Feminism: blog tasks

Media Magazine reading

1) What are the two texts the article focuses on?

Pan Am' and Beyonce
2) What examples are provided from the two texts of the 'male gaze' (Mulvey)?

The main characters 'cause male characters in the airport to turn and stare' in the opening scene which is a blatant example of male gaze as we are watching from their perspective. She also mentions the slow-motion shots that allow us to marvel at their beauty which in return isn't us watching from their perspective, but a males.
3) Do texts such as these show there is no longer a need for feminism or are they simply sexism in a different form?

These texts show that there is progression yet it doesn't go against all sexism issues like rape. It is a start to a new wave of feminism as it mocks and challenges the way we look all at women which leads to said crimes.
4) Choose three words/phrases from the glossary of the article and write their definitions on your blog.

Feminism – A movement aimed at defining,
establishing, and defending women’s rights

and equality to men.

Male Gaze – The gaze referring to Laura
Mulvey’s seminal article ‘Visual Pleasure and
Narrative Cinema’ which argues that main
stream Hollywood films subject female
characters to the ‘male gaze’ of the camera,

fragmenting and objectifying their bodies.

Nostalgia – A sentimental longing for the past,
often only remembering the positives of the
time.

Music video analysis

1) How might this video contribute to Butler’s idea that gender roles are a ‘performance’?

Mainly because she is acting like a certain women for the attention so the character beyonce is playing the part making it not biological and agree with butlers theory.
2) Does this video reinforce or challenge the view that women should perform certain roles in society?

It challenges as it shows beyonce trying and getting emotional over it and not enjoying her life.

3) Would McRobbie view Beyonce as an empowering role model for women? Why?

Yeah as mcrobbie saw the magazines such as Cosmopolitan and Glamour, taking a different perspective to traditional feminists. An could include beyonce with this example.

4) What are your OWN views on this debate – does Beyonce empower women or reinforce the traditional ‘male gaze’ (Mulvey)?

I think Beyonce does empower women as she is saying and showing that girls try way too hard to impress men and shows u should be happy as well as the man and to not seek his approval all the time.