Audience Positioning

Question 1

What was Laura Mulvey’s theory on audiences?

Answer 1

Laura Mulvey argued that audiences, whether they are male or female, have to view women from the vantage point of a heterosexual man.

Question 2

What is the Male Gaze?

Answer 2

The male gaze describes a way of portraying and looking at women that empowers men while sexualizing and diminishing women.

Question 3

What key differences did Laura Mulvey identify between Women?

Answer 3

WOMEN
Passive
looked at (objects of gaze)
in need of protection
sexually submissive
focus of sexual fantasies
ego needs to be ignored
supporting men
weak
dependent

Question 4

What key differences did Laura Mulvey identify between Men?

Answer 4

MEN
Active
Looking (possessors of gaze)
Protectors
Sexually dominant
Projectors of sexual fantasies
Ego needs fulfilled
Taking the lead
Strong
Independent

Question 5

What does Voyeurism mean?

Answer 5

Gratification from observing or seeing others, especially when they are not aware of being watched.

Question 6

What does Scopophilia mean?

Answer 6

Deriving sexual pleasure from looking, often at erotic objects.

Question 7

What does Fetishism mean?

Answer 7

Fixating on the object of the gaze to make it less threatening to the viewer by dehumanising it and transforming it into something satisyfing in itself.

Question 8

What does Exhibitionism mean?

Answer 8

Welcoming and encouraging an objectifying gaze.

Question 9

What does Narcissim mean?

Answer 9

Recognising one’s self in the image of another person being viewed.