Laura Mulvey - The Male Gaze

Laura Mulvey’s theory of the Male Gaze was inspired by Frued’s work and is key to the feminist film theory movement and has been as great influence since the mid 1970’s. The development of the feminist film theory was influenced by second wave feminism where feminist scholars began takings areas from new theories that were analysing women’s and men’s behaviour in film. They focused upon many sociological theories and the functions of women characters in film narratives, genres and stereotypes as a reflection of a society’s view of women. Various films by Marjorie Rosen and Molly Haskell were studied and how women are portrayed in film in relation to historical context, the stereotypes illustrated and the extent that women are shown as active or passive and also the amount of screen time given to women. Mulvey has researched deeply in to this theory and now argues that in many classic Hollywood films women are provided solely to give visual pleasure to men and the audience is created where they’re all expected to be men. The Male Gaze itself is voyeuristic and fetishist and Mulvey uses a concept ‘to-be-looked-at-ness’ which explains that women are purely shown just to provide visual pleasure and also provide an erotic impact on the audience. She also argues the protagonist was nearly always a male and the audience also expected this. Therefore, the audience members gain a narcissistic pleasure from identifying with the film protagonist empathises with the films hero.

She also took another inspiration from Freud’s where she looks at the idea of castration anxiety, meaning what the person is unconsciously thinking and feeling, so if a women was not portrayed in a stereotypical way then a male would not feel as powerful. This unconscious idea is male’s power/dominance over a female is his penis and his dominance would be threatened by a women if she doesn’t arouse this. 

Do you believe that women 'experience the texts narrative secondarily'? Why?
I think sometimes women experience narratives secondarily as they appear to be the ones that are constantly being watched, talked about and then judged for their actions whereas men are judged far less than women. However, in current society more and more pieces of work are using the idea that men are the ones being judged by women therefore, the Male Gaze isn't always correct in today's society.

Does this help with the continuation of sexism? Does this suggest that the music industry is corrupt and fuelled by sexism?
I feel that pop music videos are aimed at younger generations and I think this is because they're under the influence a lot easier as its a transitional period in their life. I'm not sure if I agree that the music industry is fuelled by sexism but I believe it plays a big part in music videos for example in rap videos the conventions are being surrounded by half naked women dancing and showing signs of wealth but I don't believe that it fuels the entire music industry. On the other hand, it has almost become a norm in today's society which isn't acceptable but it does still exist and sexism is portrayed as not necessarily negative.

Do you think women play on this stereotype? Why?
I think in this day and age women have been socialised into wanting and playing off of a males attention and they're mostly socialised through the media because its distorted into a positive image that women should do everything for a male and their life should revolve around them. By also having over sexualised women in the music industry it means people are idolising them and this has become a natural view of women therefore, the youth of society follow this idea of beauty and then it is seen as a norm to act in this way

Do you agree with the theory? Why?
I agree with the idea of the Male Gaze as women are often shown in stereotypes such as over sexualised and dumb however, men are seen as powerful and dominant therefore, I think the Male Gaze is in place but also I think that in today's society its becoming less and less common.