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.