Laura Mulvey Theory 

Laura Mulvey is a British feminist films theorist, who strongly believed in the 'male gaze', which are used in music videos using females as a sexual object. 

The male gaze is seen in many different perspectives, one of which is the way the individual copes how the audience views them. However, this is seen differently by feminists, this can be seen in 3 different aspects 

1. How males look at females.

2. How women view themselves.

3. How some females view other females. 

Visual please and Narrative  Cinema was an essay which Laura Mulvey wrote, in 1973. An essay which spoke about the term 'Male Gaze.'  This became a very popular and well known theory, which was spoken by many. 

In music videos or films the male gaze is included which views the perspective of an heterosexual man, where the audience see a different point of view. A certain scenario may consist of viewing a females physique, which will be viewed in a males point of view. It is recognised that when it comes to viewing a male gaze perspective, specific aspects of the camera shots are changed, angled or edited to catch the audiences attention.                                                                                                                

For example, in Kanye West's music video, he is seen getting

intimate with his wife. Showing the audience his view point

of his wife in other words the 'male gaze.'  

The theory of male gaze, is said that it is does not contradict a females identity; they are only seen as a status of an object to be viewed in admiration of a male's point of view. It is said that ladies do not only see their point of view  but also view the secondary observation . 

The ideology of this is that females are an essential role in music videos as this shows how a female can make the male figure feel, making them feel important. The male gaze leads to the idea of Hegemonic ideology, this is the ruling or dominance in a social or political context. 

There are different parts within the male gaze which is used in music videos or films. One of which is mostly used is visual pleasure. 

Laura Mulvey believes females are portrayed in two different roles in  films or music videos. Firstly, it is the role of being an virginal innocent character who is viewed by the narrative, as well as being an object of a 'sexy whore' for the audience to view from their perspectives. 

Secondly, there is the gender roles which are used in music videos/films.  It is said that characters who are observing is known as an active role. In other words, a male character who takes up this position, whereas a person who is being looked at is known as a passive, also known as a female character who plays this role; they only exist because of the males visual pleasure.  

Female objectification is what comes in within the male gaze, the meaning behind female objectification is that a person who is looked at and viewed as a sexual object to be relished and admired by the male figure. Characters whom are objectified are undervalued by others and are seen as having no morals. 

There are many music videos which consist of females being seen as a visual pleasure. For example, in Chris Brown's music video of 'B*itches and Marijuana', it has many female characters who represent themselves as an object of the male gaze, as money is being thrown on one female showing that the female is worth a lot but is viewed as an item rather than a human being. 

                                                      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5VVzbVHA7U

Another music video which also includes female characters is 'blurred lines' by Robin Thicke. There are many females who wear revealing clothes and are surrounding the artist. In Robin Thicke's lyrics he says 'hey girl come here' which indicates the male dominance over female characters, which shows empowerment and controlling attitude. 

                                      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyDUC1LUXSU

Laura Mulvey's theory plays a huge role in today's society of music videos. Nowadays female characters are used as objects in videos, to show the perspective of 'male gaze' which is used to show the audience the view of a males perspective. In other words, they are used as a visual pleasure for not only the narrative but for the spectators too.