Emily Huang Post #2 - Consuming stars and their types

The relationship that the public has in its consumption of stars is a tenuous one; depending on the day, it may fluctuate between admiration, envy, and criticism. We obsess over even minute details of a star's possessions, wardrobe, or daily motions, seeking connections to celebrities that we have never met and who likely will never know our names. Why is this? Dyer explains that this obsession over stars stems from the myth of success, which posits that American society makes success possible for anyone with the right combination of talent and luck, regardless of their rank or status. To the public, stars represent the epitome of the American Dream, one that anyone may achieve.
Because of this elevated status that the adoring public places upon stars, the associated spotlight then encourages the public to scrutinize celebrities in hopes of finding ways to become like them. In seeking to understand who a star is, society then also attaches labels to them as a way to categorize, describe, and simplify their persona into something that is more easily idolized and consumed. Dyer refers to these in the social types defined by O.E. Klapp that describe several of the personas beloved by the dominant society. These social types, which include the Good Joe, Tough Guy, and Pin-Up, have remained prevalent for decades. This is especially noticeable in the way that characters or personas that do not fit into these dominant, palatable types are often pointed out and designated as “others” in some way, whether because they are rare, go against the longstanding norms, or do not adhere to stereotypes. Forms of othering are seen in the distinctions of characters or personas as grounded in value systems that are alternative to the dominant system, and these are the personas that tend to draw more criticism because they challenge normative values. Examples of these types are the Rebel and the Independent Woman.

Recently, characters that fit into these alternative types have seen a rise in their incorporation and portrayals in popular media, and their real life counterparts often enjoy a similar rise in popularity. Recognizing the changing values and views of mainstream society is key to understanding this shift and how it is a reflection of what individuals in the public are able to identify with. By knowing the personas that the public connects stars to, we are able to see how our society personifies the ideals and values of today.