Analysis of a Star and Dyer's Theory- Miss Miller

Various artist's chose reinvent themselves for many different reasons. For instance, they may feel the need to reinvent themselves in order to appeal to a wider audience. Another reason to why an artist may feel to change their image and who they are is to perhaps show their real identity and not hide their true selves in which may lead to their music becoming a different style of genre. Richard Dyer has written extensively about the role of stars in film and TV as well as music and believes that stars have some key features in common.

A dominant artist who has changed her image dramatically is Miley Cyrus, turning from a teen pop star to a rebellious teenager. It is noticeable that over the years she has successfully changed her image and reinvented herself. The three music videos which I will be analysing in order to explain her reinvention are Best of Both Worlds from when she was known as Hannah Montana, Party In The USA, and We Cant Stop, her newest video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vHKfwuCrQM The Best of Both Worlds music video is entirely performance based which is one of the seven features of Goowdwin's theory. The performance is seen  throughout the entire video. Within her performance she has dancers dancing behind her whilst she is singing, this is conventional of the pop genre as it portrays Hannah Montana, the artist as the most important and that she is centre of attention. The target audience, whom are in the crowd and seem to be young of age, will watch her performance and want to achieve to be like her, the centre of attention and everyone should focus on her. The next element of Goodwins theory which is evident in the music video is that the music matches the visuals that are seen. For instance, when the beat of the music is heard, the visuals will change to a different shot or camera angle. This makes the video very upbeat and fast moving which is reinforcing the stereotypes of the pop genre as it is generally fast beat and a song in which people can dance to and this is evident when the audience is shown as everyone is dancing. The last element that occurs is the use of close-ups of the artist. The use of close ups is essential, Goodwin states, as it is the demands of the record label. This camera shot allows for the artist to be promoted and to its target audience, as it was one of her first songs, it allows for the audience to see who she really is. Also, when looking at old videos and current videos of the artist, it allows us to see how they have changed over the years and what has changed about the artist.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M11SvDtPBhA The next video from this artist is Party In The USA. By the time she had released this video, she had changed her name from Hannah Montana and was now recognized as her original name, Miley Cyrus. The first element again of Goodwins theory which is evident in this video is the performance based clips. Within the first clip we are shown, she is singing into the camera, this makes the audience feel more involved with the song and the audience feels as if she is talking to her. Which is conventional of the pop genre as the audience will feel excited and intrigued as she is looking down the camera lens. The long shot allows for the audience to see her clothing in which is shorts, a small top and boots. The long shot of her performing here, portrays to the audience her change, with comparison to her first video to here, her clothing options have changed and she has dyed her hair dark brown. The slightly provocative clothing and the darker hair is the first noticeable element of change of the artist. The next element is the frequent notion of looking. As she is walking past many people, she is looking into the camera pointing, smiling and singing. This again makes the audience feel more involved with the song yet it also portrays and sells her new image to her new intended audience. The watchers of the video can see how she has changed and developed as an artist and may be attracted to her more as Miley Cryrus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrUvu1mlWco  The last video which shows the development and change of the artist is We Can't Stop. As the video begins, we are shown a close-up clip of the artist putting grills in her teeth. Goodwin's theory states that the record label will demand close ups in order to advertise and sell the artist. The close up here allows for the audience to see her new look and how she has dramatically changed since her last video. This shot allows for the audience to build a relationship with her as they can see her change and therefore like or dislike it. Within this video there is also a frequent notion of looking taking place. The artist looks into the camera lens occasionally this allows for the audience to build a relationship with the audience as they feel a connection with her. The audience feel as if she is singing to them directly. This also allows for the audience to see her fully and be able to understand her change in appearance.

The genre in which Miley Cyrus is pop. Throughout the videos that I have watched, it has become clear that is the pop genre due to the generic codes and conventions. In her first video which is The Best Of Both Worlds, it is evidently clear to the audience that this is of the pop genre. This can be told due to the throughout performance of her song. The back-up dancers and dance routines are highly conventional of the pop genre, this is due to the the target audience being young children and therefore would have to appeal to them the most. The target audience can be told due to the audience in the video being young children in whom are dancing and singing along.  The next video which is Party In The USA is also highly conventional of the pop genre, there are also background dancers in order to create the artist to be the centre of attention and that everyone should be focused on her. It is also conventional due to the setting in which it is set in. The scenes and clips that are shown shows us that there is a party taking place, this attracts teenagers as it is something that they typically like to do and would be interested to watch. The colours that are within the video are all bright and colourful, this is tints and filters to make the artist look perfect and therefore people will look up to her and aspire to be her. In We Can't Stop there are manty generic codes and conventions, also included. For example, Miley, the artist is seen in almost every frame, this highly generic of pop genres as they want to show themselves off to the audience and to be seen the most. Also, the setting in which the video is taking place, the artist is with her friends and there is also a party environment, this is conventional as it makes the song more relevant to the target audience. The iconography that is used make the video diverse and unique to its genre and makes the audience interested and want to see more of the artist. The quirky props also have purpose to show how she has changed as an artist. Comparing to her other videos such as Best Of Both Worlds and Party In The USA these videos include conventional iconography such as a microphone, drum set and cars. However, in this video with iconography such as lolypops, a bike machine and chips, they are contrasting and different things used. This also shows her change and adaption as an artist. 

When Miley Cyrus was known as hannah montana her target audience here are young girls. Because she was young herself and her image was something young females could look up to, she attracted the attention of young females. Children would want to look like her and aspire to be her. In her next video, Party In The USA, her target audience had altered slightly, her new target audience would be young teenagers such as 12-15. By now, she has reinvented herself to appeal to a wider audience, her image was completely different and therefore would attract a larger audience as well as keeping her orginal fans. Her last video We Can't Stop, attracted an even larger audience with teenagers and young adults both being attracted to this video. The party and jet-set, fun lifestyle within this video was seen by teenagers as something they would want to do and would motivate them to work hard to ahcieve this fame lifestyle. However, the young adults have already expreienced this and therefore can relate to what they are being shown. They feel as if they have a connection with the artist as they both have done the same thing and both enjoy partying. This builds an audience- artist relationship as they can relate to her. Overall, her target audience has changed over time. As she has become older and more in control of what she wants to do, she is able to express herself freely as she wishes. I believe that she has changed her target audience as she wants to relate to as many people as possible. With the genre being pop, she still attracts young people yet can also be appealed to by an older audience.

The artist has