Panashe Nyamariwata and Temi Ayadi

How women are objectified in mainstream television

Introduction

Throughout this assignment, we will be writing about how women are objectified within media, using the example of music videos.This relates to the male gaze theory, which was introduced by Laura Mulvey in 1975. The theory states that women are represented through voyeuristic, fetishistic elements (Including camera work, costumes and mise en scene).Laura Mulvey believes that the audience have to view the subject in the clip from the prespective of a hetrosexual male.

Camera Positioning

The positioning of cameras within music videos objectifies women within media, because the main focus is the female body and features of the face (E.g. Lips).

The above screenshot is an example of the camera work focusing on a females lips and facial expression. The facial expression in the above image presents the woman as a highly sexualized individual. This is because of the way she gazes at the screen and her finger in this scene looks like it is about to do a ‘come here’ gesture to the viewer. This may connote her as easy and willing to do anything sexual with a man who is in her presence, without caring about how others view her, like it is okay to be perceived as ‘easy to get’.

CostumesThe way females are costumed and presented to their audience affects how objectified they become, because some females may be more clothed than others, as the less clothing they wear increases how sexualized and easy they become from a males point of view.

Below is an screenshot from a music video called ‘Trampoline’. This shot shows an image of an sexualized female in a slight bent over position. Shes also covered up, however the clothes are

Panashe Nyamariwata and Temi Ayadi

very tight; which brings out her figure. The main reason I used this image was due to the females position and her face. She has her back to the camera which may mean that she's only in the music video for her body. Also theres a mask covering her face which may indicate that her identity does not need to be acknowledged by society. The reason she is objectified is because her face is covered by a mask, which may connotate that male does not care about the beauty of the females face, but are more interested in the females body (E.g.buttox and breast).

Acting and presentation

These are other examples of how girls are presented in some music videos. The manner the women above are presented in represents them as sexual objects who are not worthy of true love and emotion, but only worth physical gain and entertainment. This is supported by the picture on the right which shows a man disrespectfully opening a womans legs which would not be allowed in a normal society. The facial expression of the female in this image doesn't show any distress or anger, the reaction to this situation according to her facial expression shows that she doesn't care. every bodi av ta parti

Summary

Panashe Nyamariwata and Temi Ayadi

As we come to a conclusion, we have realized that the objectification of women has become more acceptable in modern society. We believe this is due to the developments of media over the years, increasing how sexualized women are presented to viewers which has made the sexualization of women in media and reality, more acceptable to the public.

By Panashe and Temi