Saturday, 28 September 2013

RESEARCH- Mulvey's theory on representation

Mulvey's Theory on representation

The choice of clothes, hairstyle, location and storyline would have been carefully planned before the music video is shot, this is because they have to make sure the image of the artist presented in the right manner. The audience will look at the video and deconstruct the representation and interpret it based on our own understanding.

Laura Mulvey believe that film audiences view characters from the perspective of an heterosexual male, she calls this the 'Male Gaze'. The camera angles play a massive role in this, for example the camera would focus and have lots of close ups of women's body parts. Laura Mulvey says that women are dismembered in all forms of media. This is because in music videos it usually focuses on womens body parts instead of viewing women as a whole.

In music videos of male artists it usually shows women half naked and dancing. Laura Mulvey believes that women are seen as objects in these music videos. Rap music video are the main videos that Mulvey  is talking about.


Robin Thicke- blurred lines is a great example of what Laura Mulvey was talking about. 'Their body is dismembered'. In this music video it shows women half naked dancing. And the men are fully dressed wearing suits and looking at the women. Therefore Mulvey's theory is still relevant in this society


On the other hand some female artist challenge this representation, making women look powerful. For example Beyonce challenges Mulveys theory, in her music video 'Who run the world (girls)' she shows women as powerful and shows men as weak. She also looks directly at the viewer to take charge. Lady Gaga is also another female artist that challenges Mulveys theory.

 
Beyonce- who run the world (Girls)

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