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 showing her surroundings and prooving that she is the centre of attention. also the camera portrays that she is the only important thing in the video due to the camera and actors being focused on her.
The
audience views this video in a voyeuristic way because usually viewers would
not see that character or anyone in that way of being sexually based. This
video is voyeuristic because even though the video is created to incise men and
very sexual it is seen to be okay to watch and enjoy because it is a music
video.
The
actors interact in a way that results in the female being looked at as an
object of desire. This occurs when the woman in the video begins dancing or
singing about a certain subject. Once this begins the actors around the woman
begin to pay attention to her and
stare at what she is doing, also men it in the men in the video try to
show off and lour the main character towards them.
In Jesse
J’s video of “Do it Like a Dude” the use of the camera invites sexual gaze by not only focussing on her but having constant close ups on her face and lips which shows that only the things that are said by her are important and also close ups of her dancing give a sexual image.
The
audience views this video in a voyeuristic way because Jessie J is usually seen
as a role model to younger girls and though she is this, she is still
attractive to men so by acting this way and changing the way that she is seen
appeals to men even though they feel that she is not usually like this.
The
actors interact in a way that results in the female being looked at as an
object of desire. This occurs when the chorus of the song begins and she begins
to dance in a sexual way around other men. At this point the actors in the
video begin to notice her more as a sexual object then a usual person around
them. Therefore they begin to desire her more than anyone else in the video.
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 it would be more
appealing to a male audience and widening the range of people buying their
music. Therefore the can make more money.
In
summary, Laura Mulvey’s theory applies to these music videos because the woman
in the videos are being portrayed as objects of desire an not equally to the
other actors in the video. Jessie J and Christina are both attempting to show themselves off to
men in the audience to be noticed.
