Laura mulvey The Male Gaze

Laura Mulvey an academic and theorists claimed the representation of women in media is mostly dominated by the male point of view. She believes women have a more passive role compared to a man's more active role and therefore this is reflected in the way the media represents women as men are to be the ones that look and women the ones to be looked at.

Traditionally men play the active roles that drive the story forward and the women are objects or obstacles on the way. Mulvey believes main roles for women are scares and they often just accompany the large main roles created for men. She believed there are certain stereotypes attached to females in film and television being that they are sexually and physically attractive, they are motherly and caring and though possibly intelligent want to settle down more than anything. 

She believed their are two main types of the Male Gaze being Voyeuristic and fetishistic. Mulvey claims women are either sexually attractive or powerless females. In the 1970's studies found that men tend to be behind the decision making and production of film and TV. 

Laura Mulverys theory is apparent in music videos such as these. 

In this video by Metronomy the women's figures are used for decoration and their stances are suggestive of a sexual nature.



In 50 cents candy shop the womenare dressed in sexually provocative clothing and are made to appeal to men.




This is a recent film called Number one cheerleader camp which revolves around a story line of to young men trying to sleep with various cheerleaders. This film has clearly been produced by all men and made to appeal only to men. The cover of the DVD pack advertises this perfectly.



How has the Male Gaze been demolished in modern media?


Sket is a newly released film about a group of girls that decide to fight back against the violence of the men on their block. The violent nature of the film which has a dominantly female cast subvert stereotypes and challenges the Male Gaze being that none of them are made to be particularly attractive. Although they are the victims in the film the fact they fight back and the ending has some kind of resolution for the girls goes against the suggested rule that a male character must come in and save the day.