GENDER REPRESENTATION SHOWN THROUGH 'THE MALE GAZE' THEORY
'The male gaze' is a theory set up by Laura Mulvey in 1975. It follows the idea of how audiences
are forced to view characters through the perspective of the heterosexual male; also looking at how, for feminists, men look at women, how women look at themselves and how women look at other women. Features which 'the males gaze' focuses on are, how camera angles linger on the curves of a women's body, how points are presented in the context to how males react to events, how women are relegated to the status of objects and how female audiences much experience the narrative secondarily. Since the theory has been set up, it has been spotted in advertising and has also had plenty of critic. For example, some women enjoy being looked at, some even use this pleasure as a job, like models and at beauty pageants.
'The male gaze' is also commonly used in many modern day music videos...
E.g. Taylor Swift - Bad Blood
In this music video, Taylor Swift creates a strong image for the female gender; with the costumes which the characters are all dressed in, help to represent this empowering feel. Throughout the music video, females are the main focus, as there is very little video showing Kendrick Lamar, this implies that the women are in control as they are the majority. Though 'the male gaze' theory is present in the video. This is apparent as the audience is forced to view the video through the eyes of a heterosexual male; the costumes which the characters wear are revealing and so automatically are sexualised. The mise-en-scene in the video signifies strength and empowerment which continues to create the link into Laura Mulvey's theory.
E.g. Justin Timberlake - Tunnel Vision
This music video is female orientated throughout, and so as the theory suggests, also aimed at the heterosexual male. The camera lingers on the curves of the female dancers, with the low lighting, shadowing and slow motion used as well, it all helps to emphasise this mood. Throughout the video the women aren't in control, as they are purely there for male pleasure. This is also shown through the clothing worn - the males were all fully dressed, whereas all the female dancers had no clothes on, therefore their bodies were continually sexualised.
E.g. Rihanna - Pour It Up
This video follows a similar idea to Taylor Swift's 'Bad Blood', they both use similar ideas of women empowerment. Though in this music video, some may think of it as degrading towards women; this is due to the type of movements made by the dancers, almost presenting the entire female sex to be sexual and for male pleasure. Again, there is no scenes where males are present, though the whole message of the music video is aimed at their gender, as women are the main focus. The fast-paced editing used in this video, builds a quick pace. This could represent the rate of a males heart rate either through arousal or enjoyment. In Rihanna's video, lots of point-of-view shots are used; this makes the audience feel as if they are the heterosexual male, looking at the women.
are forced to view characters through the perspective of the heterosexual male; also looking at how, for feminists, men look at women, how women look at themselves and how women look at other women. Features which 'the males gaze' focuses on are, how camera angles linger on the curves of a women's body, how points are presented in the context to how males react to events, how women are relegated to the status of objects and how female audiences much experience the narrative secondarily. Since the theory has been set up, it has been spotted in advertising and has also had plenty of critic. For example, some women enjoy being looked at, some even use this pleasure as a job, like models and at beauty pageants.
'The male gaze' is also commonly used in many modern day music videos...
E.g. Taylor Swift - Bad Blood
In this music video, Taylor Swift creates a strong image for the female gender; with the costumes which the characters are all dressed in, help to represent this empowering feel. Throughout the music video, females are the main focus, as there is very little video showing Kendrick Lamar, this implies that the women are in control as they are the majority. Though 'the male gaze' theory is present in the video. This is apparent as the audience is forced to view the video through the eyes of a heterosexual male; the costumes which the characters wear are revealing and so automatically are sexualised. The mise-en-scene in the video signifies strength and empowerment which continues to create the link into Laura Mulvey's theory.
E.g. Justin Timberlake - Tunnel Vision
This music video is female orientated throughout, and so as the theory suggests, also aimed at the heterosexual male. The camera lingers on the curves of the female dancers, with the low lighting, shadowing and slow motion used as well, it all helps to emphasise this mood. Throughout the video the women aren't in control, as they are purely there for male pleasure. This is also shown through the clothing worn - the males were all fully dressed, whereas all the female dancers had no clothes on, therefore their bodies were continually sexualised.
E.g. Rihanna - Pour It Up
This video follows a similar idea to Taylor Swift's 'Bad Blood', they both use similar ideas of women empowerment. Though in this music video, some may think of it as degrading towards women; this is due to the type of movements made by the dancers, almost presenting the entire female sex to be sexual and for male pleasure. Again, there is no scenes where males are present, though the whole message of the music video is aimed at their gender, as women are the main focus. The fast-paced editing used in this video, builds a quick pace. This could represent the rate of a males heart rate either through arousal or enjoyment. In Rihanna's video, lots of point-of-view shots are used; this makes the audience feel as if they are the heterosexual male, looking at the women.
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