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| Vermeer, The Lacemaker 1669-70 (domestic scene) |
We are now all fully aware of the male gaze. Simplified, one
can say that the male gaze exploits women. The male gaze is not always sexual;
sometimes the male gaze might be criticism of a woman’s role and her place in
society. Throughout the class we have looked at different artist and their
depiction of the male gaze. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th Century the male
gaze was portrayed as both sexual and domestic, (not commonly paired together).
The sexual intent was often alluring to its male audience and is meant to hold
their mind captive. In most of the
paintings the females seemed to be unaware of the male gaze. When men were
present in the paintings they looked sly and unattractive and the women shied
away from the men or were repulsed by them. The domestic depiction of the male
gaze isn’t usually sexual. The domestic depiction often served as a reminder
that we lived in a patriarchal society. It portrayed middle class women as
laborers, mothers, and maids. The wealthier women were portrayed as being the
perfect housewife, or the perfect mother etcetera. She is usually set in a
wealthy scene where her maidservant is also present. She is sometimes depicted
as pleasing her husband, keeping him entertained, and she is always elegantly
dressed.
 |
| Elisabteh - Louise Vigee-Lebrun, Portrait of Marie Antoinette with her children 1787 (wealthy women of society) |
The male gaze in the 20th century was becoming more
predominantly sexual. Arts and media depicted more sexual content relating to
women. Women were becoming more aware of the male gaze. Some women viewed
themselves from male perspectives because they realized that that is the
perspective in which society viewed them from. Women were popping up in irrelevant ads, their intent is almost always sexual and is used to captivate its male audience.
 |
| Fashion advertisement |
 |
| Cigarette advertisement |
As the years progressed so have the male gaze. Male gaze in
the 21st century is purely sexual. Women of the 21st
century embraces the male gaze, they dress to please the male viewer. They see
themselves from the male perspective, and they try to accomplish the perfect
version of themselves according to male society. Women are being used to lure
in potential customers. Women are popping up in every advertisement and are usually
accompanied by sexual innuendos. 21st century man has one thing on
his mind and that’s sex. Corporations and designers take advantage of this
notion and so they abide by the “sex sells” rule.
 |
| Men's underwear advertisement |
 |
| Power saw advertisement |
I have created a website that looks at the various versions
of the male gaze. Within the website I have also started a blog, I intend to
post on the blog random articles of arts, and/or media that depicts the male
gaze. While my blog may focus on 21st Century male gaze, the website
has arts and media which portrays the male gaze from as far back as the 17th
century.
Website
The Male Gaze
Bibliography
"4 Ways To Challenge The Male Gaze." Everyday
Feminism. N.p., 27 May 2013. Web. 19 Apr. 2015.
"Female Role Portrayals in Print Advertising: Talking
With Women About Their Perceptions and Their Preferences." By Patti
Williams. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2015.
“Women's Role
Portrayal Preferences in Advertisements: An Empirical Study” Lawrence H. Wortzel and John M. Frisbie
Journal of Marketing Vol. 38, No. 4 (Oct., 1974), pp. 41-46
20th Apr. 2015
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