Feminist Theory- Laura Mulvey

The feminist theory is an idea created by theorist Laura Mulvey in 'Visual pleasure and narrative cinema' 1975

The theory says that cinema will reflect society at the time it was created. Cinema will therefore reflect a patriarchal, male dominated, society. This can be shown through The Male Gaze.

The gaze of camera will show the action from a male point of view, as the male is often the main character. This know as The Male Gaze. The media text is therefore constructed as though the audience is male, forcing woman to watch the text through a man's point of view, made possible through the process of suture.

There are 3 gazes:

1. Audience
2. Camera
3. Male character

The male character see the woman, the camera therefore shows his point of view, forcing the audience into the view point as well.

There is also the theory of Agency. This is often used in Hollywood cinema. The male protagonist has agency, he is active and powerful. He is whom the dramatic action unfolds, he is the centre. Female characters are therefore passive and powerless.

Woman have two roles in a film:

1. As an object of erotic desire for the male characters
2. As an object of erotic desire for the audience

Good examples of the gaze are seen in James Bond films and also the Transformer films

These are good examples of the gaze as the woman plays an object ratehr than a character.