Mulvey's ''Male Gaze''
Introduction:
Laura Mulvey discussed about the "male gaze" within her essay. "Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema" (1975) . What this is about, when the audience is put into a (heterosexual) males perspective while watching a video. The females would be sexualised by the camera, as it would zoom in or be close to the females body parts, such as there chest and their hip areas.
Mulvey's Male Gaze' (1975):
The person who came up with this theory is Laura Mulvey and she is a British feminist, that is a film theorist. Before where she is now she had been working in the British Film Institute for quite a long time before her position now. With her theory and also her belief is that within films the camera is shown to the audience as a heterosexual male view.
"Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema" was a essay by Mulvey and this is what she is known for writing, this essay was written in 1973 and published in 1975.
With her belief it was where the men looked at women for the visual pleasure that they seek. (Males are Active/Females are Passive).
How an audience view the women presented, for feminists it can be thought of in 3 ways;
- How men look at women
- How women look at themselves
- How women look at women
Examples:
Benny Bannasi - "Satisfaction"
- Within this music video the "Male Gaze" is clear, and used throughout the video above. All through the video we can see that the use of the cinematography is present as it have many close up shots of the females body parts, and some that are in slow motion to enhance this male gaze view. With the use of the slow motion and some other editing effects what this does is highlight the females body parts such are the hips area and the chest area, what this does is aim and draw attention to the video and the audience would mainly be heterosexual male as this is the main aim of the music video.
- Within this music video the "Male Gaze" is clear, and used throughout the video above. All through the video we can see that the use of the cinematography is present as it have many close up shots of the females body parts, and some that are in slow motion to enhance this male gaze view. With the use of the slow motion and some other editing effects what this does is highlight the females body parts such are the hips area and the chest area, what this does is aim and draw attention to the video and the audience would mainly be heterosexual male as this is the main aim of the music video.
Nelly - "Tip Drill"
- This music video is stated as the worst music video that has even been made in the music industry. With how bad this music video is, Nelly as a artist had to deal with many consequences because of this music video. This is because the disrespect and a bad view towards female that he showed within the video, this is evident throughout the video as we see many close ups of (Bum, Chest, and Face) and while the camera is on the female we see Nelly's face quite often next to the bum. This video is basically promoting sex, we can see this due to the theme of sex and the things that they are doing within the video such as; grinding. homosexual actives with females and "booty popping". Who this video attracts is the male audience (heterosexual) as they would see this being appealing to them as the see the girls as "sexy and "hot", what this does is allow the men to be engaged to the females. With the other females they would look at this video and feel disrespect, disgrace and a bad view, as this video has no respect towards the females that participated in the video.
- This music video is stated as the worst music video that has even been made in the music industry. With how bad this music video is, Nelly as a artist had to deal with many consequences because of this music video. This is because the disrespect and a bad view towards female that he showed within the video, this is evident throughout the video as we see many close ups of (Bum, Chest, and Face) and while the camera is on the female we see Nelly's face quite often next to the bum. This video is basically promoting sex, we can see this due to the theme of sex and the things that they are doing within the video such as; grinding. homosexual actives with females and "booty popping". Who this video attracts is the male audience (heterosexual) as they would see this being appealing to them as the see the girls as "sexy and "hot", what this does is allow the men to be engaged to the females. With the other females they would look at this video and feel disrespect, disgrace and a bad view, as this video has no respect towards the females that participated in the video.
Eric Pyrdz - "Call On Me"
- As for this video it is the same as the other videos I've talked about. This video also follows the "Male Gaze" theory due to the micro-elements that have been used in the video. This is because the cinematography of all the camera shots being mid to close ups, as they are just showing off the females assets, while they are in a yoga class with one guy. Since there is only one guy that is in the class and that is shown in the video he is still viewed and counted as an active, this is because the females are being actively concentrated on the class, but yet also passively seducing the males view.
- As for this video it is the same as the other videos I've talked about. This video also follows the "Male Gaze" theory due to the micro-elements that have been used in the video. This is because the cinematography of all the camera shots being mid to close ups, as they are just showing off the females assets, while they are in a yoga class with one guy. Since there is only one guy that is in the class and that is shown in the video he is still viewed and counted as an active, this is because the females are being actively concentrated on the class, but yet also passively seducing the males view.
Criticisms Of The Theory:
- Some woman like being "looked" at in this way
- Neglecting genders
- Can be directed towards the men
- Doesn't consider females as spectators
- Her views are mainly from a heterosexual perspective.
- Neglecting genders
- Can be directed towards the men
- Doesn't consider females as spectators
- Her views are mainly from a heterosexual perspective.
Conclusion:
- With all the information and research of the "Male Gaze" theory has helped me know more knowledge and is beneficial to me as this theory helps me understand some of the music video more due to this theory. With my music video, if I have a female artist I would apply this theory within the music video, so that I can highlight and enhance the females features. What I would do to show this theory off is include all the clos ups and mid shots of the females assets, which will allow me to attract and draw more audience attention to the video.
- With all the information and research of the "Male Gaze" theory has helped me know more knowledge and is beneficial to me as this theory helps me understand some of the music video more due to this theory. With my music video, if I have a female artist I would apply this theory within the music video, so that I can highlight and enhance the females features. What I would do to show this theory off is include all the clos ups and mid shots of the females assets, which will allow me to attract and draw more audience attention to the video.
Good examples drawn upon and analysed to demonstrate your understanding of the theory and Mulvey's ideas.
ReplyDeleteTo improve;
-can you expand on some of the criticisms that you suggest. Refer to current artists, videos etc.
-how does the camera move around the female and what sorts of things are focused on? New subheading here.
ReplyDelete