my own words, I want to say that in these specific texts, it is what other people say about the star. Basically, these texts are about the star, whether they are good or bad.
In today’s media, Dyer’s theories are still relevant. In terms of promotion, we see it all the time. For my example, I want to use Michael Jordan and his promotion of Hanes. Michael Jordan stages his image here, and gives consent to it.
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