The Gaze.

The concept of the gaze is one that deals with how an audience views the people presented. For feminists it can be thought of in three ways.

-      How men look at women.

-      How women look at themselves.

-      How women look at other women.

Gaze and feminist theory.

Laura Mulvey coined the term ‘Male Gaze’ in 1975. She believes that in the film, audiences have to view characters from the perspective of a heterosexual male.

Feautures of the male gaze.

The camera lingers on the curves of the female body, and events which occur to women are presented largely in the context of a mans reaction to these events. This relegates women to the status of an object. The female viewer must experience the narrative secondarily, by indentification with the male.

Criticism of Mulvey and the gaze theory.

Some women enjoy being looked at. E.g- Beauty pageants. The gaze can also be directed towards members of the same gender. But not all are sexually, such as in comparison of body image or in clothing.

Categorising facial expressions.

   Men

Seductive.

• Similar to cool/ level.
• Eyes less wide.
• Expression is less replresented.
• Milder.

Care free.

• Nymph like.
• Healthy.
• Vibrant.
• Outdoor girl.
• Often smiling/ grinning.

Practical.

• Concentrating.
• Engaged in business in hand.
• Mouth closed.
• Eyes object direct.
• Sometimes in a slight frown.
• Hait often tied back or short style.

Comic.

• Deliberately ridiculous.
• Exaggerated.
• Acting the fool.
• Pulling faces.

Catalogue.

• A nuetral look as a dummy, artificial wax like.
• Feautures may be in any position. but most likely eys wide open.
• Looks remain vacant and empty with personality removed.

  Women.


Chocolate box.

• Half/ Full smile.
• Lips together/ Slightly parted.
• Teeth barely viasable.
• Full/ three quaters of face to camera.

Invitational.

• Emphasis on the eyes.
• Mouth shut with hint of a smile.
• Head to one side or looking back at the camera.

Super Smiler.

• Full face.
• Wide open, toothy smile.
• Head thrusts forwards, chin thrown back.
• Hair often wind blown.

Romantic or Sexual.

• Includes male and female 'two some'
• Dreamy.
• Heavy lidded.
• Overly sensual/ sexual.