Concept of Star (Discussion)

Readings

Richard Dyer

1. Dyer argues, "The star image is used in the construction of a character in a film in three ways." What are those three ways? Pick one current movie or TV star and one film or television program. How is his/her star image used in the construction of that character? Explain.
2. Dyer lists "signs" of character and "signs" of performance. In what sense is he using the word, "sign"? That is, what, in general terms, is a sign?
3. Apply Dyer's 10 signs of character to one of the characters from Petrified Forest. That is, select one of the main characters (see below) and then discuss how the signs of character are used to build that character.
   • Alan Squier (Leslie Howard)
   • Gabrielle 'Gabby' Maple (Bette Davis)
   • Duke Mantee (Humphrey Bogart)
4. File:FortApache1.jpg

   John Wayne and Henry Fonda in Fort Apache
   On pp. 145-146, Dyer discusses how John Wayne's and Henry Fonda's performances in Fort Apache use performance signs--referring specifically to a scene that is illustrated here with a frame grab and online in Quicktime format. Explain how performance signs function in this scene. How would you analyze Bogart's performance signs in this scene? (Dyer similarly discusses Bette Davis' performance in Little Foxes, frame grabs for which are available here.)

Bibliography

1. Richard Dyer, Stars, Second Edition, Supplementary Chapter by Paul McDonald (London: British Film Institute, 1998).

Richard Dyer and Jeremy Butler, Society for Cinema and Media Studies conference, 9 March 2007.