The term “male gaze” was coined 37 years ago by feminist film theorist Laura Mulvey. The basic idea is that men have been objectifying women for their physical appearance since…uhm, prehistoric times.
And this, perversely, has led to an artistic tradition where males get pleasure from looking at females who take on passive roles blah blah. In the world of Mulvey’s “male gaze” society is still teaching young girls that they need to look desirable in order to get attention from boys while also teaching young boys that it’s okay to view women as sex objects.”
Friendo: “This again? Who gives a fuck? They’ve all but obliterated men by now. There’s nothing left but a grease stain. And that’s still not enough?”
Nina Menkes’ Brainwashed: Sex-Camera-Power (Kino Lorber) debuts on 10.21 at Manhattan’s DCTV Firehouse Cinema; it will also open at the Laemmle in West Los Angeles. Some kind of national rollout wiill follow.