Post #1

         From time to time males have been "gazing" on women for their sexual appeal and worthiness. The male gaze is considered as the way they portray women and judge on their physical traits. It is said that the men can determine if a woman is worthy by observing their features and sex appeal. "Men survey women before treating them. Consequently how a woman appears to a man can determine how she will be treated" (Berger, 46). Berger is explaining that men usually judge a woman before even interacting with her. He judges by gazing at her appearance, which will allow him to decide on whether the woman is worthy or not. 

         The male gaze is also considered through nudity and nakedness. I believe that most male painters and artists uses the "gaze" quite often because they experience seeing and observing naked woman for most of the time. "A woman must continually watch herself" (Berger 46). In these lines, Berger is pointing out that a woman must always watch how she portrays herself because men will always continue to gaze. This is why all women tries to impress men by wearing certain clothes (mostly revealing), wears makeup, and etc. Women also think that a male gazing at them is important because they feel more valuable than others and worthy. I think that the male gaze is powerful towards women because it controls them in some ways.

         The male gaze is pervasive to popular culture in many ways. Pornography, magazines, models, etc fit into the category "popular culture" today. Many males view pornography to explore the different types of woman and their sex appeal. Not only do they gaze at their computer screen, but they also gaze at models in magazines. Men expect women to have perfect features because they believe that that makes up their character and worthiness. Television shows such as "America's Next Top Model" portrays the average perfect body figure and facial exercises. These kind of medias tells men that women should all look like that because looks are a very important factor for them. 

          Racism and sexism was a big issue when slaves existed. Black women and men were not allowed to "gaze" at white people because they did not have the right to. Bell Hooks demonstrates that racism was spread throughout the media such as films and movies by how they portrayed black men and women. It was painful to watch their own people be insulted and abusive in the films and it was frustrating for them because they couldn't do anything to about it. "The politics of slavery, of racialized power relations, were such that the slaves were denied their right to gaze" (Hooks, 115). In these lines, Hooks is providing a fact that slaves were not allowed to gaze at  white people. 

          The media today still portrays the male and oppositional gaze. Racism still exists, but you may not know it.  Magazines and pornography is the best source for men to gaze because it shows nakedness and different features of women. Many products advertise women because they try to target men to gaze which will force them to actually purchase the product. 

Maxim Magazine: Google Images

The Oppositional Gaze founded on Google Images: artandwomenfa2011.blogspot.com