Laura Mulvey's Theory.

Laura Mulvey's Theory: Representation

 

Laura Mulvey's theory:

 

"In a world ordered by sexual imbalance, pleasure in looking has been split between active/male and passive/female. The determining male gaze projects its fantasy onto the female figure which is styled accordingly".

• Women are seen as objects.
• Women are seen as sex symbols.
• Women are dressed accordingly to appeal to men.
• The male is the viewer, they are 'actively' looking at women.
• Music videos are seen through the 'male gaze' (everyone looks through male eyes).
• Women are often dismembered, you see sections of their bodies such as the bum or boobs rather than the women as a whole.
• Men are shown as a whole.

 

Here are some example that illustrate Mulvey's theory:

 

 

David Guetta's song 'Sexy Chick' featuring Akon is an example of Mulvey's theory. All throughout the video you can see the women in the video have been dismembered- you see women's bums and boobs. You also often see a pan of the women's bodies starting from their feet and finishing at their heads. This is also an example of the 'male gaze' the women are all dressed accordingly and the men are shown as a whole.

 

 

Beyoncé's video 'Run the World (Girls) slightly challenges Laura Mulvey's theory. Beyoncé is presented as a powerful women; she is shown through low angle shots and she is not being dismembered. However Beyoncé and her back-up dancers are dressed accordingly, and the male dancers watching them represent the male gaze; we are watching them dancing through the men's eyes.