The Male Gaze

The male gaze was introduced by Laura Mulvey in 1975, the theory views the concept of how an audience views a particular scene or image. In feminism the male gaze can be categorized into 3 types of gaze:

• How men view women 
• How women view women 
• How women view themselves. 

The male gaze theory shows the power that women can have on men and this can be seen in music magazines like the one below. 

Lily Allen is featured on the front cover of this Q magazine and is seen as being attractive. Her appearance on the cover does not relate to music but to flaunt her body and to attract male attention. The seductive look with the look over the shoulder and the tagline "Lily Allen & her wicked wicked ways..." appeals to males and encourages them to buy the magazine.

In comparison Beth Ditto's appearance on the NME front cover takes the male gaze theory and does the complete opposite to that of Q. Beth wouldn't be classed as being attractive by males and her stunt is showing that not all women are attractive and slim. Her appearing naked is not something new as she tends to do this when performing because she gets overheated. Therefore the statement she was trying to make didn't have much of an effect.