Theorists- Laura Mulvey and the "male gaze"

Laura Mulvey`s theory suggests that the male gaze denies women human identity, referring to them as the status of objects to be admired for physical appearance. The term male gaze was given from Mulvey`s essay, however in film the male gaze occurs when the audience are put into the perspective of a heterosexual man. The scene may focus on the curves of a women's body putting the viewers in the eyes of a man. The male gaze creates hegemonic ideologies in society at times women take over the male gaze. Women begin to gaze at other women the same way a man would and end up objectifying other women.

Many music videos in today's society can be applied to Mulvey's theory because they represent the 'male gaze'. A music video that represents this is Robin Thicke's "Blurred lines". In the video the men are seen gazing at the women and their bodies; with the women having no problem with it. The women are seen as objects as they are dancing and performing for the men whilst they admire the women. The women in the music video are also represented as objects for entertainment purposes. The mise-en-scene represents the male gaze because of the outfits the women wear and the red lipstick; as the colour red can sometimes have "sexual" connotations.

Mulvey`s theory supports the idea of scopophilia -gaining visual pleasure often admiring erotic objects. For our coursework production we won`t be applying the theory to our music video so therefore we will be challenging the male gaze as we will be creating the music video without using sexual based elements for entertainment.
Laura Mulvey`s theory suggests that the male gaze denies women human identity, referring to them as the status of objects to be admired for physical appearance. The term male gaze was given from Mulvey`s essay, however in film the male gaze occurs when the audience are put into the perspective of a heterosexual man. The scene may focus on the curves of a women's body putting the viewers in the eyes of a man. The male gaze creates hegemonic ideologies in society at times women take over the male gaze. Women begin to gaze at other women the same way a man would and end up objectifying other women.

Many music videos in today's society can be applied to Mulvey's theory because they represent the 'male gaze'. A music video that represents this is Robin Thicke's "Blurred lines". In the video the men are seen gazing at the women and their bodies; with the women having no problem with it. The women are seen as objects as they are dancing and performing for the men whilst they admire the women. The women in the music video are also represented as objects for entertainment purposes. The mise-en-scene represents the male gaze because of the outfits the women wear and the red lipstick; as the colour red can sometimes have "sexual" connotations.

Mulvey`s theory supports the idea of scopophilia -gaining visual pleasure often admiring erotic objects. For our coursework production we won`t be applying the theory to our music video so therefore we will be challenging the male gaze as we will be creating the music video without using sexual based elements for entertainment.