Laura Mulvey's Theory

Mulvey’s study on ‘Visual Pleasures and Narrative Cinema’ argues that the predominantly male audience is positioned to identify with the common male protagonist, the audience create a sense of idealization with the protagonist as the audience seeing a perfect visual portrayal of them enforcing the ideologies of a narcissistic audience and society, imposing the idea of scopophilia. In addition this exemplifies patriarchy as the male protagonist drives the narrative concluding the female character as passive.

Moreover, the use of phallic objects by the male characters e.g. guns and swords male dominance, additionally the penis let alone acts as a symbol of power and authority in society. Hence objectifying the passive female due to their sexual depiction as they have no phallic creating penis envy for the very little female audience; creating the audience to recognize them voyeuristically or fethishistically .This therefore makes the male audience unconsciously perceive the female character as castrated enforcing Freud’s theory; imposing the idea of anxiety towards the male audience. Thus, the need for the female characters for a substitute fethisized/phallic objects to reduce the anxiety of the male audience.

How the theory could be useful for my independent study:

The theory enforces the my studies hypothesis as the majority of the female characters in ‘The Sopranos’ is perceived as a fetishists, reflecting on the patriarchy and the narrative cinema to be driven by a male protagonist. In addition, even though, there are depictions of intelligent independent female characters they are nonetheless dependant on male protagonist’s safety and closure therefore subordinate to the male character.

Casino Royale

How does the film address a male/ female audience?

Male

1. The sequel and the character is one of the most nationalistic films made Britain, appealing to the general British audience.

2. The genre of Bond films is another aspect that addresses a male audience, the action adventure film appeals to the male audience, as the storyline conforms to proppian theory as Bond is perceived as the hero saving the damsel in distress and the world from terrorism.

3. Another way the film addresses the male audience, through the progression of technology and stunts, as Bond receives hit-tech gadgets from HQ and stunning and fast cars. Conforming to the ideology of “BOYS AND THEIR TOYS”.

4. Bond girls are another factor that draws in the male audience as women are sexually objectified and there for the male gaze. In addition the Bond Brand is a ‘symbolic annihilation’ of women – Gaye Tuchman.

Female

1. The new and widely acclaimed new Bond, Daniel Craig, appeals to the female audience as he doesn’t conform to the generic Bond representation, tall dark haired, suave broody an actor that exemplifies Pierce Brosnan. Moreover, the scene when Daniel Craig is shot with a long whilst his wet body glimmers on the beach enforces the female gaze and links to Cortese’s theory of males in the film industry needing to have muscular bodies as well as being the provocateur.

2. Bond films can also be depicted as being a hybrid genre, as romance is of the many genres the film undertakes. Women are compelled to the romance of Bond and the ‘Bond girl’.

3. In addition, the film undertakes the presentation of female power, as the Bond’s boss is now a female rather that a typical male; conforming to the zeitgeist, sue to feminism giving women the female gender more equality.

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