Mulvey's Essays

Mulvey's essays, particularly "Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema," analyze how traditional Hollywood films often depict women as objects for male pleasure. She explains that movies typically present women through a male gaze, making viewers see them as viewers see them—primarily for their looks and how they fulfill male fantasies. This creates a dynamic where women are passive and defined by their relationship to men, reinforcing gender stereotypes and power imbalances. Mulvey's work encourages viewers to critically examine how cinema shapes perceptions of gender and sexuality, highlighting the importance of diverse and empowering representations.