The Male Gaze TheoryBy Liam Gilliver

Laura Mulvey

In 1975, Laura Mulvey wrote the essay “Visual Pleasure & Narrative Cinema” introducing the second-wave feminist theory of ‘The Male Gaze’. Although this concept had been stated in earlier studies, it was Mulvey who really brought it to the forefront- stating that women where objectified in film because heterosexual men were behind the camera. Although her theory was before the production of music videos and so directed at film, it is still applies to many modern day music videos.

Laura Mulvey outlined the following ways in which the Male Gaze Theory

works in media texts:• The representation of women as a sexual fantasy from a heterosexual male point of view.

• Scopophilia- the pleasure involved in looking at other people’s bodies.

• Patriarchal Society.

• Objectification of female characters.

• Active male characters and passive females.

• The concept that women are a sexual image.

• Men being dominant, controlling subjects.

• Men ‘doing the looking’ while females are there to be looked at.

• For filling the needs of the male ego through ascetically pleasing video.

Miley Cyrus’ music video to ‘Wrecking Ball’

• The Male Gaze Theory is supported by many female artists. Nicki Minaj, Iggy Azalea, Miley Cyrus and Rhianna are all prime examples of sexual objectification in their music videos. This theory is mostly seen is pop/ dance music videos opposed to other genres like; rock, metal etc.

AdeleIt’s inevitable that ‘sex sells’ in todays society, with many artists lacking in talent but sexualising there self to fame. Adele is a rare exception that goes against the Male Gaze Theory. As seen in the image, Adele’s outfits and video remain clean, modest and without sexual reference, yet her 2011 song ‘Someone Like You’ remained number 1 for 5 weeks and became the first single of the decade to sell a million units in the United Kingdom.

“She looks like those girls in Vouge”

- Could Adele set an example to break the Male Gaze Theory? Her cover on Vouge magazine certainly breaks the typical image of the ‘perfect woman’