Laura
Mulvey’s theory applies to the music videos “Dirty” and “Do it Like a Dude”
because both videos invite the audience to view the artists as objects of
desire. This is done through the
camera shots and angles used, the fact the video is presented in a voyeuristic
way to the audience, and the way the artist interacts with others in the video.
In
Christina Aguilera’s video of “Dirty” the use of the camera invites sexual gaze
by using different camera angles in the videos. They do this because they can
show off the features of the girl in the video. Eg, in Christina Aguilera’s
video “dirty” they zoom in on her lips to make her look good. I think this is
ok because making the video look sexy means that her audience also targets men
and not just teenage girls.
The
audience views this video in a voyeuristic way because that’s what the videos
are trying to make them do. The women in videos now days show off all their
features by wearing very little clothing. Therefore, people will look at those
features, and If they are pleasured by what they see they will carry on
watching their videos.
The
actors interact in a way that results in the female being looked at as an
object of desire. They do this by dancing round the women/woman and sometimes
touching her. This occurs in videos such as Christina Aguilera’s video ”dirty”.
I think this is wrong because it makes the women look like objects and makes
the men look like the dominant sex. However, everyone is equal and no one
should come across as an object.
In Jesse
J’s video of “Do it Like a Dude” the use of the camera invites sexual gaze by
Jessie J squat in a low down position and holding her crotch. Also, close ups
on her lips as if to say that your looking at my lips but shouldn’t be. She
showcases this by wearing studs on her lips. Also grabbing the camera is sort
of forcing the viewer to look, this takes away the element of looking
voyeuristicly.
The
audience views this video in a voyeuristic way because that’s what the video is
trying to make them do. For example, when she squats whilst holding her crotch,
the audience will automatically do that. I think that the audience are not
doing anything wrong as that is just a natural action. However the artists in
the videos are making themselves look like objects.
The
actors interact in a way that results in the female being looked at as an
object of desire. This occurs when the artists such as Jessie J are being surrounded as if they are
special and more important than others. For example, when Christina is
surrounded by topless men all gazing at her. This makes her seem wanted and
special.
The
target audience for these two artists is young females. However, the way they represent
themselves as sexual objects does not appeal to young girls, it appeals more to
men. I believe Christina Aguilera
and Jesse J choose to represent themselves like this because they think they
can make themselves look better. Also because they will probably make more money
out of it as men will show other people because they think its sexy an
pleasurable to watch. Therefore more people will buy the songs on itunes and
watch the video on youtube.
In
summary, Laura Mulvey’s theory applies to these music videos because both
videos make the women look like objects of desire by using the camera, also
making the audience view the video in a voyeuristic way. Therefore her theory
is very relevant to these two videos.
