Dyer and The X Factor

A key concept in Richard Dyer's Theory was the idea that a star is an image and not a real person. This is constructed out of a range of materials, yet that construction process is neither automatic or fully understood.

The popular and well known music reality/competition programme called The X Factor, have been known to 'construct' the contestants that later win the competition or at least come in the top 3. Below are a couple of examples.

This competitor's name is Ben Haenow, a singer and van driver from Croydon. The change is his appearance is apparent throughout the music video, as he arrives in his audition with many piercings for example, in his tongue, but slowly disappears as he progresses in the competition. This is so that Ben fits into the category of a pop star.

Above are two videos of the same artist, James Arthur. His physical appearance changes drastically from his audition to his final performance. One thing in particular is the change in his teeth. The X Factor have essentially invested money to get his teeth fixed, hoping to receive money out of it. 

The video above shows how the popular group known as 'One Direction' came to be. This video inevitably shows how they were 'constructed' into being a boy band that is famous now.