Laura Mulvey - Male Gaze Theory
The concept of the gaze is one that deals with how an audience views the people presented. For feminists it can be thought of in 3 different ways:
In some cases, this relegates women to the status of objects. The female viewer must experience the narrative secondarily, by identification with the male. The theory suggests that The Male Gaze denies women human identity, regulating them to the status of objects to be admired for physical appearance.
- How men look at women
- How women look at themselves
- How women look at other women
Laura Mulvey thought up the term 'Male Gaze' in 1975. She believes that in media, audiences have to 'view' characters from the perspective of a heterosexual male. In a lot of media, the camera focuses on the curves of the female body, and event occur where women are represented largely in the context of a man's reaction to these events.
In some cases, this relegates women to the status of objects. The female viewer must experience the narrative secondarily, by identification with the male. The theory suggests that The Male Gaze denies women human identity, regulating them to the status of objects to be admired for physical appearance.
However, the presence of a women in mainstream media is something that is vital. Often a female character has no real importance to herself, it is how she makes the male feel or act that is the importance. Therefore the Male Gaze Theory states that the female is only existing in relation to the male.
The Male Gaze Theory leads to Hegemonic ideologies within our society. Mulvey argues, for women the result of media being presented from the perspective of men and through The Male Gaze.
Women play erotic roles and are seen as erotic objects which slow the narrative. In music videos such as rap genre music videos, women are viewed as there for the pleasure of the male. A good example of this is Jason Derulo - Swalla, where women are dressed provocatively and are all over Jason.
The Male Gaze Theory leads to Hegemonic ideologies within our society. Mulvey argues, for women the result of media being presented from the perspective of men and through The Male Gaze.
Women play erotic roles and are seen as erotic objects which slow the narrative. In music videos such as rap genre music videos, women are viewed as there for the pleasure of the male. A good example of this is Jason Derulo - Swalla, where women are dressed provocatively and are all over Jason.
Comments
Post a Comment