Laura Mulvey Theory - The Male Gaze

Laura Mulveys theory, known as 'The Male Gaze', looks how the audience views the people we see presented through the media and in particular the female gender through the perspective of a heterosexual male. The Male Gaze focuses on emphasising the curves of the female body and referring to woman as objects rather than people. Mulvey states that in film woman are typically seen as the objects, rather than the possessors and this is displayed by the control of the camera forcing woman into viewing the content through the eyes of a male. The camera will use particular movements to perceive woman in an idealistic view. This is confirmed when you think of the music videos you see on TV, the camera objectifies woman by focusing on the areas of their body in which you would expect to see the 'males gazing' at such as breasts and bottom.

This concept highlights the new way in which woman think they're meant to be as they are forcefully being shown woman through the eyes of a man which is making out that this is the only way they will be accepted. Not only this but young children who see these older celebrities as their idols are also viewing this type of content and are being wrongly taught that this is the way they need to be. Overall the Male Gaze is not only impacting the enjoyment of males towards a music video but the way females are now looking at themselves as it effects their confidence and self esteem.

In relation to my music video the artist of my song belong to a genre stereotypically known to look at woman in the way Mulvey describes, highly seeing woman as their objects. Although the lyrics stray away from the stereotypes in this pacific song it still is a part of the Hip-hop/Rap genre and I will incorporate this theory into my music video through the use of shots at certain points in the video were the lyrics relate best. there is a line in the chorus were the artists says "I need your body", he doesnt need her and who she is he is just saying he wants her body which gives a sexual reference and a strong example to the theory. At this point I intend to show the silhouette of a female to highlight the view portrayed by the artist and to reinforce Laura Mulveys theory.