2. Female Poses and Facial Expressions
• Laura Mulvey coined the term ‘Male Gaze’ in 1975.
She believes that in film audiences have to ‘view’
characters from the perspective of a heterosexual
male.
• Marjorie Ferguson categorized all female poses into
four different categories, these include; Chocolate
Box, Invitational, Super Smiler and Romantic/sexual.
3. 1 - Chocolate Box
• Half/ full smile
• Lips together/ slightly
parted
• Teeth barley visible
• Full/ three- quarters of
face to the camera
• blandly pleasing,
uniformity of beauty
and devoid of
uniqueness
4. 2 - Invitational
• Emphasis on the eyes
• Mouth shut with hint of
a smile
• Head to one side or
looking back to the
camera
• suggestive of mischief or
mystery, hint of contact
rather than sexual
promise
5. 3 - Super Smiler
• Full face
• Wide open, toothy smile
• Head thrusts forward or
chin thrown back
• Hair often wind blown
• aggressive, look at me
attitude
6. 4 - Romantic or Sexual
• Includes male/ female
‘two-somes’
• Dreamy
• Heavy lidded
• Overtly sensual/ sexual
• possibly or definitely
available
7. Male Poses and Facial Expressions
• Trevor Millum categorized the different male
poses and facial expressions in 1975. These
poses were put into 5 categorizes, including;
Carefree, Practical, Seductive, Comic and
Catalogue.
8. 1 - Carefree
• Nymph like
• Active
• Healthy
• Vibrant
• Outdoor girl
• Often smiling/ grinning
9. 2 - Practical
• Concentrating
• Engaged in business in
hand
• Mouth closed
• Eyes object directed
• Sometimes a slight frown
• Hair often tied back or
short style
10. 3 - Seductive
• Similar to cool/ level
• Eyes less wide
• Expression is less
reserved but still self-
confident
• Milder
12. 5 - Catalogue
• A neutral look as of a
dummy, artificial, wax
like
• Features may be in any
position- but most likely
to be with eyes open
wide and a smile
• Looks remain vacant and
empty with personality
removed
