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The Male Gaze - Laura Mulvey
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The Male Gaze - Laura Mulvey
Wrecking Ball - Miley Cyrus
Patriarchal Society And Needs Of The Male Ego...
In the shot with Miley licking the sledgehammer, could be seen as subverting the idea that a patriarchal society still exists as both hammers and tools are seen to have male connotations. By subverting to this stereotype, Miley Cyrus is actually fulfilling the need of the male ego as she is making herself stand by using a male related tool to make her look more feminine, therefore fulfilling the need to look and find her attractive. The red lipstick also symbolises the feminine nature of Miley Cyrus and the fact that, according to the male gaze, she is an image to be admired.
Wrecking Ball...
Despite Miley Cyrus' intentions to cause a stir with her new image, the video for her single 'Wrecking Ball' shows various aspects of Mulvey's Male Gaze Theory. In the first shot, Miley is seen to be wearing little make up and appears very plain, an aspect that society has made desirable. The fact that Miley Cyrus still wears a small amount of make up in this shot, with a bold pink lip suggests her femininity and instantly suggests attraction from the male heterosexual point of view. It also suggests that she is an image, merely there to look at, especially as the lyrics of her song have not started at this point, again complying with Mulvey's theory.
Scopophilia...
Scopophilia is the pleasure involved in looking at the body. The Wrecking Ball music video specifically plays on this idea with, firstly, the outfit that Miley Cyrus is wearing and secondly, the way in which she chooses to hold her body. In both the shots below, Miley angles her body towards the light, highlighting all the key areas of her body, as if the light creates the vision of the eye panning down her body, showing the objectification of the female body and the idea that women are there to be looked at whilst med do the looking.
What Is The Male Gaze?
The Male Gaze Theory is a concept of how the audience views the people represented. The theory suggests that females are represented through the perspective of the heterosexual male. Simultaneously, the theory suggests that the idea of the gaze is so ingrained within society that it has become a social norm within the media world.
Main Features Of The Male Gaze Theory
1. The representation of the woman as a sexual fantasy and from heterosexual male point of view
2.Scopophilia - The pleasure involved in looking at other peoples bodies.
3.Patriachal Society (male led/dominated)
4.Objectification of female characters
5. Active male roles and passive females
6. Men being controlling subjects
7. Women as an image
8. Men do the looking and women are there to be looked at
9. Needs of the male ego
Image by Tom Mooring