Research -Laura Mulvey's ideas on Representation

Last year when we studied TV Drama in AS, we analysed the different representations, such as gender, age, and ethnicity. However Laura Mulvey believes that in music videos gender is mostly represented.

THE MALE GAZE

One of the most obvious representation in music videos is gender. Feminist, Laura Mulvey thinks that music videos are made with the aim to give the audience an insight of how males are seen as superior as she believes we live in 'a sexually imbalanced world'. She differentiates active (males) from pasive (females). Females are there to please males, and to fulfill their fantasies.

'Calorfia Gurls'

 ‘California Gurls’ by Katy Perry featuring Snoop Dogg -I think this is a good example that relates to Mulvey’s theory of the ‘male gaze’ because at the start of the video a male figure is placing a female figure on a game puzzle. This shows the ‘control’ he has over her as he is illustrated as the 'leader' of the game

A female figure is then shown topless; this may show how she is there to fulfill males’  ‘fantasies’

The idea of females being vulnerable and passive may be seen in this shot where Katy Perry’s innocence as a female is contrasted to her surroundings as she is wearing pink and her surroundings are dark

Females that are showing specific parts of their bodies are then shown dancing in different shots. This may encourage the audience to watch it from a male’s perspective. This also encourages the idea that women are there to please men and should meet a certain criteria to do so

The idea imposed by Laura that male is an active figure can be seen here as Snoop Dogg is shown as a kind of leader that takes ‘control’ of the game. He is also surrounded by girls, again emphasizing the idea of females being there to please him