The Gaze: How Men and Women Look

Summary

The concept of the 'male gaze' in media, introduced by Laura Mulvey, suggests that women are often sexualized and objectified for the pleasure of the male viewer. This gaze operates through the camera's perspective, the audience's viewing experience, and the characters' interactions within the film. Despite progress in female representation, the male gaze persists in modern cinema. The 'female gaze', in contrast, aims to make the audience feel and experience from a female perspective, as seen in films like 'Birds of Prey'. The discussion also highlights the need for more diverse perspectives beyond the gender binary and intersectionality in film representation.

Takeaways

• 👀 The concept of the 'male gaze' refers to the way men look at and perceive women in media, particularly in film.
• 🎬 British feminist film theorist Laura Mulvey introduced the term 'male gaze' in her 1973 essay 'Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema'.
• 🚺 The male gaze objectifies women, presenting them as passive objects of desire for the active male viewer.
• 📽️ The male gaze operates on three levels: how the camera looks at women, how the audience looks at the screen, and how characters look at each other within the film.
• 🔍 The male gaze is evident in the way women are portrayed in films, often focusing on their physical appearance for visual and erotic impact.
• 🌟 Despite awareness and changes, the male gaze persists in modern film, although there have been efforts to provide stronger representation of women.
• 👁️‍🗨️ The 'female gaze' is a concept that suggests women's perspective in media, focusing on making the audience feel and experience what women see, not just objectifying men.
• 💪 Examples like 'Wonder Woman' and 'Birds of Prey' illustrate the difference between films made with and without the female gaze, affecting how characters are portrayed.
• 🤔 The male gaze is criticized for being heteronormative and enforcing the gender binary, with limited discussion on queer perspectives and intersectionality.
• 🌈 There is a call for further discussion and consideration of how different bodies, especially those of color, are objectified and represented in film.

Q & A

What is the 'male gaze'?

The 'male gaze' is a concept in film theory that refers to the way in which women are often oversexualized and objectified on screen, as a result of the film industry being historically dominated by male directors, writers, and cinematographers.

Who coined the term 'male gaze'?

British feminist film theorist Laura Mulvey coined the term 'male gaze' in her 1973 essay 'Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema'.

How does the male gaze manifest in film?

The male gaze is manifested through three interconnected ways: how the camera looks at women, the audience watching the screen, and the way characters in the film look at each other.

What does Laura Mulvey argue about the purpose of women on screen?

Mulvey argues that the purpose of women on screen is to be looked at by men, with their appearance designed for strong visual and erotic impact.

How does the male gaze differ from the female gaze?

The female gaze is not merely about women looking at men, but rather about making the audience feel what women see and experience, focusing on emotions and personal narratives rather than objectification.

What are some examples of the male gaze in comic book films?

Examples include the portrayal of Amazon warriors in 'Wonder Woman' directed by Patty Jenkins, and the way Harley Quinn was initially portrayed in 'Suicide Squad' directed by David Ayer.

How is the female gaze exemplified in 'Birds of Prey'?

In 'Birds of Prey' directed by Cathy Yan, the film utilizes the female gaze by focusing on a group of women with real goals and personalities, rather than just being objects for erotic pleasure.

What are some limitations of Mulvey's theory of the male gaze?

Mulvey's theory is criticized for being heterocentric and enforcing the gender binary. It does not account for intersectionality or the ways in which race and other factors relate to objectification in film.

How has the male gaze persisted in modern films despite increased awareness?

Despite increased awareness and efforts for better representation, the male gaze still lingers in modern films, often through subtler means such as camera angles and character objectification.

What are some implications of the male gaze that have yet to be fully discussed?

Implications that have yet to be fully discussed include queer gazes and the objectification of black and brown bodies in distinct ways from white bodies.

Why is it important to consider the representation of the body in film?

Considering the representation of the body in film is important because it influences how people perceive and understand gender, race, and other social constructs, and it can perpetuate harmful stereotypes if not addressed.

Outlines

00:00

🎬 The Male Gaze in Cinema

The concept of the 'male gaze' is explored, which refers to the way men are typically portrayed as the active viewers and women as passive objects of their gaze in media. Originating from Laura Mulvey's 1973 essay, 'Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema,' the male gaze is characterized by the camera's objectification of women, the audience's erotic pleasure from viewing, and the characters' interactions that mirror the audience's gaze. This gaze is not just about men looking at women but also about how women are displayed for male pleasure. Despite progress in recent years, the male gaze continues to be a prevalent issue in the film industry. The concept of a 'female gaze' is also introduced, which is not simply about women looking at men but rather about creating a narrative that allows the audience to experience what women see and feel.

05:01

🌟 The Impact of Body Representation in Film

This paragraph emphasizes the significance of how bodies are portrayed in film, a medium fundamentally based on visual representation. It suggests that the way people are seen on screen can shape societal perceptions and expectations about body image and appearance. The paragraph serves as a reminder that film has a powerful influence on how we perceive and value different bodies, and it encourages a critical examination of these portrayals.

Keywords

💡Male Gaze

The 'male gaze' is a term coined by British feminist film theorist Laura Mulvey, referring to the way in which women are often objectified and sexualized in visual media, particularly in film. It is a perspective that views women from a male point of view, often reducing them to objects of desire. In the video, this concept is discussed in the context of how women are portrayed on screen, with the camera, audience, and characters within the film all contributing to this gaze. The male gaze is illustrated through examples such as the over-sexualization of Amazon warriors in 'Justice League' compared to their portrayal in 'Wonder Woman'.

💡Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema

This is the title of Laura Mulvey's 1973 essay, which is central to the discussion in the video. The essay explores how traditional cinema has catered to a male audience by presenting women as objects of desire. It is foundational to understanding the concept of the male gaze and is mentioned as a key text in film studies. The video references this essay to explain the historical context and theoretical underpinnings of the male gaze in film.

💡Objectification

Objectification refers to the act of treating someone as an object, often reducing their humanity to their physical appearance or sexual appeal. In the video, this term is used to describe how women are depicted in film, focusing on their bodies rather than their character or story. The video uses the example of the Amazon warriors' costumes in 'Justice League' to illustrate how objectification can strip characters of their agency and backstory.

💡Sexual Imbalance

Sexual imbalance is a concept discussed in the video that highlights the power dynamics between men and women in visual media. It refers to the way pleasure and the act of looking are divided, with men often cast as the active viewers and women as the passive objects of their gaze. The video explains that this imbalance perpetuates the male gaze by reinforcing traditional gender roles and expectations in film.

💡Exhibitionist Role

The term 'exhibitionist role' is used in the video to describe the way women are often presented in film, where their appearance is crafted for a strong visual and erotic impact. This role positions women as being there to be looked at, emphasizing their physical attractiveness over other qualities. The video critiques this role as it contributes to the male gaze by reducing women to their physical appearance.

💡Female Gaze

The 'female gaze' is introduced in the video as a counterpart to the male gaze. It is not simply about women looking at men but is more about creating a narrative that allows the audience to experience and feel what women see and experience. The video argues that the female gaze is about asserting a perspective that is more than just the objectification of men, aiming to provide a more balanced and empathetic portrayal of characters.

💡Harley Quinn

Harley Quinn is used as an example in the video to contrast the male and female gaze. In 'Suicide Squad', her portrayal is criticized for being overly sexualized and objectified, fitting the male gaze. In contrast, 'Birds of Prey' is highlighted as utilizing the female gaze, focusing on her emotions, goals, and personality, presenting her as a complex character rather than just an object of desire.

💡Queer Gaze

The 'queer gaze' is mentioned in the video as an underexplored area of study within the context of the male gaze. It refers to the way LGBTQ+ individuals are represented and looked at in media, which may differ significantly from the heterosexual male gaze. The video suggests that there is a need for more discussion and analysis of queer perspectives in film and media representation.

💡Intersectionality

Intersectionality is a concept that the video points out as being largely unaddressed in the original male gaze theory. It refers to the interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender, which influence the way individuals are perceived and treated in society. The video argues that the male gaze theory does not account for how different identities, such as race, can lead to distinct forms of objectification and representation in media.

💡Representation

Representation in the context of the video refers to how individuals or groups are portrayed in film and other media. It is a key theme as the video discusses the importance of accurate and diverse portrayals of women and other underrepresented groups. The video emphasizes that representation matters because it shapes societal perceptions and influences how people see and understand each other.

💡Gender Binary

The gender binary is a concept that the video critiques as being reinforced by the male gaze. It refers to the traditional division of gender into two distinct categories, male and female. The video suggests that the male gaze is heteronormative and does not account for non-binary or transgender identities, which are also important to consider in discussions of representation and gaze in media.

Highlights

The concept of the male gaze involves men looking, but it is much more complex.

The male gaze has been present in film and visual media since the beginning.

Laura Mulvey coined the term 'male gaze' in her 1973 essay 'Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema'.

In the 1970s, the film industry was monopolized by male directors, writers, and cinematographers.

Women were often over-sexualized and objectified on screen, according to Mulvey.

The male gaze projects fantasies onto the female figure, which is styled for visual and erotic impact.

The purpose of women on screen is to be looked at by men, according to traditional views.

The male gaze operates through three interconnected ways: the camera, the audience, and the characters in the film.

The male gaze is still apparent in modern film despite significant work towards better representation.

The female gaze is not just about asserting female dominance or objectifying men.

The female gaze is about making the audience feel what women see and experience.

Comic book films serve as an example of the male gaze due to their history of less than ideal representation of women.

The portrayal of Amazon warriors in 'Wonder Woman' versus 'Justice League' illustrates the male gaze.

Harley Quinn's character in 'Suicide Squad' versus 'Birds of Prey' shows a shift from male to female gaze.

The film world isn't yet free from the male gaze, and there's still a lot of implications to discuss.

The theory of the male gaze is heterocentric and enforces the gender binary.

There is a need for more discussion about queer gazes and intersectionality, especially regarding race.

Representation of the body matters in film, a medium all about looking, and it's important to consider how people are seen.

Transcripts

if you've spent any time in Media

Studies you've undoubtedly come across

the phrase the male gaze even if you've

never heard of it you can probably

assume that it involves men looking and

you'd be right but the concept of the

male gaze is much more complex and it's

been present in film in all visual media

for that matter since the beginning so

let's break down the male gaze and try

to see exactly what it is that we're

looking at British feminist film

theorist - Laura Mulvey coined the term

in her 1973 essay visual pleasure and

narrative cinema which has since become

one of the most assigned readings and

film classes during a time in which the

film industry who monopolized by male

directors writers and cinematographers

will we notice the ways in which women

were often over sexualized and

objectified on the screen she states in

world ordered by sexual imbalance

pleasure and looking has been split

between active male and passive female

the determining male gaze projects its

fantasies onto the female figure which

is styled accordingly and their

traditional exhibitionist role women are

simultaneously looked at and displayed

with their appearance coated for strong

visual an erotic impact so that they can

be said to connote to be looked at nests

according to movies the purpose of women

on the screen is to be looked at by men

men are acting in a sense of scope of

philia deriving an erotic pleasure from

seeing the presence of women and when

you look at the films around when movie

was writing it's pretty difficult to

disagree women exist as spectacle their

bodies are nothing more than an object

but how exactly does this work

movie says that the male gaze looks in

three different yet interconnected wait

the first is the way in which the camera

looks these lengthy slow pans across the

woman's body exhibit this idea the

second look in the cinema is the

audience watching the screen the male

gaze operates from the erotic pleasure

of the spectator and the third look is

the way in which characters in the film

look at each other these looks mimic the

act of looking done by the audience in

an act of shared scope of feeling

pleasure despite such a heightened

awareness of how the male gaze works in

Smalley's essay was published it's still

incredibly apparent and modern film

there's been significant work and

providing strong representation of women

in film especially in recent years but

unfortunately the male gaze still

lingers but hey you may be asking if the

male gaze is all about how men look at

film

how do women look is there a female

guess the short answer to that question

is yes but it's not just the gays turned

on male bodies in an article called yes

there's such thing as a female gaze but

it's not what you think

Stephanie Forster explains to the female

gaze isn't just a rata sizing men she

states the female gaze isn't about

asserting female dominance on screen and

it doesn't mean that we therefore get to

man Jack to five men in Reverse so no

seeing a buff Chris Evans and Captain

America for the first time isn't the

female gaze however nice he'll is to

look at Forster continues if the male

gaze is all about what men see and the

female gay is about making the audience

feel what women see an experience crazy

right let's see how this works in a few

interesting examples that feature the

exact same character seen from two

different perspectives comic book films

serve as a solid example because of the

less than ideal representation of women

in a long history of comic book medium

the first example comes from the Amazon

warriors in Wonder Woman in and justice

Lee the Wonder Woman standalone film was

directed by patty Jenkins while justice

league was directed by Zack Snyder and

Joss Whedon the armor worn by the Amazon

warriors have significantly stripped

down to the point of impracticality

over the sake of providing eye candy

when they became nothing more than a

sexual object everything that makes them

a badass warriors with brawling

backstory falls the wayside the second

example comes from Harley Quinn her

first live-action appearance was in the

2016 film Suicide Squad

directed by David I air his portrayal of

the character was um

[Music]

what yeah Harley Quinn later had a

chance to lead a film of her own in

2020s birds-of-prey a fantabulous

emancipation of one Harley planet which

is directed by Kathy yen and written by

Christina Hudson I would argue that this

film utilizes the female gaze it's all

about a group of badass women who team

up in order to kill the man who's

wronged them all in one way or another

the movie doesn't focus on Harley Quinn

is just a side piece for the Joker in

fact it focuses on her emotions it shows

her making a new life for herself she's

a character with real goals and

personality rather than just an object

for erotic pleasure although there's

been progress the film world isn't yet

free from the male gaze and beyond that

there's still a lot of implications that

have yet to really been talked about

well I by no means want to discredit the

work that will be did her essay is

definitely a product at the time overall

the idea of the male gaze is Harrow

centric and it's enforcing of the gender

binary there hasn't yet been much

discussion about queer means of looking

furthermore the theory doesn't account

for intersectionality especially the

ways in which race relates to looking

black and brown bodies are objectified

in ways that are distinct from white

bodies these are all just a few things

to consider as we push forward in cinema

representation of the body matters in

film in a medium all about looking it's

important to consider just how people

are seeing

[Music]