Researching the theories...

To what extent are voyeurism and the male gaze still relevant to a music video?

Laura Mulvey, a theorist, who in 1975 constructed the argument around mainstream cinema. The male gaze is structured by the concepts of voyeurism; to look at someone beauty and fetishistic; to look at someone sexually, a constitution towards scopophilia– visual pleasure provided for men. Mulvey argues how women have objectified themselves to such a greater level, becoming fragmented into culture. She suggests whether or not a woman welcomes the ‘gaze’ they are merely conforming to the hegemonic norms established to benefit the interests of men.

As Laura Mulvey argues that men look at women in a festishistic way, Ariel levy echoes this however, demands woman recognise how they are in fact objectifying themselves in the attempt to being notice. For example; Fergie, from the Black Eye Pea’s sings ‘My Humps’ seeking to gain the ‘male gaze’. It seems to be the more attention we, as woman receive from different men, the more successful we become, therefore the rise of insecurities in woman is much greater, as described in the ‘ beauty myth’ by Naomi Wolf. She argues how the male gaze is alive, however hegemonic and woman are being exploited into thinking that they need to objectify themselves for popularity, as clearly shown in music videos to this very day and age. Furthermore, as there are only 7% of directors in which are females; the control of the industry lies within the hands of men, linking to patriarchy.

In addition, using a narrative freeze also shows the ‘objectifying’ of women in a music video. On the other hand, in the music industry artist’s like Katie Melua and Adele are just a few of many representatives, who actually go against the idea to ‘objectify’ themselves for the short cut easy fame. But yet it seems, it does come to a disadvantage as their popularity in the industry isn’t as recognised, such as artists like Beyonce.

Having researched this theory, we believe that 'the male gaze' doesn't conform to the goo goo dolls. Many reasons to suggest this for example, the band itself doesn't perhaps feel the need to replicate other genres sterotypical style, of objectifying woman in music videos. Through our research, we have found that pop and rnb tend to project woman in the way Mulvey argues. Whereas the Goo goo dolls are alternative rock. This genre does not really project women in this way as it would not conform to the ideas of the genre. In our music video our central character was a young girl (a child) so we felt that constructing her in a voyeuristic way would be highly inappropriate. This would cross boundaries that would not conform to our song or artist.