Laura Mulvey Essay Template

How does Laura Mulveys theory apply to Dirty and Do it Like a

Dude?
Discuss: The Camera, The Audience, The Actors
The target audience of these artists and why you
think they choose to present themselves in this
way.

Laura Mulveys 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 Aguileras video of Dirty the use of the camera invites sexual gaze by using camera shots that
are above Christina, looking down at her and her features that are seen as sexual. This invites the audience
to look at her from a male perspective as an object that they can use for their own sexual pleasure. This
proves Laura Mulveys point as Christina has chosen to have the audience look at her like an object of
desire.
The audience views this video in a voyeuristic way because men are attracted to her as she makes herself
an object of desire. The male audience feels that they should not be watching the video as it makes them
feel that they are dominant over her.
The actors interact in a way that results in the female being looked at as an object of desire. This occurs
when Christina is in the boxing ring surrounded by shirtless men who are all staring at her. All of the men
are on higher levels than her, to visually show their dominance.
In Jesse Js video of Do it Like a Dude the use of the camera invites sexual gaze by using shots from the
ground, staring up at Jessie. This is so you can see all of her features that are normally seen as sexual.
The audience views this video in a voyeuristic way because they feel that they have become the passive
role from looking up at Jessie due to the camera being on the ground.
The actors interact in a way that results in the female being looked at as an object of desire. This occurs
when Jessie is dancing with her backing dancers because they are all doing dance moves that are seen as
sexually provocative.
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 the male attention makes them feel good about
themselves. They take their clothes off in the videos for male attention but even they know that is not how to
get a males attention in real life.
In summary, Laura Mulveys theory applies to these music videos because both artists take their clothes off
and perform dance moves that are sexually provocative in order to gain male attention. They make
themselves passive in their videos and use sex to sell their music.