Feminist Theory

Media Magazine reading - two articles on feminism and theory

1) What examples are provided from the two texts of the 'male gaze'?

Male gaze is the idea of objectifying women and the world, in the creative arts and in literary works, from a manly perspective that provides and represents women as sexual objects for the enjoyment of a male spectator.

2) Do texts such as these show there is no longer a need for feminism or are they simply sexism in a different form?

Publishers can make their own assumptions about any media text and assume a lot of things as well as interpret it in their own way, but it is crucial to understand the producer's initial intentions so that we, as audiences, do not misunderstand or misunderstand.

3) Choose three words/phrases from the glossary of the article and write their definitions on your blog.

Nostalgia - a sentimental longing or wistful affection for a period in the past.

Post-Feminism - formal a way of thinking that develops, or reacts to or against previous feminist ideology

Male gaze - The notion that the main stream of Hollywood films subject the 'male gaze' of the camera to women characters, distorting and objectifying their bodies.

The Theory Drop

1) How does the writer suggest gender performativity is established from a young age?

Children are trained from early on to conduct their sexuality so that they associate themselves with the tastes and behaviors that fit their type of gender. Although we all perform our gender to a limited degree, the problem that Butler addresses is that our gender performance is not regulated by us.

2) What does the phrase 'non-binary' refer to and how does it link to Butler's theory?

'Non-binary' applies to individuals who do not identify themselves as a woman or a male, who do not have pronouns, who choose to use them as their personal pronouns.

3) How and why does the media help reinforce gender stereotypes? The writer provides several examples in the final section of the article.

Although more inclusive depictions have been made on some outlets, the mainstream media still have a way to go. When women are presented as subordinate, males tend to be superiors. For other factors, mass media depends on gender roles, often as a shortcut to meaning.

Music video analysis

Beyonce video for ‘Why Don’t You Love Me?’: 

1) How might this video contribute to Butler’s idea that gender roles are a ‘performance’?

This clip applies to Butler's concept of gender roles as Beyonce plays a 'performance.'  Beyonce is a housewife in various situations during the fifties. Among these contexts, all her clothes are heavily sexualised, and there are still identifiable social standards.

2) What might van Zoonen suggest regarding the representation of women in this video?

Zoonen claims that the media play a key function in defining gender norms and the supremacy of patriarchal values. She would say that Beyonce is a mere video show-sexualized for the benefit of the male viewer when she is extremely sexualized and built.

3) What are YOUR views on this debate – does Beyonce empower women or reinforce the traditional ‘male gaze’ and oppression of women? 

Misguided men may disagree with me, but my opinion is that Beyonce is seeking to empower women. Only because she's wearing provocative clothing or clothes that are too sexy doesn't mean she's hunting for 'male validaiton' or 'waiting for the attention of a male.' I assume that women can't do anything in today's world without being judged or impartial.

Will Jay's video for ‘Gangsta’ again:

1) How does the video suggest representations of masculinity have changed in recent years?

There is no longer any hope that men can live up to the standards and values of society, and that whatever they wish should be. Men have rewritten their masculinity and what it means to them. Being  a 'Gangsta' is seen as  a masculine concept.

2) What does David Gauntlett suggest about representations of men in the media over the last 20 years?

Gauntlett argues that the boom of media exposure in the 1980s and 1990s offered people the opportunity to consciously develop their personalities and potentially step away from conventional assumptions. He looked at men's fashion magazines and saw new, very distinct examples of masculinity.

3) What is your view on the representation of men and masculinity? 

The media is generating a narrative of past stereotypical male stereotyping. There seems to have been real progress when, in fact, there is still a prevailing, chosen worldview of man in music videos as well as in mass media. For reference, in rap music videos , men are portrayed as rugged and strong.