Research for production - Laura Mulvey's 'Male Gaze Theory'

Laura Mulvey's male gaze, a theory first created in the 1970s, suggests that woman are subjective to a "gaze" i.e. (point of view shot) from a males perspective. Laura Mulvey has implied that similar to Freuds theory, in which he believed films take people as objects and subject them to a controlling and curious gaze, that woman are made subject to this same look but instead exploited by their sexuality.

Here is a breakdown of her theory:

• Her theory suggests that the camera adopts a male point of view to appeal to a presumed male audience
• This is highlighted by the movement of a camera over a woman's body, which therefore focuses on the sexuality of females to appeal to male audiences
• It is also argued that the majority of the main characters are male so the that male audiences can relate to their viewing of woman as being passive
• There is no such thing as a female gaze and so female audiences are made to identify with the male gaze and so see through the male's eyes

However there are many ways in which this theory can be challenged. For example:

• This theory was made in the 1970s and so highlights the traditional view of women, something that has very much changed in modern society
• Not all central characters in movies are male