Josie Andrews
Supplemental Post #4
Two weeks ago, I had to PA on the music video set for the
EDM DJ-producer Marshmello’s new video. I’m a huge fan so this was really
exciting for me. But, after meeting him (he is so nice), I could not figure out
why the world is so obsessed with discovering this large white marshmallow-headed
star’s identity.
Whomever Marshmello is (I am sworn to secrecy and would only note that the only fully admitted unmasking of Marshmello is that of Will Ferrell under the helmet), making his identity Marshmello was a fabulous career move. Marshmello employed ingenious marketing based on the secrecy of the man behind the mask, and his amazing hits became heard and appreciated. Not surprisingly, whoever he is, Marshmello's career skyrocketed over the course of the last two years. At $150,000 a gig, he made Forbes’ ranking of world’s highest paid DJs this past year, pulling in a staggering $21 million in 2017.
Whomever Marshmello is (I am sworn to secrecy and would only note that the only fully admitted unmasking of Marshmello is that of Will Ferrell under the helmet), making his identity Marshmello was a fabulous career move. Marshmello employed ingenious marketing based on the secrecy of the man behind the mask, and his amazing hits became heard and appreciated. Not surprisingly, whoever he is, Marshmello's career skyrocketed over the course of the last two years. At $150,000 a gig, he made Forbes’ ranking of world’s highest paid DJs this past year, pulling in a staggering $21 million in 2017.
Masked performers are not unusual in EDM—think Deadmau5’s mouse heads or Daft Punk’s robot helmets. Nor, is it historically unusual for stars to perform under different names.During the 1940s and 50s Hollywood Studio system days of “star-making,” a star was created from bottom up. John Wayne (Marion Robert Morrison), Cary Grant (Archibald Alec Leach), Audrey Hepburn (Audrey Kathleen Ruston), Joan Crawford (Lucille Faye LeSuer), and Marilyn Monroe (Norma Jeane Mortenson Baker) were all part of this star system. In the readings, we have learned that the star system put an emphasis on image over acting and would create entirely new names and even backgrounds for stars, like the ones we have watched in class. And, interestingly, back then, people wanted to “buy” into the name and image and did not try to unveil the mask or image Hollywood had created.
Today, tabloids love exposing the “real” stars and their backgrounds, so secrecy like Marshmello has tried to maintain is very unusual. Of course, with Marshmello, his anonymity is part of his greatness. But, that is not true for most stars. We see their faces and want to know their backgrounds. I would also like to think that we are more sophisticated and like our stars to have talent and therefore do not care what their names are, preferring actors use their real names. But, then when I think about some particularly difficult to say or remember star names, like Natalie Hershlag (Natalie Portman) or Margaret Mary Emily Hyra (Meg Ryan), Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor (Lorde), or Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta (Lady Gaga), maybe changing the name to fit an image is not such a bad idea.
Today, tabloids love exposing the “real” stars and their backgrounds, so secrecy like Marshmello has tried to maintain is very unusual. Of course, with Marshmello, his anonymity is part of his greatness. But, that is not true for most stars. We see their faces and want to know their backgrounds. I would also like to think that we are more sophisticated and like our stars to have talent and therefore do not care what their names are, preferring actors use their real names. But, then when I think about some particularly difficult to say or remember star names, like Natalie Hershlag (Natalie Portman) or Margaret Mary Emily Hyra (Meg Ryan), Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor (Lorde), or Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta (Lady Gaga), maybe changing the name to fit an image is not such a bad idea.
While Marshmello does not speak to journalists last
year when he was asked if he would ever reveal himself, he responded: Two
Thumbs down. He later tweeted: "I
don't take my helmet off because I don't want or need fame. I'm genuinely
trying to create something positive for people to connect with." Whoever
he is, watch his new video. He’s a star, and it’s amazing.
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