Voyeurism

This idea comes from the psychoanalytical theories of Sigmund Freud and originally refers to the notion that erotic pleasure may be gained by looking at a sexual object (preferably when the object is unaware it is being watched).


It has been proposed (principally by Laura Mulvey, 1975) that, because the filmmakers are predominantly male, the presence of women in film is often solely for the purpose of display rather than for narrative purposes.


The purpose of this display, it is argued, is to facilitate a voyeuristic response in spectators,

which presumes a ‘male gaze’ regardless of the gender of the spectator, one that

is, or may feel like, a powerful controlling gaze at the female on display, who is effectively objectified and passive.


Indeed it has almost become an obsession in music videos

As you can see in the above video I have embedded, the entire focus is on the women working out. Although this was a video in which was shown widely on mainstream TV, including channels such as MTV etc...it oozes sex appeal that is purely only attractive to those that are sexually attracted to women. The women in the video have no sense of character and again are used purely as visual objects - the director had a want for the audience to be attracted to these women and discuss the unusual context of the video.