The male gaze

education

1. ‘The Male gaze’ Lesson Objective: Applying Laura Mulvey’s theory of ‘the Male Gaze’.

2. Laura Mulvey - The Male Gaze Laura Mulvey is a film theorist and Professor of film and media studies. She has written a number of articles and books on narrative and representation. Mulvey wrote a famous essay in 1973 entitled ‘Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema’. In this she discussed her theory on ‘the male gaze’ which deems: ‘woman as Image’ and ‘Man as Bearer of look’

3. woman as Image Mulvey suggests: cinema is patriarchal the camera is used to put the spectator in a masculine subject position woman are depicted as objects of desire. ‘women are simultaneously looked at and displayed with their appearance coded for strong visual and erotic impact’. Mulvey suggests that there are two ways in which woman are viewed: "voyeuristic" (i.e. seeing women as sexual and provocative) " fetishistic " (i.e. seeing women as ' madonnas ').

4. Some examples: Hollywood ‘pin ups’ such as Marilyn Monroe in ‘Gentlemen prefer blondes’ Jessica Alba in ‘Sin City’ Are these women seen as ‘Voyeuristic’ or ‘ Fetishistic ’? Christina Hendrix in ‘Mad Men’

5. https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6L3Ef1JCC8

6. ‘ Fetishistic ’ female roles are often maternal, supportive figures. Often older woman whom are not considered (or coded) as sexual beings.

7. Some theorists have noted the sexualisation of the female body even in situations where female sexiness has nothing to do with the product. Sex sells… Advertising Can you think of any examples of packaging or advertising that demonstrate overtones of female sexuality?

8. American Apparel Tom Ford Aftershave

9. Man as bearer of look Mulvey suggests: The male spectator begins to identify with the male protagonist They are usually, strong, dominant of woman and sucessful Action movies typify this kind of role . ‘The man controls the film fantasy and also emerges as the representative of power in a further sense: as the bearer of the look of the spectator’. Tom Cruise in ‘Knight and Day’ Brad Pitt in ‘Mr and Mrs Smith’

10. What issues of representation can you find in this music video? Can Laura Mulvey’s theory be applied here or is it challenged? https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDZX4ooRsWs

11. Make some independent notes on the representations constructed in the video and the use of Laura Mulvey’s theory Include the following: The idea of a male target audience and female secondary audience The contradiction between female representations (empowering vs vouyeuristic ) Evidence of voyeuristic and fetishistic Technical elements used (zooms, slow motion, camera shots Man as bearer of look Does it conform to or challenge dominant ideologies relating to female representation

12. Dominant ideologies What dominant ideologies surrounding sexuality and gender are enforced through the media?

13. Watch the episode of Orange is the new Black. Is there evidence of Laura Mulvey’s theory in relation to female and male representation here? Make notes on how men, women, hetrosexuality , homosexuality (female) and transgender characters are represented. Are they positive or negative representations? Do they conform to or challenge stereotypes?

14. Hw Research the following theories and be ready to explain them in the next lesson. Can you apply them to any of the media issues we have explored? The effects theory The cultivation theory Two step flow Wikipedia is banned! Copy and paste is banned! This is a test to see if you can research effectively and find a credible source which you can interpret into your own words Due Tuesday 14th