Understanding

Male Gaze in
LARA
CROFT:
TOMB
RAIDER
BY SUBJECT
Sandra A K. (22MAREN011) GENDER NARRATIVES
Vismaya P. (22MAREN015)
Sreeshma Santhosh (22MAREN029)
Adilshah Ashraf (22MAREN032) GUIDE
K. S. Sreehari Nambudiri (22MAREN038) , MR. JAMEEL TAHMOUSH
Semester III M. A. English
0 On Tomb Raider
1. ● Lara Croft: Tomb Raider is a 2001 action-adventure film based on the video game
series.

● Follows Lara Croft, a skilled adventurer hunting ancient artifacts.

● Analysis of the film through Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema.

● Lara Croft drives the plot as the film's protagonist.

● Her actions and decisions shape the narrative.

Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft

0 What is the Male Gaze?
2. ● It refers to the way women are often portrayed from a heterosexual male perspective in
film.

● Coined by Laura Mulvey in her 1973 essay, “Visual Pleasure and Narrative
Cinema“

● Achieved through cinematic techniques like close-ups and provocative costumes.

● Reinforces traditional gender stereotypes by portraying women as passive objects

and men as active subjects.

Laura Mulvey
0 Mulvey’s Theory
3. ●

●
Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema is a seminal essay by Laura Mulvey (1973).

Mulvey introduces the concept of scopophilia, the pleasure derived from looking, as a central idea.

● Examines how cinema often reinforces traditional gender roles.

● Discusses the male-dominated gaze and its effects on storytelling and representation.

● Objectification: Women often serve as objects of desire for male characters and viewers.

● Passive Roles: Women are often portrayed as passive, lacking agency or depth.

● Narrative Control: Male characters typically drive the story, while women are secondary.
0 Scopophilia
4. ● Scopophilia is a concept introduced by Laura Mulvey in her essay, "Visual Pleasure and
Narrative Cinema."

● It refers to the pleasure derived from looking at something or someone, particularly in a

voyeuristic or objectifying manner.

● In cinema, scopophilia relates to the act of viewing characters and scenes on-screen.

● It explores the idea of the audience deriving pleasure from gazing at characters within the
narrative.

● Scopophilia is closely linked to the concept of the "Male Gaze," as both involve the act of
looking with a particular focus on gender dynamics.
0 Male Gaze in Tomb Raider
5. ● Lara Croft, the protagonist, is often portrayed with a focus on her physical attributes, emphasizing her
attractiveness.

● Lara's iconic outfit consists of tight-fitting clothing and shorts, catering to a sexualized image, catering to the
male gaze.

● The camera frequently employs angles that emphasize Lara's curves and physique, highlighting her as an object
of desire.

● Despite her strong character, action scenes often include moments of vulnerability or disarray, catering to male-
oriented voyeurism.

● Critics have noted how the film's portrayal of Lara perpetuates the male gaze, sparking discussions on gender
representation in cinema.
0 Dual Nature of the Film
6. ●

●
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider exemplifies the male gaze.

Lara's sexualized portrayal with tight-fitting clothing and camera focus on her body.

● Lara Croft: Tomb Raider is both a reinforcement and subversion of patriarchal power
structures.

● The male gaze is present, but female empowerment is also evident.

● Despite male gaze, the film subverts traditional gender roles.

● Lara Croft is strong, independent, and not defined by male relationships.

0 Conclusion
7. •
•
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider exemplifies complex gender and power dynamics in cinema.
Offers both reinforcing and challenging elements.
• Uncovering Bias: Critical analysis reveals biases and stereotypes, like the male gaze, in media.
• Empowerment: It empowers viewers to recognize and challenge harmful representations.
• Media Literacy: Developing media literacy skills enables critical engagement with content.
• Promoting Change: Critical analysis fosters discussions and encourages more balanced
portrayals.
• Advocating for Equality: It supports advocacy for gender equality and equitable media
representation.
0 References
8. • Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. Directed by West, Simon. Performance by Actor Jolie, Angelina.
Paramount Pictures. 2001.
• Mulvey, Laura. "Visual pleasure and narrative cinema." Feminism and film theory.
Routledge, 2013. 57-68.
• Smelik, Anneke. "Lara Croft, Kill Bill and feminist film studies." Doing gender in media,
art and culture. Routledge, 2017. 195-207.
Thank
You!