Laura Mulvey's Ideas on Representation

“In a world ordered by sexual imbalance, pleasure in looking has been split between active/male and passive/female. The determining male gaze projects its fantasy onto the female figure which is styled accordingly” (Laura Mulvey, 1992)

Laura Mulvey’s quote in my own words

We live in a world were there is an unequal relation between the genders. Pleasure has been split between the male who is engaging or ready to engage in something (active) and the female who is accepting or allowing what of what others do without an active response or resistance (passive). What the males want to see ‘their fantasy’ is seen in the female figure because they are styled accordingly to that.

Representations of Women That Can Be Expected in Some Music Videos Based on Laura Mulvey’s Quote

-Skinny

-Long, Endless Legs

-Young

-Sexy

-Weaker

- Amazing Body Assets

Music Artists & Genres That Laura Mulvey’s Quote May Be Specific To

R’n’B       Hip Hop

Rap        Dance
Taio Cruz         Flo Rida

Dizzie Rascal           Beyonce

The Saturdays      The Pussycat Dolls

Nicki Minaj       Cheryl Cole

Here are images that I have screen shot from Flo Rida's music video Whistle which is linked to Laura Mulvey's theory, which also consists of a lot of dismembering of the females

Artists / Groups That Challenge Laura Mulvey’s Theory

Missy Elliot    Adele

John Legend      Steve Wonder

Ellie Goulding       Mika
Foster The People         Florence & The Machine

I believe that Laura Mulvey’s opinion on genders in music videos is still relevant in today’s society even more then when she came up with it but, I also think that in today’s society there are a lot more artists / groups whose music videos do not apply to her theory.