Male gaze theory examines how audiences view characters, especially how the perspective of a heterosexual male shapes portrayals of women in film. Coined by Laura Mulvey in 1975, male gaze refers to women being viewed and presented as sexual objects from a male point of view, as seen in the many James Bond scenes and covers that depict women as sexual objects for the male gaze.

1. Male gaze theory

2. What is it?
The concept of ‘gaze’ is one that deals with how an audience
views the people presented.
For feminists it can be thought of in 3 ways:
• How men look at women.
• How women look at themselves.
• How women look at other women.

3. Gaze and the Feminist theory
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.

4. James Bond
James Bond is a good example of ‘Male Gaze’. For example there are
many scenes and cover art where women are viewed as sexual objects.