Research:Mulvey's male gaze

                                                        Mulvey's male gaze in music video


The male gaze in a music video refers to how the male audience views the females are presented in heterosexual viewpoint. The representation of women is dominated by male point of view. Her belief is that men have the 'active  role and females  are passive  for the feminist it can be thought in three different way.

For feminists, it can be thought of in three ways.

1. How men look at women.
2. How women look at  themselves.
3. How women look at other women.

Laura Mulvey is a British feminist film theorist. Her theory (1975) suggest that the audience view characters from the perspective of a heterosexual male. She believe that men look at women for sexual pleasure in music videos and men play the active role which makes the narrative. whereas women are seen as erotic object which slow the narrative.




In this music video for 'Nelly Tip Drill' all females in the video are exposing their body and this is for the pleasure of males and to  visually and satisfy them. In this video women viewed as sexual objects. At this particular moment women in this video are playing the passive role in the music video. within the  high key lighting used to portray them in particular way for example as the camera gradually pans around the assets and lips.



Benny Benassi ' Satisfaction' In this video women are represented as sexual objects and this is shown by the use of machinery used in the video such as the drills , and diggers showing that construction  work can be made  to look sexy and very appealing for the male audience. there are in control for the men pleasure.

















Jennifer Lopez  feat Iggy Azalea -' Booty' In this video these two women are represented as sexual objects as there are showing off their assets. This video mainly focus on bottoms as in the video they are being sexual towards each. Cinematography  play a  big role in this video as there's a lot of close up of Jennifer  Lopez and Iggy Azalea dancing in a provocative way.

Criticism of the theory:

• Some may say enjoy being looked at, man can also be gazed at.  
•  Her theory neglect genders  for example doesn't include female perspective. 
• It only focus on heterosexual male perspective.
• She doesn't really consider female spectators much.
• empower women active.

 Different genre that may follow Mulvey's male gaze:

• As for different genre of music such as rock it doesn't follows Mulvey's male gaze theory for example the artist need to look attractive. As there audience are not bothered about there appearance what so ever. They don't care about they appearance only the music that they are trying to sing for the audience.

• Genre such as Hip hop- follow Mulvey's male gaze theory as, the artist use women to make themselves  look rich and as for the male audience would wish to be in their position that the artist are in so that they can interact with the women on their video this gets them excited.

• Afro- beat doesn't follow the Mulvey's male gaze theory as it all represent women and their beauty. Not much is shown its based  African heritage of a woman have to cover up on order a man can respect her. It's less likely to follow the theory.

In my music video I will consider using  aspect of male gaze in my music video  as it will enhance the popularity of my music video. women I would want to use them in passive as this will allow me to gain popularity from the male audience. However I would not portray  them as sexual objects.