Representation - Laura Mulvey - Male Gaze

definition - audiovisual narratives that portray women from the point of view of a heterosexual man

Mulvey’s article states that men have historically had power over what they wanted to see or not see in visual art because it was predominately made by them. She argues that this has led to an artistic tradition where males get pleasure from looking at females who take on passive roles.

In her feminist theory, the male gaze represents how society teaches young girls that they need to look desirable in order to get attention from boys while also teaching young boys that it is okay to view women as sex objects.