talent or celebrity? (Entry 1)

Is it really talent that matters? Or can a star’s fame carry them through their career? This ideology can be seen in many of today’s celebrities, one example would be, Tom Cruise, he brings huge audiences to films but arguably has very little talent. Staiger’s article “Seeing Stars,” discusses the importance of the star systems history. There are contradicting opinions as to the history of the star system. We see it most prominently coming to the forefront of film in the early 1900’s. There were many things that played significant roles in the growth of this system. In this article Hampton is cited for recognizing that the star system existed first in theater, but the shock that came when it made its move to the cinemas. Motion Picture Magazine was a major part of the rise of the star system; it was the first magazine focusing strictly on following stars. Mary Pickford is recognized as one of the first stars to draw an audience based on her name. The short film featuring her viewed in class makes it clear why she was so vital to this system: she was a pretty young girl and she was talented. deCordova claims that the rise of the star system took place in three major steps: "the discourse of acting, the picture personality, and the star." These three did not in all cases disappear as the other came to the forefront, but at times this is the case. The Shiek starring Rudolph Valentino and Agnes Ayres utilized Valentino’s star quality as promotion. He appealed heavily to women and in this romantic role the film was a guaranteed sell. Hansen discusses the “masculinizatoin” theory that Mulvey supports and Valentino embodies. The male is pleasurable to gaze upon and this is what brings the audiences to these types of “female films.” This theory of Mulvey plays perfectly into the design of the star system in film history and today; and explains why “actors” like Tom Curise have been able to make a name for themselves.