Final Project-Sexual Otherness and the Male Gaze June 1, 2008
Source: http://www.mtv.com/ontv/specials/spring_break/2008/While the music video existed to promote musical artists, with MTV’s Spring Break, no artist is needed, it is simply the sexy bodies with the music which is played by a disc jockey. As mentioned in the Article, “‘What is Your Definition of Dirty, Baby?’ Sex in Music Video” By Julie Andsager and Kimberly Roe, what is seen in music videos and on television is defined by a type of social Darwinism, making the “survival of the Sexiest” the standard in music videos. The drive to fill airtime has resulted in a cheap form of programming which is cheaper to make than music videos. These people fill the screen with their scantily clad young bodies for the (most likely) teenaged viewers. Notice the different scenes where women are in various stages of making out. Are they making out for themselves or are they making out for the camera and the viewers? As Tricia Jenkins questions in the article, “‘Potential Lesbians at Two O’Clock’:The Heterosexualization of Lesbianism in the Recent Teen Film” Are these women playing into the common male fantasy of the two hot lesbians? These images of women making out suggests that they are aware of their own power to excite men by performing this lesbian activity. They are aware of the fact that they are going to be displayed on cable tv across the world, as well as in pictures on websites. This further adds to the notion that it has become culturally acceptable for women to engage in homosexual activity for the sake of exiting heterosexual males. Here is another example of this.
After Britney and Madonna kissed on stage during a performance, their images were everywhere replaying the event. This was extremely sensationalized celebrity news that was talked about for weeks. The sharing of saliva between two pop divas certainly got a rise out of its viewers to say the least. They were fufilling the heterosexual male fantasy of two feminine females hooking up. In Jenkin’s article, she notes that most mainstream depiction of lesbianism are heterosexualized to fit the notion of the male gaze. This very kind of behavior reinforces the sexual objectification of women. I find it interesting that if Brad Pitt and Justin Timberlake shared such a steamy kiss on T.V., most viewers would not find that hot at all. This further points to the issue that there is a double standard that exists. Further, women have come to accept that they are objectified by men, and in turn, they have learned to advance their own agendas by allowing themselves to be objectified. Although these images could be for women desiring women, or at least ones who want to see other forms of sexual expression, particularly for women who can identify with these women, it is questionable as to whether this is the intention of these women in the photos. The issue exists in that this is all seen within the context of the heterosexist authority system. Although viewers can take from these images what they want, but it is still an issue of heterosexualized lesbian portrayal. Another example of this is in the show “Xena-Warrior Princess” Throughout the series, Xena has a growing relationship with her sidekick, Gabriel. As the seasons went on, it became more and more obvious that there was a lover connection between the two, and this was reflected by the constant “lesbian teasers” implied in the series. Strangely, both women began in heterosexual relationships, and every so often would appeal to relationships with men, but eventually they would always go back to each other. Theorist Barbara Hammer felt that for a film to be considered “lesbian”, its form must be radical and innovative, in a sense, there must be a lesbian to deconstruct. There is another perspective though. Jane Garrity, who wrote “Mediating the taboo: The Straight Lesbian Gaze” feels that there can be found lesbian content and things which a lesbian can identify with in seemingly conventional narratives. For example, in Xena, it is never stated that there is a lesbian relationship, but lesbians have identified with this seemingly lesbian content. These women have found a form of delight that can be derived from viewing this subtext for oneself, thus finding one’s own personal meaning and pleasure. Heterosexual men may find viewing this pleasurable, but so can women.
This was designed and created by the students in a healthful living class at the University of Southern Illinois. This pamphlet offers some reasons that may appeal to young students. There are such gems such as “save money by not buying birth control”, “Easier to concentrate on career”, “You don’t have to shave your legs all of the time”, “Fewer things to disagree about”, More time to study”. There are some good reasons too that relate to overall emotional health, but it seems that this is something that needs to be explored in ways beyond what a simple pamphlet can offer.
Source: http://blog.vh1.com/utag/series/i-love-money/25006/?source=hp_blog
After Britney and Madonna kissed on stage during a performance, their images were everywhere replaying the event. This was extremely sensationalized celebrity news that was talked about for weeks. The sharing of saliva between two pop divas certainly got a rise out of its viewers to say the least. They were fufilling the heterosexual male fantasy of two feminine females hooking up. In Jenkin’s article, she notes that most mainstream depiction of lesbianism are heterosexualized to fit the notion of the male gaze. This very kind of behavior reinforces the sexual objectification of women. I find it interesting that if Brad Pitt and Justin Timberlake shared such a steamy kiss on T.V., most viewers would not find that hot at all. This further points to the issue that there is a double standard that exists. Further, women have come to accept that they are objectified by men, so they have learned to advance their own agendas. Although these images could be for women desiring women, or at least ones who want to see other forms of sexual expression, particularly for women who can identify with these women, it is questionable as to whether this is the intention of these women in the photos. The issue exists in that this is all seen within the context of the heterosexist authority system. Although viewers can take from these images what they want, but it is still an issue of heterosexualized lesbian portrayal. Another example of this is in the show “Xena-Warrior Princess” Throughout the series, Xena has a growing relationship with her sidekick, Gabriel. As the seasons went on, it became more and more obvious that there was a lover connection between the two, and this was reflected by the constant “lesbian teasers” implied in the series. Strangely, both women began in heterosexual relationships, and every so often would appeal to relationships with men, but eventually they would always go back to each other. Theorist Barbara Hammer felt that for a film to be considered “lesbian”, its form must be radical and innovative, in a sense, there must be a lesbian to deconstruct. There is another perspective though. Jane Garrity, who wrote “Mediating the taboo: The Straight Lesbian Gaze” feels that there can be found lesbian content and things which a lesbian can identify with in seemingly conventional narratives. For example, in Xena, it is never stated that there is a lesbian relationship, but lesbians have identified with this seemingly lesbian content. These women have found a form of delight that can be derived from viewing this subtext for oneself, thus finding one’s own personal meaning and pleasure. Heterosexual men may find viewing this pleasurable, but so can women. 
