Laura Mulveys Male Gaze

theory
O Laura Mulvey wrote an essay on: Visual Pleasure
and Narrative Cinema, which included the
phrase Male Gaze
O A male gaze occurs when the audience is put
into the perspective of a heterosexual man.
Where a scene may be focusing on the curves of
a woman's body, putting you the viewer in the
eyes of a heterosexual male. the curves of a
woman can be highlighted with specific
conventions such as slow motion, deliberate
camera movements and cut away. Enhancing
the curves
O It seems the theory suggests that the male
gaze denies women human identity.
O The theory suggests woman have become
used to watching music videos from a mans
perspective.

O Mulvey states that the role of a female

character in a narrative has two functions

1. As a sexual object for the characters within

the narrative to view
2. As an sexual object for the audience