Triangluation- study task 3

In ‘The Male Gaze’ a paper written by Laura Mulvey , she suggests that the theory entertainment like cinema are designed to aim toward one specific audience , heterosexual men. ‘ Cinema offers a number of possible pleasures. One is scopophilia(pleasure of looking)’MULVEY, 16,1975.This paper was written in the 1950’s and at this time Feminism was a significant topic. And issues like the objectification of women was being brought to light, also a coscienous of the patriarchal society we live in was being questioned. Mulvey specialised in film theory and in her paper she suggested that audiences relate more to male characters, therefore the male has power. The male viewer would see themselves reflected in the hero, and as a result advancing there ego, a mirror stage in which the dominant male character would be idolised, spectatorship. These women in the films where however objectified, sexualised. They were made into property. As a result of the films trying to feed the male gaze , strong female heroines where overlooked. But it wasn’t just women who where the victims of this time , men where objectified too. They had to appear strong and in control of the family, as fellow film theorist Richard Dyer states in his paper ‘Stars and Audiences’. ‘ Sylverster Stallone to his role as a union representative at work, and how he sees himself ‘fighting’ for his family…’DYER,187,1979.But he dose agree and makes reference to Mulveys spectator theory,’ Moviegoer is positioned according to the pleasures of male heterosexual desire’ ’DYER,188,1979. John Storey is also a writer in the late 1900’s who make reference to Mulvey’s theory and paper and makes a very similar connection between cinema and the male gaze. ‘…Spectator fixes his gaze on his hero (the bearer of the look) to satisfy his ego formations , and through the hero to the heroine(‘the erotic look’)…’ STOREY, 83, SAVOJ ZIZEK AND LACANIAN FANTASY.  Now it is debatable whether there is total equality in film, I personally think that it has got better from the 1950’s-70’s but not that much. However in the last few decades film has had positive developments for example the film Alien , where a women takes the lead, and she is portrayed as intelligent and in control. Also another male character gives birth in a way. A role reversal took place and dose conitue to take place in films today.  However I think that more emphasis need to be put on this as I still think that certain films are still trying to meet the male gaze.