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The gaze
The document discusses the concept of the 'gaze,' primarily through Laura Mulvey's analysis of the male gaze and its implications on how women are represented and perceived in film and media. It critiques the objectification of women, emphasizing their portrayal as secondary to male perspectives and reinforcing patriarchal ideologies. Additionally, it briefly touches on the notion of a female gaze and its differences, though it critiques the idea that it provides an equivalent or empowering representation compared to the male gaze.
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The gaze
- 1. The concept ofthe gaze
- 2. What is thegaze? • How an audience views the people presented • Male gaze • Female gaze
- 3. Laura Mulvey –Male Gaze • How men look at women • How women look at themselves • How women look at other women • Coined phrase in 1975 • Audiences have to view characters from the perspective of a heterosexual male
- 4. Laura Mulvey –Male Gaze • Denies women human identity • Status of objects • Admired for physical appearance • Women often watch from a secondary perspective; viewing themselves only from a man’s perspective
- 5. Laura Mulvey –Male Gaze • Women seen as vital in film/TV • Often has no real importance herself; it’s how she makes the man feel or act that becomes important • The female only exists in relation to the male
- 6. Laura Mulvey –Male Gaze • Male gaze leads to Hegemonic ideologies in our society – the idea of dominance in political and social contexts • Mulvey argues that women find themselves taking the male gaze in a society where the media presents women from the male perspective • Women end up objectifying women in the same way a man would
- 7. Laura Mulvey –Male Gaze • Visual pleasure • The role of women has 2 narrative functions: – Erotic object for characters to view – Erotic object for audience to view
- 8. Laura Mulvey –Male Gaze • Characters looking at others are active (male) • Characters being looked at are passive (female) • Passive characters under control of male • Only exist for visual pleasure • Females (passives) often slow narrative down – are inspiration for men to act • Males (actives) push narrative on and create the ‘action’
- 9. Objectification • Linkedto male gaze • People gazed upon are objectified • Sole value to be enjoyed or possessed by voyeur • Devalued and humanity removed
- 10. Laura Mulvey –Male Gaze • Patriarchal society sets rules • Constructs and represents ideal visions, roles and male dominance over women • Passive audience may be influenced by this representation of reality
- 11. Criticism of Mulvey • The question around male/female dichotomy • Ethnicity, class, age, etc. not considered • Not always men who have power over passive women • Suggests that gaze cannot be conceived of representation outside of heterosexuality • Suggests women cannot be strong protagonists • Some women like the ‘gaze’ and play up to it
- 12. Facial expressions ofthe male gaze • Women: – Chocolate box – Invitational – Super-smiler – Romantic or sexual • Marjorie Ferguson (1980) – See blog
- 13. The female gaze • Argument that there’s no such thing • Argument that it isn’t equivalent to the male gaze • What is fetishized in the female gaze is strength, virility, vigor, capability, fortitude, power. • Reaffirming male power and dominance.
- 14. The female gaze • Men can be motivation • Men are rarely decorative • Male sexuality is celebrated • Opposed to the view that: – Women are the prize (motivation) – Women are decoration – Female sexuality is dangerous (Femme Fatale, Vamp, Honey Trap, etc).
- 15. The female gaze– not… • Men save themselves or are helped by other men • Pressure on actors to ‘buff up’ is about asserting male virility and physical embodiment of male power – rather than pleasing women • Men rarely passive or dominated by women (without some form of ‘comeuppance’ or resolution where ‘balance’ is restored
- 16. Facial expressions ofthe female gaze • Men: – Carefree – Practical – Seductive – Comic – Catalogue • Trevor Millum (1975)
- 17. Is the gazereally just about gender and sexuality? • Jonathan Schroeder – the gaze represents psychological relationship of power. The person with the ‘gaze’ is superior to the person being ‘gazed’ upon.