Laura Mulveys Male gaze theory and examples in music videos

The main features of the theory are:

• The representation of women in a sexual fantasy from a heterosexual male point of view
• The pleasure involved in looking at others bodies
• The objectification of females
• Women as an image
• Needs of the male ego

Rude Boy- Rihanna

 

This music video conforms to the male gaze theory due to the way that Rihanna is acting and by what she is saying. Below are some still from the music video that conform to this idea. By there being three of her however shows her as having power and being in control and therefore doesn't create her image in a patriarchal way, as suggested by Laura Mulvey.

 

In this shot the artist has red lipstick on which has connotations of a sexual nature. She then has her finger seductively placed in her mouth which would be seen as attractive by a heterosexual male viewer.

 

 

I this still Rihanna is wearing little clothing which draws the attention to her body, leading to voyeurism. she is the bent over increasing the focus on her backside. At this point in the music video she then starts shaking it, which may be found attractive by a heterosexual male causing the male gaze.

 

Another example of this in a music video is in Miley Cyrus's Wrecking ball.

 



 

Here are some still explaining why this video conforms to the male gaze theory.

 

 

In this still Miley Cyrus has red lipstick on. This colour has sexual connotations but by putting it on her mouth which is an area of the body often associated with women it makes it even more attractive for heterosexual men. She is also licking a hammer in this still. A hammer is a masculine object and so one that a male can identify with. By licking it gives extremely sexual connotations and so can create pleasure for a male.

 

 

In this part of the music video, the artist is wearing few items of clothing thus revealing a large amount of her body. She is sat on a wrecking ball in a sexual pose which objectifies her as an image which conforms to the needs of the male ego. This therefore creates pleasure for the heterosexual men viewing it.