Research: LAURA MULVEY’S THEORY

Laura Mulvey’s theory of representation is based on gender and covers the way Music Videos represent gender, in terms of the stereotypical image and persona. The way women are portrayed in the music industry reflects on how individual think a typical women is like. The general stereotypical image of a woman would be wearing tight clothes, that shows of her womanly parts (e.g. Breasts, bum etc), elegant and well dressed. The persona of a stereotypical woman would be that she is dependant on her spouse and passive.

Her quote is:

“In a world ordered by sexual imbalance, pleasure in looking has been split between active-male and passive-female. The determining male gaze projects its fantasy onto the female figure which is styled accordingly.”

I re-wrote the quote so that it would be clearer and easier to understand on her theory on gender representation. My quote is:

“In a world with male and female inequality, the dominant gender (male) takes advantage of this inequality and recreates an image that suits them e.g. a strong and governing man and a weak an unreceptive women. The existence of women is only to please men.”

By women acting passive and obtaining the stereotypical image, they assume they would maintain a male audience. Even if the majority of the fan base is female, they will still have the mentality to think about the artist being desirable if they were male. 

The 'Mouline Rouge' video is a clear example of the way women are represented in the media. It is a projection of the male gaze. Some example of the 'male gaze' is incorporated in the music video which I will point out:

. When Missy Elliot is presenting the 'show' at the beginning of the music video, the hidden message behind this is that women  can still maintain the attention of others (male and female) and still have authority - only if they use their bodies (even though the women in the video are acting like 'night club dancers' and passive.)

. There is  'adult content' in the video ( e.g distinctive lingerie, romantic mise -en scene) which portrays the stereotypical image of a women in the media. These elements help create the 'Mouline Rouge' theme and create a striking and memorable music video.  

. There are wide shots used, to 'show off ' the bodies of these artists - also help to keep the audience's attention, male and female.

. Their bodies are dismembered at times (close up of Mya 's bum)  , which reflects a women focus and obsession with specific parts of their bodies). As the female artists show of their bodies to the audience, the reaction of the female audience is to compare and judge their own bodies.  The reaction to the male audience   will be a reflection of the 'male gaze'.

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