Star Analysis - Avril Lavigne

Avril Lavigne is a star icon who is looked up to by many young adults, teenagers and woman. She is currently in her 20's, meaning that her target/mainstream audience of young adults and teenagers can relate to her, and Avril Lavigne can relate to them. There are many other things that Avril Lavigne does to create her own star image and style, and to gain her mass audience, such as her music videos.

Avril Lavigne's music is within the pop rock and pop punk genre. Pop is probably one of or the most popular genre out there, following with R'n'B. The rock and punk element suits to the other majority of the young generation. Many of her videos have a narrative to make her videos more interesting, emotional and relatable to an audience. Most of her songs try to send messages to the audience about being yourself, to follow your dreams no matter what anyone says and to have believe in yourself. Her song (which unfortunatley does not have a video) 'Keep Holding On' is an example of a song that persuades the audience to not give up, and 'What the Hell' inspires teenagers to be themself and to have fun. On the other hand, she also touches alot on the subject of love and depressing things. Videos such as 'When You're Gone' (where her or someone relatable misses their partner) and 'My Happy Ending' (where a relationship has come to a close) are examples of this. She has been known as the 'Punk Rock Princess' with her image and songs.

 

What the Hell: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQmEd_UeeIk

When You're Gone: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0G3_kG5FFfQ

My Happy Ending: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8QYxmpuyxg

 

Her image is different from a typical star icon with the sexy and glamarous figure. She challenges this image with her own 'tomboy' or 'emo' style with attitude to compliment her rock and punk music. Alot of teenagers adore this look to be different and look youthful, edgy and to stand out. Avril's fashion is very colourful as well, which lncludes colour streaks in her hair and tatoos to suit the pop genre in her music. They look up to Avril for her fashion icon, and try to create looks similar to hers. Avril has even released her own fashion collection which included a 'back to school' edition. This is catering toward her target audience of teenagers to wear her style even at school. She has also come into the gothic side of fashion too which is very similar to her current star image. Despite saying this, she has also appeared in magazines with little and tight clothing to reveal her edgyside, and appeal her image to older woman. Because of the people who look up to her, they compare themselves with her image and try to be like her. This is a drastic change from her style she is known for, but has said that 'she has grown up and is not a little girl anymore.' However, she still appears to be wearing the star image she is famous for, and only occasionally wears other things you would associate with Beyonce or Rihanna. Her music videos 'Sk8er Boi' and 'Smile' show her star image. In 'Alice (Underground),' this shows her more gothic side when she is wearing a long dark dress.

Sk8er Boi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIy3n2b7V9k

Smile: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KagvExF-ijc

Alice (Underground): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YI4m-l2yRZA

 

As well her attitude in fashion, she is know for her tomboyish attitude in music videos. In examples such as 'Sk8er Boi' and 'Complicated,' she hangs around with a group of guys playing basketball or doing graffiti. She also gets up to trouble with her friends to show she dosen't care what people think of her. In her older videos like the ones above, she plays in a band performance. In more recent videos like 'Smile,' she is playing her guitar on her own.

 

Complicated:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NPBIwQyPWE

 

Avril Lavigne's 'Alice (Underground)' was also made for the film by Disney (directed by Tim Burton) 'Alice in Wonderland.' She did this to advertise her songs for those who hasn't heard them before to get a bigger fan group. She has also been in many other films and television such as 'Sabrina the Teenage Witch' and 'American Pie.' which is also a popular film among her target audience.