Categorizing facial expressions

Poses and theoriesLaura Mulvey created the term ‘male gaze’ in 1975. She

believes that in a film, audiences have to view characters from the perspective of a heterosexual male.

The camera lingers on the curves of the female body, and events which occur to women are presented largely in the context of a man’s reaction to these events. It relegates women to the status of objects. The female viewer must experience the narrative secondarily, by identification with the male.

You can see a lot of Male Gaze in adverts where females are made out to be sexy even if it has nothing to do with the selling of the product itself. It lures you in.

Marjorie Ferguson Marjorie Ferguson categorized all the female poses into

four categories; Chocolate box, Super Smiler, Romantic/sexual and invitational.

Chocolate Box- Half or full smile, lips together or slightly parted, teeth barely visible, ¾/ full face to camera

Invitational- emphasis on the eyes, mouth shut or with only a hint of a smile, head to one side or looking back to camera.

Super smile- full face, wide open toothy smile, head thrust forward or chin thrown back, hair often wind-blown.

Romantic or sexual- unsmiling, big heads, or the overtly sensual or sexual.

Chocolate box

Shows direct mode of address with lips slightly parted. There’s a hint of a smile.

Invitation

Emphasizes the eyes, mouth shut with a hint of a smile with head to the side whilst looking at the camera.

Super smile

Full face, wide smile showing teeth and facing the camera. Makes it look like the model is enjoying herself and gives a happy atmosphere.

Romantic/sexual

Standing close together, shows romantic gestures, not smiling, shows a sexual gaze.

My magazineFor my magazine I am going to go for either

super smile or chocolate box because it will fit with the theme of Pop music and will make the atmosphere of the magazine better if the model looks like she’s enjoying herself. This will fit in well with my target audience too because they don’t want to buy a Pop magazine where the model on the front doesn’t look happy and isn’t facing the camera, it wouldn't’t fit in with the genre I am going for.