To be a woman in this world is to be an object, an object for man to survey and assess purpose for pleasure. This view of women as merely an object for man to assume property and purpose, specifically a sexual one in the form of art, is the “male gaze” as described by John Berger. From as far as history books date back, men have been the promising receivers of authority and respect. Women were meant to cater to the man’s needs whether that be completing household duties or satisfying their sexual fantasies, even at the women’s expense. It is no surprise based on a woman’s role throughout history that this ideology would persist throughout art.
 |
| The Judgement of Paris by Rubens (1632-1635) |
Teaching Assistant at Monash University, Janice Loreck, states that the “male gaze” is a way of looking that empowers men and objectifies women. This way of seeing has put men in control of how a woman is understood. Berger describes this relationship between man as the surveyor and women as the surveyed (Ways of Seeing, p. 47). The woman's identity in art and in life almost cannot exist without the "male gaze." The gaze defines her, her role and her worth. In terms of art, the role and worth are typically tied to the woman's appearance versus her character. This can clearly be seen in The Judgement of Paris by Peter Paul Rubens' which was said to have been created around 1632-1635. Although all the subjects in the photo are naked, only the women are positioned in such a way where their bodies are on display. The men admire and assess the woman's worth based on their assets. The women in this photo are the point of interest rather than the men which in of itself is not an issue. The issue lies when women are diminished in their physical appearance and the male experience of viewing a woman is only ever valued and taken into consideration. When there is a common theme in art where women are portrayed in submissive and sexual ways because it appeals to the eye of man,
 |
| Adam and Eve by Rubens (1598-1600) |
there lies an issue. This way of seeing and being seen creates a system of knowledge concerning the self and others. The woman is typically positioned and responsive in art not based on how she feels independently but how she appears to be in relation to the man. Berger references art depicting Adam and Eve where this phenomenon is clear (p. 49). In this case, I will be referencing another one of Rubens' works. Eve is positioned in such a way that relates to the viewer, a man. Adam is positioned in a way that relates to the woman and her beauty. Whether in the painting itself or outside of it, Eve is positioned to appeal to the viewer. There is clearly a theme of the "male gaze" in Rubens work but this holds true for other artists as well. We can see this in David Teniers', The Younger take on Adam and Eve in Paradise (1630). The idea of women being pleasure powerhouses is based on a more integral and pervasive concept that has shifted and changed over time but still remains, patriarchy.
 |
| Adam and Eve in Paradise by David Teniers, The Young (1630) |
Patriarchy is at the forefront of issues contributing to the "male gaze" and other more damaging effects on the female and male experience. Patriarchy is complex in how it plays out in the development of individuals, media, education, politics, etc., however, the concept itself is not difficult to grasp. In Bell Hooks' book, The Will to Change, Hooks refers to patriarchy as the "imperialist white-supremacist capitalist patriarchy" (p. 17). Simply put, patriarchy is a system in which males hold all the power and thus women hold none and by males, we're mainly referring to white males with a lot of money. Throughout history, people of color have been on the back burner, especially women of color. Not only do women of color deal with the challenges of being "othered" because of skin color but are also instantly deemed second-class citizens because of their biological nature. After all, in the most schools, we are taught that God was a male and a white one at that (p. 18).
The idea of men being all-powerful and all-knowing, almost God-like, has implications that are damaging to not only women but men as well. One example of many that Hooks mentions is the intentional and strategic emotional suppression taught to men from a very young age. The mental health of men is consistently undermined because they are supposed to be strong, logical creatures that do not express "female emotions." It is only a woman's place to express sadness and anger in ways that are not aggressive. It is encouraged that when men hurt, they respond to situations with aggression and assertiveness. "Don't let them see you cry." Hooks states, "Until we can collectively acknowledge the damage patriarchy causes and the suffering it creates, we cannot address male pain" (p.30). This highlights the fact that if as people, not just women, we approach patriarchy in a way that is only harmful to women we are still perpetuating it by assuming men are always benefitting and privileged from this system, when in fact that is not the case. It is so difficult for one to escape patriarchy because of how deeply embedded it is in our way of life. Hooks refers to Terence Real's experience raising boys. Real's young son Alexander enjoyed playing with Barbie until his older brother and friends realized. They responded to something Real encouraged with shame. No matter what Real was able to teach Alexander up until that point was all gone with one judgemental glance of disapproval (p.22). Even if boys and girls are taught within the household to act outside of patriarchy's strict rules, there will be places in society that will continue to reinforce them consciously or not. In order to dismantle this problem, we need to completely disengage from it which is difficult to do if we are in denial of this system's harmful effects. In relation to patriarchy and the "male gaze," it may be easier to understand how these two work hand in hand.
 |
| Weyenberg Massagic Shoe Ad (1974) |
The "male gaze" and toxic patriarchy do not exist without one another. They support and uplift one another. If it was not for patriarchy, the "male gaze" would cease to live on. Patriarchy supports the idea that men are and should be in control, and that women merely exist as objects for pleasure, sexual or not. Men being perceived as the stronger and more intelligent of humans insists that women must submit and praise. However, with the help of socially deviant scholars pushing the envelope, society as a whole is shifting its perspective. Women's work, pleasure, and existence are being appreciated beyond the sexual gratification men receive from it. We are beginning to shine a light on the female experience, and the importance of acknowledging and accurately expressing it because without it the male experience would not be what it is. Porn, for example, would not be what it is if the existence and beauty of the female body were not taken into consideration. The roles, positions, lighting, etc. play on the female's sexuality but for the pleasure of men which leads me to my last point.
Being someone that spends a fair amount of time trying to understand the societal and political ideologies that dictate how porn has been and continues to be created, these concepts are something I have thought about before. Up until recently, porn has been created for men at the expense of women’s pleasure and appreciation. In understanding these concepts further, I have been provided with the vocabularic ammo to identify more clearly the ways in which these systems penetrate the industry of sex work specifically, my area of interest. By being able to identify a piece of art as being created through the “male gaze” even when that art is in the form of porn, I am able to appreciate to the fullest extent artists who consciously and unconsciously create art of women and men for women. Exposing these concepts and how they are perpetuated in everyday life whether it is in the shows we watch or the music we listen to enables me to spread this knowledge. It is my role as a woman who is aware of how dangerous these ideologies can be to educate others and ask questions to help others understand how these concepts affect their lives as well.
~Amanda Ramppen
Works Cited
Berger, John. Ways of seeing: based on the BBC television series with John Berger. British Broadcasting Corp., 2012.
Hooks, Bell. The Will To Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love. Simon & Schuster, 2004.
Loreck Teaching Associate in the School of Media, Film and Journalism, Monash University, J. (2016, January 05). Explainer: what does the 'male gaze' mean, and what about a female gaze? Retrieved February 01, 2018, from https://theconversation.com/explainer-what-does-the-male-gaze-mean-and-what-about-a-female-gaze-52486
Additional Sources
Defying the Male Gaze//On Depiction of Female Beauty from Renaissance Paintings to Modern Photography by Kylie Krummel-https://boshemiablog.com/2017/09/22/defying-the-male-gaze-on-depictions-of-female-beauty-from-renaissance-paintings-to-modern-photography/
No comments:
Post a Comment