Laura Mulvey’s Male Gaze Theory

Q – Define the key features of Mulvey’s theory

Mulvey’s theory revolves around the ‘Male Gaze’, which transpires when the audience is plunged into the viewpoint of a heterosexual man. A scene that entails this Gaze may centre around the curves of a women’s body which in turn puts the audiences eyes of a male. Although the theory can only be applied if the shot uses slow motion or deliberate camera movements to convey a women’s body.

This theory conveys the idea that the male gaze denies women human identity, which refers them to the status of objects just to be admired on their physique. The idea of the male gaze can lead to Hegemoinc (ruling or dominant in a political or social context) ideologies within our society.

The role of a female character within a media text can either be used as an erotic object for the characters within the text to view or for the audience to view.

Within a film, males are generally seen as having the ‘active role’ as they observe others whereas females are seen as passive, as they are observed. Females are under control of the males gaze and are only used for visual pleasure. They tend to slow the narrative down showing inspiration for how men should act, whereas males push the narrative onwards in order to make events happen.

Q – What effect could this theory have upon woman viewers?

This theory could have a negative effect on a women audience as the media text is being shown through the viewpoint of men therefore the male gaze. This could make women take the male gaze themselves. Women will then be seeing women the same as men would through the male gaze hence objectifying other women. This theory could also make women viewers more aware of what media texts they watch. It could possibly decrease the woman viewing population as if some disagree strong enough, such as feminists do, they will be disinterested in films that are seen to objectify women, seeing them as passive. This is could be particularly important to older women as they have knowledge of the little equality that women use to have in the past; therefore seeing this theory as a step back in time.

Q – What effect could this theory have on male viewers?

This theory could have an influential effect on male viewers, encouraging them that it is acceptable to objectify women and strip them of their humanity. Mulvey argues that we live in a patriarchal

society where men dictate rules and carry out male dominace over women. This is particularly concerning if the male gaze is presented to a passive audience as this could lead to an influential representation of reality in which they would copy and it would actually become reality.

Q – Why do we believe the male gaze is present in films/adverts and T.V today?

We believe that the male gaze is presented in adverts and in T.V today as women are more commonly objectified in films such as the

‘James Bond’ franchise, in particular ‘Die Another Day’. Objectification can be shown through a variety of shots such as an upwards tracking shot which forces the audience to observe the character’s physique. We also believe that the male gaze is present as our own society is becoming more focused on women’s body, with the porn industry influencing teenage boys to believe that all women should have a certain stereotypical ‘perfect’ body.

Q – What effect can this have upon society?

This could have a negative effect upon society as shown by the effects the male gaze can inflict upon male and female viewers, encouraging both to enforce the male gaze in reality. The theory suggests that we are already living in a patriarchal society in which males dictate rules and the fact that the male gaze is

presented in different types of media texts, makes this society become a reality.