What is the Male Gaze?
A key idea of feminist film theory, the concept of the male gaze was introduced by scholar and filmmaker Laura Mulvey, in her now famous 1975 essay, Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema.
Mulvey argued that most popular movies are filmed in ways that satisfy masculine scopophilia. Although sometimes described as the “male gaze”, Mulvey's concept is more accurately described as a heterosexual, masculine gaze. Visual media that respond to masculine voyeurism tends to sexualise women for a male viewer.
The “male gaze” invokes the sexual politics of the gaze and suggests a sexualised way of looking that empowers men and objectifies women. In the male gaze, woman is visually positioned as an “object” of heterosexual male desire. Her feelings, thoughts and her own sexual drives are less important than her being “framed” by male desire.
Three considerations when analysing the Male Gaze:
Producer
Consists almost entirely of men. Producers, directors, cinematographers. They show women in a particular way:
- seductive poses
- little clothing
- camera movements (slow pan across female form, physique is highlighted. CU + ECU of lips, legs, feet etc.
- Direct eye contact.
Audience
- Scopophilia, we gain pleasure from looking at the human form (usually women).
- Voyeurism - sexual pleasure from looking.
Male characters
The male characters in the scene draw audiences attention to the female. They are who the women must impress. It is almost a nod between character and audience.
Is there a Female Gaze?
Yes, but it isn't what you think. A simple reversal, meaning having a male character depicted in the same way (think Chris Evans in Captain America or the cast of 300) does not carry the same meaning. When men are shown topless in media it is often to display their strength, athleticism and power.
The true Female Gaze shows a narrative unfolding from a woman's perspective, not that of a straight, heterosexual man.
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