Feminism & The Male Gaze

Laura Mulvey

Introduction

• Laura Mulvey – Male Gaze Influenced by Freud & Jacques Lucan,

Mulvey sees the representation of woman in film & literature (and therefore society in general) as being dominated by a male point of view. Her belief is that the world is a patriarchy and that men have the ‘active’ roles and woman ‘passive’

To look is seen as active

Traditionally

• Men play active roles which drive the narrative

• Women play passive roles and are seen as erotic objects which slow the narrative

• Men far outnumber women

• Female roles are sidelined

• Lead roles for women scarce

Stereotypes

• Bimbo• Female’s physical

attractions such as figure

• Easy• House wife• Mother• Intelligent yet willing

to settle down

Male Gaze • Two distinct modes of the male gaze of this era:

voyeuristic (an obsessive observer of sordid or sensational subjects) and fetishistic (excessive attention or attachment to something).

• Mulvey argued that women where given two characters types - sexually active female & powerless female

• Films presented images of women that were produced simply for the gratification of male viewers

• Various studies in the 1970s found men to be the dominant characters and decision makers in film and TV production

Importance?• Where women had important roles they were

far more likely to be shown as… - frightened - in need of protection and direction - offering support to the male lead character(s) - not independent or self driven - generally weaker - still objectified sexually • “Women, in any fully human form, have almost

completely been left out of film….” L Mulvey

Fighting Back• Ripleys role is reflective of

feminist ideology. Throughout the Alien series, we see her character grow, change, develop and mature to meet and tackle each situation placed before her.

• Challenges cultural norms• Lt Ellen Ripley introduced

viewers to their first self-reliant and successful science-fiction heroine

• Ripley encounters difficult situations which challenge her femininity

• Still shown as sexual object to both audience and characters

• She has to fight against the patriarchal ideology of the Company, different kinds of male figures and of course, against the Alien

• Distinctive references to gender roles, especially to women's status in the world and to motherhood

Changes in society

• As women's roles change so does media representation. Still objectified but also likely to be…

• Career driven• Intelligent• Confident• Empowered• Able (violent)Remember changes may be made cynically and in

order to make money rather than change ideologies

• How many female action stars who are not attractive?

A Terminators Feminist Timeline

• T1 – Sarah Connor is hysterical, screaming, in need of rescue

• T2 – Strong, empowered, able to hold her own against Arnie

• T3 – We have female terminator TX (uses femininity to advantage)

• Terminator: Sarah Connor chronicles – save the world

A Modern Representation?

• Uma Thurman represented as powerful and dominant and independent

• Adopts male characteristics of aggression

• Not masculinised yet in masculine roles

• Use of low angles, and a masculine performance

• Conforms to Mulvey’s theory - job of seeking revenge family is given to the female character thus conforming to stereotypes where women are seen to be possessed with family and emotional

• Tight outfit allows objectification• Voyeuristic pleasures by watching Thurman on

her killing rampage • Remember male director/industry may still mean

male ideologies

Other Examples….

Evidence of the female gaze?

VsVs

Misogyny

• What is it? ….

TV Drama Example

• Gene Hunt (TV Detective from Life on Mars, set in 1970’s Britain) talking about politics:

'THERE WILL NEVER BE A WOMAN PRIME MINISTER AS LONG AS I HAVE A HOLE UP MY A**E.'

Misogyny

• How would you define the term misogyny based on what you have just seen?

• Can you think of any other examples of misogyny that you may have seen in any media text or simply experienced in everyday life?

• Misogyny – the contempt or hatred of women and girls

H/W Activity • Watch the first episode of series one of ‘Ashes to Ashes’ (2008, Kudos Productions)

and find examples from the text of misogynistic attitudes & behaviour by referring to examples from the mise-en-scene (actions & dialogue, setting, props costume/make-up, lighting, camera angles & framing). Make a table and print it.