Laura Mulvey's Theory
Male gaze
There are 2 main points in Mulvey's male gaze theory.
- The camera and audience will always perceive the text from a heterosexual males perspective.
- The virgin/whore dichotomy
Perspective
This theory suggests that women are objectified by portraying them through the eyes of a heterosexual male. The reason this is believed to be done is to entice the audience, it plays on the way that men look at women as well as how women look at themselves and compare themselves to other women. To portray women in this way, the camera lingers on their curves and portrays events through the male reaction rather than the females actions.
here is an example of a video which follows this theory and objectifies women.
Now see if you can answer these simple QUESTIONS about this video
- What is painted on the wall of the shack in the opening shot?
- What colour life ring was on the wall (when Nicki was lifting weights)?
- what 2 animals are visible in the video?
did you get it right?
- African Mask
- Blue
- a monkey and an anaconda are visible in the opening
People are more focused on the women dancing around that they are unlikely to notice things like this in the background of the video.
virgin/whore dichotomy
This part of Mulvey's theory exclaims that women can be me presented as one of two things.
- An innocent virgin
- A sexy 'whore'
As an audience we are drawn to these characters. Female artists that represent this contrast are Taylor Swift as the innocent virgin and Lady Gaga on the opposing side.
