Laura Mulveys Male Gaze Theory & Blurred Lines

When thinking about Laura Mulvey's theory of the male gaze, the first music video that comes to mind is Robin Thickes 'Blurred Lines'. This something feel strongly about avoiding in my music video.


On a whole this scopophillic music video is said to present women as a sexual object/ fantasy for the heterosexual male, reinforcing the patriarchal control in todays society as it represents women as being submissive. Throughout the video the women act as a source of entertainment for the men showing the theory of objectification of women.

The first shot immediately conveys his control over this woman and presents her as his 'possession'; objectifying her. He takes up a large proportion of the frame to convey his 'importance' and dominance. In addition he has his name in large bold font that goes across the whole screen which infers he has a big ego which relates to Mulveys theory with 'the needs of the male ego' and he may need this woman to fulfil the need of his ego. 

The female here is presented as a sexual fantasy of the male as the camera captures him gazing at the womans curves (scopophilia). 

This shot presents her as submissive to the male as she lights his cigarette for him. It appears to me that she is his to be controlled.