The gaze (research paper) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

The gaze (research paper) - Essay Example (Mabry, 2001) The key aim of the research is to analyze the set of images from â€Å"Seven Year Itch† movie, with Marilyn Monroe starring in it. The image has become the classics of glamour photography, and it is often regarded by the gaze concept admirers as the brightest example of male domination over women. Therefore, the research is aimed at studying the different aspects of the image. Additionally the proper visual analysis is performed for differentiating the male gaze and dominance, from the natural female necessity to stay attractive and perfect looking. The key steps of the research will involve review of the image origin jointly with the relevance of the movie plot, and its relation to the Male Gaze concept. The key idea of the movie fragment is reviewed in order to realize the message. Then, there is a need to switch the research accent to the purely artistic factors, such as composition, framing, and other technical parameters. These are needed to realize the perc eption patterns and principles, i.e. how do the viewers have their look at the image. These aspects will be essential for analyzing the still from the male gaze perspective, as well as explaining the eroticism of the image with a barelegged girl. The interpretive possibilities, offered by the gaze concept are closely linked with the visual perception of a heterosexual man, and it is stated that men start looking through any image in accordance with its erotic composition. On the other hand, visual perception patterns of these images do not violate the standard perception rules, and this concept will be regarded in the paper as well. Theoretic Analysis Considering the theoretic approaches of the male gaze concept, and analysis of the image from the gaze perspective, the psychoanalysis angle should be taken into account. Since cinema provides numerous variants of visual pleasure, the scopophilia (which presupposes enjoying the views of a human body) is one of the key components of the sexuality in general (It is stated that Freud regarded scopophilia as one of the key instinctive components of sexual behavior). In the light of this fact, scopophilia defines people, who are looked at, as the sexual objects. From the psychoanalytic point of view, the necessity to observe a human body is regarded as an instinct that is rooted in childhood. Cinema, as visual art, seems to be distant from the necessity to observe others secretly. Nevertheless, most mainstream Hollywood movies are based on this aspect. In accordance with the research by Despotopoulou (2004) the male gaze is the key approach in classical filmmaking. Therefore, Laura Mulvey emphasizes the following consideration (Gagne, 2001, p. 140): "In their traditional exhibitionist role women are simultaneously looked at and displayed, with their appearance coded for strong visual and erotic impact so that they can be said to connote to-be-looked-at-ness," and as a result contends that in film a woman is the "beare r of meaning, not maker of meaning." By emphasizing this consideration, Mulvey presupposes that the psychoanalytic approach is essential for analyzing and understanding the process of the sexual objectification (as well as experiencing sexual fantasies) of the Girl (in relation to the movie). Therefore, Marilyn Monroe’s heroine becomes the exploitation object that is passively involved into the voyeuristic act. In general, the three perspectives are occurred that stimulate