What is the gaze?
- How men look at women
- How women look at themselves
- How women look at other women
Gaze and feminist theory.
The gaze is a Feminist theory developed to highlight the power imbalance between men and women analysing the way men see women, the way women view themselves and other women. The theory suggests that an audience are forced to view the text from the perspective of a heterosexual male, films constantly focus on women’s curves and events that happen to them are portrayed at a male angle. The male gaze denies women human agency, relegating them to the status of objects. Therefore the female viewers experience the text narrative secondarily, by identifying with a man’s perspective (male gaze). In addition Mulvey argues that sexism can also occur in the way the text is presented. Moreover, people are encouraged to gaze at women in advertising that sexualizes a woman's body even when the woman's body is unrelated to the advertised product.
This clip of Cameron Diaz in the mask featured above has a variety of elements that demonstrate Mulvey’s male gaze, firstly the camera travels up her body, focusing in on her long legs and chest, by making the camera linger on her curves it emphasizes the idea that women have no choice but to view her from the perspective of a heterosexual male as these aspects of a women are what men typically find most attractive. Also the classical, almost heavenly sounding music which plays while she flicks her hair in slow motion demonstrates the objectification of women as these males are clueless of the inside values she may or may not hold and therefore are judging her on her exterior appearance thus she is being reduced to the status of an object.
Criticisms of the male gaze
The gaze can also be directed towards members of the same gender, for several reasons, not all of which are sexual, such as in comparison of body language or clothing.
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