Laura Mulveys 'Male Gaze Theory' applied to a music video.

1. THE MALE GAZE
THEORY
By Ellie Lester

2. Nine points of Laura Mulvey’s ‘Male
Gaze Theory’
■ The representation of women as a sexual fantasy and from a heterosexual male point of
view.
■ Scopophilia- the pleasure involved in looking at other peoples bodies.
■ Objectification of female characters.
■ Patriarchal society.
■ Active male and passive female.
■ Men – controlling subjects.
■ Women as an image.
■ Men do the looking and the women are there to be looked at.
■ Needs of the male ego.

3. Mulvey’s ‘Male Gaze Theory’ applied to
‘Blurred Lines’ by Robin Thicke
The first shots of the music video are of the artist
laying next to a woman with his arms around her and
his name printed across the screen. This suggests
that he’s an impressive and confident person, the
camera movement and editing along their legs and
then there is a cut to their upper bodies showing
they’re next to each other. The ‘needs of the male
ego’ could be applied in this shot as the showing off
the artists name across the screen. This suggests he
has a large ego, the shot could also imply that he
needs women to fulfil the need of his ego and make
him look good.

4. These two shots could use the theory that
women are there to be looked at. It shows the
male artist looking at the women in an
inappropriate way and it also shows that the
women aren’t phased. This supports the theory
as the women have no problem being stared at,
they act like they understand they are there to be
looked at. This could also refer to the point about
‘scopophilia’ as the men are getting pleasure
from looking at the women.
Men as controlling subjects can be seen in the
video, in the picture above the women are stood
still around the male character who shouts ‘hey
girl come here.’ This indicates an controlling
approach taken by the man which links with the
male gaze theory. Also, throughout the video the
women are dancing and following the men
around implying that the men are in control.

5. Throughout most of the video women are
represented as a sexual fantasy. This is
one example as the close up of the woman
showing her looking into the camera
seductively conforms with the fantasy
theory.
This video also complies with theory of
society being a patriarchal society as the
male artists are the dominant figures in
the video, while the women walk and
dance around them. This image can be
seen to support this as the male artist
looks like he is trying to dominate the
female by using the lyrics ‘tried to
domesticate you’.

6. These images show the theory of objectification of females. It does this by showing the
female as a source of entertainment and satisfaction for the male characters as the women
stand there and dance while the male characters just look at them. This complies with the
theory, as it appears that the men do not care about how the women feel and just use them
for their entertainment. Also, these images support the theory of women as an image as
the mise-en-scene shows the women in little clothing, simply there to perform for the men.
This fulfils the theory as it goes with the stereotype and the scopophilia theory of women
are there to be looked at which is why they are dancing and performing for the men. Also,
the woman knelt on all fours supports the idea that women are objectified.

7. These images shows that the music video goes against the theory of active male and
passive female. This is due to the male being shown as the passive character in these wide
shots and the females being the active characters. The females are the active characters
as they are dancing for the men and walking provocatively for the male characters,
whereas the men are just stood watching them.