Research - Laura Mulvey

Laura  Mulvey's theory

Laura Mulvey wrote about representation in the media. She says that mainstream narrative cinema manipulates visual pleasure, especially male, by exposing woman in a way that they are sexually exposed. According to her, many music videos are shot with the male audience as a target. Female fans also watch these videos but they are more aimed at the male gaze. The term ‘Scopophilia’, the pleasure of looking, has been introduced into her theory, as figural looking is apparently the most pleasurable way of looking at the human race and form. However, this is mainly for the male gaze, which is why women are seen mainly as sexual objects in the media today.

Observing music videos in relation to Mulvey’s theory, they often have women showing more flesh than men, perhaps to make them appear as sex symbols. Women are mostly shown on their underwear. Parts of their body are revealed by the use of close ups on women’s body parts. These are often used more than shots of their face. On the other hand, men are shot as the more dominant figure compared to women. 

I looked at two videos that depict Mulvey's ideas:

Tinie Tempah - Trampoline

These are some screenshots of scenes that make women the subject of the male gaze. Compared to Tinie, women are displayed on their underwear whereas he is fully clothed, seen as the dominant character.

David Guetta - Sexy Chick

This video clearly proves Mulvey's point when it comes to women. The level of clothing between both sexes is not the same. Again, this video is more focused for the male gaze.