Laura Mulvey's theory from 1975 suggests that films typically adopt a male gaze and present women as sexual objects for the male audience's pleasure. The camera lingers on female bodies and women are portrayed as passive objects, while men are active subjects with whom the male audience identifies. However, the theory has been challenged as not all leading characters are male, and representations of women have become less stereotypical over time, as seen in films like Kill Bill that subvert traditional gender roles.

1. Mulveys Male Gaze
Laura Mulvey 1975

2. The theory...
• It is suggested the camera adopts a male point of view
for the benefit of an assumed male audience.
• The camera lingers on females bodies, seeing woman as
‘sexual objects’ to gratify men.
• The men are the central active characters in which the
male audience identifies with, viewing the females as
passive.
• Female audiences are also positioned to identify with the
male gaze and see through the eyes of a ‘male’.
However...

3. The theory can be CHALLENGED
• Not ALL central heroic character are males.
• There have been changes towards the representation of woman
which has resulted in challenges to stereotype gender roles. Eg. Kill
Bill

4. Example of the theory
The next shot is an eye line match of the
Tucker and Dale staring at her therefore
even gives proof that she is there as a
sexualized symbol
Tucker and Dale vs Evil
The camera lingers on her body
The moonlight hits her body making her
glow, which makes her look sexualized for a
males eyes
She is in only under wear which caters for a male audience
Her chest is the focal point of this shot by
wear she is placed and her level in the shot.
This is therefore