Male Gaze Metamorphosis
Charting the bold transition from the pervasive male gaze to a nuanced female perspective, modern media landscapes are redefining character agency and narrative depth, heralding a new era of feminist storytelling in film and beyond.
Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! is a 1965 film directed by Russ Meyer, renowned for its campy aesthetic and provocative themes.
To be considered a great film, it must meet three criteria: feature at least two women, have them talk to each other, and discuss something beyond a man. Here we are, ladies and gentlemen, on the verge of a new beginning. One where the traditional male gaze legacy is undergoing some harsh transformation, being under public scrutiny. No more sexualized and dangerous femme fatales, no hyper-masculine full-of-guns and big chunky buckled cowboys, and specifically, no more left-aside and poorly written female characters just for fun. Even though the revolution has already taken over, the question remains. In a world where almost every film can easily pass the Bechdel test, can we still imply a high-quality female gaze, or is this hype all just for the sake of the over-exaggerated femininomenon trend?
It would be fair enough to begin our small investigation by giving credit and talking a bit about our main subject - the male gaze. We all hate the male gaze, calling it the culprit of all earthly troubles. Nevertheless, does one actually know where this definition comes from and what it stands for? The concept of the "male gaze" originated from feminist film theory and was popularized by British film theorist Laura Mulvey in her influential 1975 essay, "Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema." Her essay first saw the world during the second wave of the feminist movement, marked by the critique of traditional gender roles and representations. The term usually refers to the portrayal of female characters and the narrative used to highlight the heroine and personal development. Depicting the world and women from a masculine, heterosexual perspective, the genre tends to often objectify and marginalize women. Now, when the straight-from-the-book definition is clear, we can move to more practical and contemporary implications. In modern social and cultural discourses, the male gaze is seen as a reflection of ongoing debates about representation and power in media. Thus, you can hear the term almost everywhere, starting at amateur YouTube channels and ending with professional movie reviews.
Some of the most prominent and well-known pop-culture pieces, such as films, music clips, and even books, are based and directed under the male gaze principles. Let's give some credit to the legendary "Wolf of Wall Street" for its immaculate portrayal of women and exquisite objectification of all featured female characters.
Next on the list is the scandalous "Blurred Lines" music video. This piece also remains a legend alive, being one of the most discussed clips of its time and featuring a fair amount of models, dominated by male singers.
And the last piece, closing our tiny little top, is "American Psycho". The canonical book, narrated by Patrick Bateman, offers a refreshing view of women as mere objects, often reduced to their physical attributes. Indeed, those are only the crème de la crème of the industry. We could go further and talk about Nicki Minaj's "Anaconda" video or the famous "Blade Runner" by Ridley Scott. We all get it, and that's the point.
The genre even created the icon alive - the femme fatale, a stock character who even managed to break the third wall and become a distinct "philosophy" and "mindset". Created as an archetype mainly used in dark noir detective stories, this depiction of a mysterious and seductive woman earned its credit as one of the most mainstream tropes among male-gaze pieces. It would be tough to find a classy male-gaze story that does not involve any deathly charming female to hypnotize, seduce, or play around with the main character. Nowadays, this extravagant heroine with her matching stiletto heels and a cigarette which never leaves her holder has moved into a pop-culture realm and even inspired a massive bunch of fancy TikTok and YouTube psychologists teaching women how to use their "dark-feminine" energy in order to get what they want. Sharing tips on body language, self-confidence, psychological strategies and manipulation tactics, these influencers are here to raise a truly modern-age soldier of the male gaze archetype. Seduction and influence, empowerment, mystique and intuition - those are a couple of the most mass-discussed topics on the dark-feminine social media side. Let's be honest, if we're talking about listening to a fancy femme-fatale playlist or dreaming of getting a pair of wine-red high-heels - it's all about fun and games. But when pop culture begins to promote the over-exaggerated and often disturbing image, full of manipulation and masking, it doesn't seem that sweet, does it?
Here is the moment where the revolution takes place. The female gaze comes to the scene as an antipode to the male gaze's "intoxication". We can reference a beloved Star Wars here and call it a battle of the Dark and Light side of the Force. You are the one to decide which side is darker and which one is brighter. The female gaze is usually described as a feminist theory that refers to the gaze of a female spectator, character or director. Not surprisingly, the actual female gaze piece can be created by an artist of any gender, as long as it portrays female characters as someone with total agency and a strong narrative. This response to the male gaze created a new side to pop culture. This side nurtures feminist views and promotes the perspective of a female filmmaker.
Among some of the most discussed and mainstream female gaze directors is Greta Gerwig. Her movies such as "Barbie", "Little Women", and "Lady Bird" are regarded as the female gaze classics and are a must-watch for those who want to get a slight glimpse into the genre. Her heroines are independent individuals who pursue their goals and navigate their lives within the "social boxes" created to stop and stigmatize them. Still, fighting through the spectrum and expectations, they win their spots and showcase vivid boldness and eagerness. This is a description of classy Greta Gerwig's character, which also raises a couple of questions. Can a film win our sympathy if the "female gaze" label is put on it, or should we have a closer and more critical look at things?
The depiction of well-written female characters is a bold challenge in the realm of modern cinema, as a viewer, who in its majority isn't new to the feminist principles, can spot a flat character as a no-brainer. The funding and opportunities for the realization of a full-scale project tailored to the social promotion, rather than "another flat female main character" piece, isn't so easy. The industry gatekeeping isn't sleeping on guard as well. And last but not least, the creative challenges faced by female gaze creators are harsh. It's extremely tough to balance the desired storytelling and feminist guidelines while working on a pop-culture product that must align with the market demand. Maintaining the integrity of the artistic vision while balancing against the commercial side is a tough challenge, not to mention the glass ceiling involved.
It isn't new for filmmakers and those who earn and live based on pop culture to promote and invest in the topics that are the most influential in societal minds. Thus, the question arises: Can we call such a splash of pro-feminist narrative in the media a truly heartwarming liberal revolution, or just another move from a white cisgender man in a black suit and a tie?
So once again, ladies and gentlemen, a quick reminder to check one's lenses and never fall under the pink tinted ones. In the modern realm, where almost every tiny gesture and phenomenon can get its own Wikipedia page and theoretical discussion, checking your own sights is crucial. Is creating a heroine with its own action enough to provide a high-quality female gaze piece, or is it just a snack in the feast of fast-food movies? What we really need is a femininomenon, and we can't hide it. But what is really important is what kind of revolution we are waiting for? I would like to leave you here with this question in mind. And remember, in a world where almost every film can easily pass the Bechdel test, can we still imply a high-quality female gaze?
