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    The Male Gaze Theory

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    calexander1
    Laura Mulvey's male gaze theory argues that women are typically portrayed in films from the perspective of a heterosexual male gaze. Women are often objectified and depicted as decorative objects for the male viewer's pleasure. The theory also suggests that audiences view films from this male perspective, seeing women as objects to look at rather than independent subjects. Mulvey proposes that this objectification can lead to the audience viewing women voyeuristically and fetishistically.

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    The Male Gaze Theory

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    calexander1
    692 views12 pages
    Laura Mulvey's male gaze theory argues that women are typically portrayed in films from the perspective of a heterosexual male gaze. Women are often objectified and depicted as decorative objects for the male viewer's pleasure. The theory also suggests that audiences view films from this male perspective, seeing women as objects to look at rather than independent subjects. Mulvey proposes that this objectification can lead to the audience viewing women voyeuristically and fetishistically.

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    Laura Mulvey's male gaze theory argues that women are typically portrayed in films from the perspective of a heterosexual male gaze. Women are often objectified and depicted as decorative objects for the male viewer's pleasure. The theory also suggests that audiences view films from this male perspective, seeing women as objects to look at rather than independent subjects. Mulvey proposes that this objectification can lead to the audience viewing women voyeuristically and fetishistically.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    692 views12 pages

    The Male Gaze Theory

    Uploaded by

    calexander1
    Laura Mulvey's male gaze theory argues that women are typically portrayed in films from the perspective of a heterosexual male gaze. Women are often objectified and depicted as decorative objects for the male viewer's pleasure. The theory also suggests that audiences view films from this male perspective, seeing women as objects to look at rather than independent subjects. Mulvey proposes that this objectification can lead to the audience viewing women voyeuristically and fetishistically.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
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    The key takeaways are that Laura Mulvey developed the Male Gaze Theory to highlight the power imbalance between how men and women view each other. The theory suggests that films present a heterosexual male perspective and portray women as objects for the male gaze.

    Laura Mulvey's Male Gaze Theory argues that films present a male perspective and view women as objects. It focuses on how men see women, how women see themselves, and how women see other women. The theory suggests audiences are forced to view films from a heterosexual male point of view that focuses on women's bodies.

    The theory suggests that audiences view films voyeuristically and fetishistically. As passive viewers without being seen, they become voyeurs of the characters on screen. This can lead to objectification and narcissistic identification with male characters.

    Laura Mulvey - Male Gaze Theory

    Representation Theories
    Wednesday, 14 November 12

    Women are portrayed as decorative objects that dance, pose and rarely play instruments

    women are more likely to be presented in provocative or revealing clothing

    Our Opinion ?
    When you look at an object, you are seeing more than just the thing itself: you are seeing the relation bet ween the thing and yourself. Men are mostly represented as being independent, adventurous, unemotional and competent
    Wednesday, 14 November 12

    Laura Mulveys Male Gaze Theory

    The gaze is a Feminist theory developed to highlight the power imbalance bet ween men and women focusing on analysing the way men see women, the way women view themselves and other women. The theory suggests that an audience are forced to view the text from the perspective of a heterosexual male, as films constantly focus on womens curves and events that happen to them are portrayed at a male angle. The male gaze thinks of them as having the status of objects. Therefore the female viewers experience the text narrative secondarily, by identifying with a mans perspective (male gaze).

    Wednesday, 14 November 12

    Laura Mulveys Male Gaze Theory

    In addition she argues that sexism can also occur in the way the text is presented. Moreover, people are encouraged to gaze at women in advertising that sexualizes a woman's body even when the woman's body is unrelated to the advertised product. Mulvey suggests that the audience view the films in t wo ways: voyeuristically and fetishistically. As audiences watch films without being watched by the characters they become onlookers of their lives. Therefore they become voyeurs of the people on screen. This can lead to t wo effects: objectification and narcissistic identification. Voyeurism involves turning the represented figure into a fetish so it becomes increasingly beautiful but more objectified.

    Wednesday, 14 November 12

    Sexual objectification and the male gaze. Laura Mulvey 1975


    Wednesday, 14 November 12

    What is the Gaze?


    How men look at women how women look at other women

    The concept is how the audience view the people presented

    How women look at themselves


    Wednesday, 14 November 12

    An example of this...

    Britney adheres to traditional gender stereo types by taking on the roles of a secretary, air hostess and waitress all of which are emphasised by highly sexualised costume and behaviour She is also seen with various men throughout the video and suggestive body language is used. She gains sexual power from physical attractiveness to men

    Wednesday, 14 November 12

    This links to ...

    Exhibitionism and voyeurism

    Wednesday, 14 November 12

    Exhibitionism
    The Similarity- Women are often seen as being sexually provocative and apparently in control of sexualised gaze. Is it for male gain? Or for womens self confidence?

    The Difference- Women have the ability to choose how they are seen by other women and men, they want to empower their sexuality.

    Wednesday, 14 November 12

    An example of this

    Madonna is a common example of exhibitionism as although she used to be a subject of voyeurism she has decided to create the persona she has now and carry on the s exy woman side to her music and performances from the Like a Virgin gold bra to her newest album MDNA.
    Wednesday, 14 November 12

    Voyeurism
    The idea comes from the theories of Sigmund Freud and is the idea that pleasure can be gained by looking at a sexual object.

    It is said to be from a male viewpoint and it is thought that women can be become a subject of voyeurism without choosing it.

    Wednesday, 14 November 12

    An example of this...

    Pippa Middleton could be a subject of voyeurism as the wedding of Prince William and her sister, Katherine Middleton she wore a fitted dress which emphasised her curves. This caused unprovoked attention from the press and a large male audience over her bum.
    Wednesday, 14 November 12

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