Star Theory Applied to David Bowie

The star theory is a theory developed by Richard Dyer, he argues that a star is just an

image and not an artist's actual personality. It's made to keep the audience engaged. The

artist should be present yet distant. A celebrity shouldn't reveal everything about them but

keeps the audience guessing their real identity, therefore retaining their interest. The star 

has an incomplete image so that its fan can strive to complete it. An artist should be present

yet extraordinary. This is so that they can stand out from everyday people yet still relate to

them.

A good example of where the star theory can be applied is with David Bowie. Bowie

adopted personas such as ‘Jean Genie’, ‘Ziggy Stardust’, he was always able to change

genres/looks of music several times to suit whatever he wanted to do at that time. He

becomes ‘David Bowie’, a construct which means whatever you want it to mean rather

than ‘the singer’ or ‘a rock singer’.

A famous celebrity that kept his life uncompleted was David Bowie, he kept people guessing

even after his death. He knew he was going to die so, he released a single just before his

death. This single left the audience with so many questions due to him challenging his own 

star persona and its truthfulness.Bowie released 'Blackstar', his latest album on his 69th

birthday; 2 days before his death.The album was actually recorded a year before and

deliberately held back by Bowie. Tony Viscotti who worked with Bowie on his last album

described it as ‘a parting gift’ for his fans deliberately timed.

“His death was no different from his life – a work of Art.”

Richard Dyer states that the Star Image however must remain unfinished and overall incoherent. Dyer says that this is because it is based upon two key paradoxes: 

- 'Simultaneously ‘ordinary’ and ‘extraordinary’ 

- 'Simultaneously absent and present for the consumer’ 

Positioned against the mainstream but also within it

His death leaves his star ‘incomplete’ or ‘incoherent’ – even his final album has provoked

conspiracy theories and although referenced his own death is actually more oblique than

that.