The document discusses Laura Mulvey's 1975 theory of "The Male Gaze", which argues that women are typically objectified in film and media due to the perspective of heterosexual male creators behind the camera. It outlines how the Male Gaze theory manifests through the representation of women as a sexual fantasy, scopophilia, patriarchal society, and the objectification and passive portrayal of female characters. The document then provides examples of how modern pop music videos by artists like Miley Cyrus, Nicki Minaj, and Iggy Azalea support the Male Gaze theory through sexual objectification, while the career of Adele provides a counter example by avoiding sexual references and imagery.

1. The Male Gaze Theory
By Liam Gilliver

2. Laura Mulvey
In 1975, Laura Mulvey wrote the essay “Visual Pleasure & Narrative Cinema” introducing
the second-wave feminist theory of ‘The Male Gaze’. Although this concept had been
stated in earlier studies, it was Mulvey who really brought it to the forefront- stating that
women where objectified in film because heterosexual men were behind the camera.
Although her theory was before the production of music videos and so directed at film, it
is still applies to many modern day music videos.

3. Laura Mulvey outlined the following ways in
which the Male Gaze Theory works in
media texts:
• The representation of women as a sexual
fantasy from a heterosexual male point of view.
• Scopophilia- the pleasure involved in looking at
other people’s bodies.
• Patriarchal Society.
• Objectification of female characters.
• Active male characters and passive females.
• The concept that women are a sexual image.
• Men being dominant, controlling subjects.
• Men ‘doing the looking’ while females are there
to be looked at.
• For filling the needs of the male ego through
ascetically pleasing video.
Miley Cyrus’ music video to ‘Wrecking Ball’

4. • The Male Gaze Theory is supported by many
female artists. Nicki Minaj, Iggy Azalea, Miley
Cyrus and Rhianna are all prime examples of
sexual objectification in their music videos. This
theory is mostly seen is pop/ dance music videos
opposed to other genres like; rock, metal etc.

5. Adele
It’s inevitable that ‘sex sells’ in
todays society, with many artists
lacking in talent but sexualising
there self to fame. Adele is a rare
exception that goes against the
Male Gaze Theory. As seen in
the image, Adele’s outfits and
video remain clean, modest and
without sexual reference, yet her
2011 song ‘Someone Like You’
remained number 1 for 5 weeks
and became the first single of the
decade to sell a million units in
the United Kingdom.

7. “She looks like those girls in Vouge”
- Could Adele set an example to break the Male
Gaze Theory? Her cover on Vouge magazine
certainly breaks the typical image of the ‘perfect
woman’