Laura Mulvey's Male Gaze theory is how audience perceive women in media. Her theory suggests all women are viewed by a heterosexual male and all perceived by men. Women can either be presented as the 'whore', a mistress etc. Or as a 'mother', women associated with the kitchen and her children.
The camera often lingers on the curves of the female body, objectifying women whereby they are regulated to the status of an object.
The theory also looks at how women view other women and then how they view themselves, comparing them to the perfect image created and perceived by men and for men.
Although women gain main roles within films, or could be seen to be presented in a powerful position in modern day media, they can never truly escape the historical influences men have created before feminism. For example, in the opening scene of 'Marnie', a women is in the first shot of the film. Initially, the audience may see her to be leading the film and so unconventional of male dominance and the male gaze theory. However, the long shot of her walking away from the camera, and wearing stereotypical clothing and high heels, suggests she is being watched by a male. In addition, she is walking amongst tall, traditional buildings and a train station, both of which were made and created by men, and so she is never able to fully escape the historical man's world that surrounds her, despite her leading the narrative.
How is the Male Gaze theory supported or subverted in our trailer?
Our mother character assumes the role of the housekeeper as is often seen in the kitchen. At the beginning of th trailer during the equilibrium, right until the end of the trailer during the disruption stage, she is always shown to be in the kitchen. Throughout allure various emotions as the narrative progresses, she is always in the kitchen, as though it is so familiar to her that it is her safe and comforting area. This almost creates a circular narrative, and reinforces how often she is the kitchen. Therefore she conforms to historically stereotypes of women, in addition to supporting the theory as this is a common role of women when viewed by men, historically a women's place was in the kitchen to serve and cook for men.
Becki, our main character also conforms to the conventional image of a women, she wears natural, famine makeup and her hair is down. If she was not to be viewed from the male perspective, she may identify herself as more masculine, or less attractive to the heterosexual male by not taking pride in her appearances and hair, as well as possibly baggier clothing and less effort in being fashionable to the times. It can be seen that her choice in hair, makeup and costume, was to please the heterosexual male's expectations, because all audiences view females from the perspective, thus supporting the theory.
This creates audience sympathy when she is kidnapped because conforming to female stereotypes suggests she is also weak and vulnerable, and therefore will need saving by the hero as she is unable to do so herself. Audiences may therefore watch from the male perspective of wanting to help and rescue Becki, again supporting the theory.