Laura Mulvey

Laura Mulvey's Theory on Representation

Mulvey's theory focuses on the idea of the passive female and the active male both of which are valid perceptions of stereotypical gender roles in society. 

Male Gaze

An example of Male Gaze in the Arctic Monkey's video Snap Out Of It, where the female protagonist is seen running around hysterically in nothing but her bra and knickers.

The idea of male gaze highlights the manner in which females are objectified in music videos by being styled and presented specifically to attract the attention of the 'active male', which is most commonly found in RnB, Hip Hop, Rap and a significant amount of mainstream music videos. This is not only exerted visually in music videos but also lyrically and mirrors the issue of the objectification of women in the media and society.

The infamous video to Robin Thicke and Pharell Williams' song Blurred Lines is an accurate depiction of Mulvey's ideas concerning representation. The active male is presented as dominant on the basis of the fact that the three male artists in the video are the ones singing whereas the females dance around scantily clothed.