Wednesday 25 September 2013

Laura Mulvey | James Bond

The James Bond franchise is a clear example of film objectifying females and forcing the audience to view females via the male gaze. THe scene with, ‘Die Another Day’ When James Bond meets the character Jinx demonstrates my previous statement by James looking through binoculars at Jinx when she is coming out of the water. Vignette has been added in post production making it seem like the audience is viewing Jinx through James’ eyes. With the audience just being able to focus on Jinx with the vignette and a closeup of her it is objectifying Jinx and forcing the audience to view the female via the male gaze.
Slow motion has also been added post production which exaggerates her getting out of the water letting the camera stay on her longer leaving more time for the audience to look at her for scopophilia and objectification. Non-digetic music has also been used to suggest James’ fantasy in his head and therefore the audience’s fantasy as they are watching it through his eyes. 
Hegemonic behaviour is shown in the scene when James hands Jinx the glass of alcohol saying ‘you should try it’. He is being dominant and forceful towards Jinx pushing her into trying the drink. This is also shows the patriarchal society they are in. 
Jinx has been coded in a particular way to be noticed. She is in a small bikini, with large breasts and flawless makeup even after she has just left the water. This is a false view of reality. Jinx’s walk up to the bar is exaggerated, again objectifying her. 
Bond’s first words to her were ‘magnificent view’, to which she responds with ‘It is isn’t it, too bad it’s lost on everybody else’. This suggests that women only care about what other men think and they only act in a certain behaviour for men, which is a false representation of women. 
All of this has happened before the audience knows who she is and whether she carries an important role within the film. The film has focused on her appearance before her as a person. 

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