Gender representations

Sexual objectification and the male gaze (Laure Mulvey)

• Definition of voyeurism: Erotic pleasures gained from looking at a sexual object (who is unaware of being watched)
• Presence of women solely for the purpose of display (rather than narrative function)
• Female on display is passive and objectified for a male gaze regardless of viewers gender
• Voyeuristic treatment of female body in 'male' videos - use of dancers as adornments to the male ego
• The inclusion of women for display is a staple element in music videos - across all genres
• Women connote to-be-looked-at-ness and are the object of the male gaze

Post-feminism and the female gaze (1980's)

• A re-appraisal of feminist values
• Does not strive for 'equality' as this assumes men are 'the best' - they wish to surpass male achievements
• Objected to theories which position them as objects of the 'male gaze'
• Identifies a 'female gaze' - women actively desiring men
• Women began to assert their right to dress and be sexually attractive

Masculinity and violence

• One area that has been the focus of much study is the relationship between males and violence in the media
• Earp and Katz (1999) studies male representations in the media and found "a widespread and disturbing equation of masculinity and pathological control and violence"
• They claim that the media is responsible for a steady stream of images that define 'manhood' as connected with violence, dominance and control - and create it as a normal and accented part of masculinity