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Imaging with a Purpose

Screen Rant, New Justice League Promo Image Features Superman, April 23rd, 2017, https://screenrant.com/new-justice-league-promo-image-features-superman/

Gaze and Gender

Laura Mulvey and Michel Foucault introduced the theory of gaze and gender as it relates to how objects and subjects are connected to power relations. Ideally, gazing is about looking, but in this theoretical framework, it goes beyond looking to the cover the type of look. Primarily, the type of look referred to under the gaze and gender theory is about power (Aikenhead, 40). Further on the subject of gaze, certain conventions are represented through gender representations. This theory goes further and highlights the role of a patriarchal gaze that is often used centrally to the construction of femininity, leading to a denotation of gender differences. Usually, this approach to gender identity construction is built upon popular products such as in movies. According to Mulvey, a cinematic gaze is aimed at highlight feminine figures are objects of pleasure. Based on naturalization, the patriarchal gaze is used in promoting a patriarchal social narrative which always brings out the necessity and heroism of masculinity with femininity being portrayed in beauty and subjugation to a higher power held by a man (Aikenhead, 41). Imperatively, the contemporary culture emphasizes objectification of women through naked or scantily covered bodies (Devasan, 25). Therefore this can be perceived as a way of matching the patriarchal gaze and the eradication of gender inequality.

Image Interpretation

Interpretatively, this cinematic theory of explaining images can be used to say that muscular roles are identified through patriarchal gazes while femininity can only be subjective and noticeable through sexism. Using this gaze and gender theory on the image on the film Justice League, there is the presence of both genders making it possible to under the applicability of this theory. Notably from the Justice League promo image, all represented characters are connected to possession of power. The five presented male figures illuminate their identity with power through the patriarchal gaze while the only feminine figure represents her connection to power through her sexual objectification which is represented in her skimpy costume, leaving most of her body parts exposed. Wonder Woman is the feminine character in the Justice League image and in her exposed body; she is represented erotically to the film audience (Chapman, np). Regarding the costumes of the male identities, they are all dressed fully (Chapman, np). From an initial view of the promo image, all characters are gazing, but for Wonder Woman, her gaze is not adequate to relate her to power, since justice league is a superhero film. Therefore in the spirit of promoting the social hierarchy of gender, this film image prioritizes the patriarchal gaze to make the masculine identities first in ranking then femininity second. Consequently, this gender hierarchy brings out the gender differences (Devasan, 9).

Most importantly, Wonder Woman is portrayed in beauty as her strength, but concerning primary power, she is portrayed to be powerful with the help of the masculine power. This presentation is a line used in distinguishing gender identities again in connection to power relations. However, even in the gaze by Wonder Woman, she is portrayed in the masculine gaze raising the question of whether she represents feminism or masculinity.

Finally, the gaze and gender theoretical framework is represented in the promo image through the ability to notice the different masculine and feminine characters. The male characters are represented to maintain a patriarchal gaze for purposes of being noticed or connected to power in the context of promo image. Concerning Wonder Woman, her way of commanding noticeability is through her sexist representation. Despite the gaze of Wonder Woman, the exposed body parts of Wonder Woman surpass the power of the gaze. In general, gazing is most applicable for male characters while erotic representations are applied for female characters.

Work Cited

Aikenhead, Paul David. Man-sized inside: a history of the construction of masculinity in The Tragically Hip's album Fully Completely. Diss. 2010.

Chapman, Tom. "New Justice League Promo Image Features Superman." Screen Rant, 2017, https://screenrant.com/new-justice-league-promo-image-features-superman/.

Devasan, Meltem. Transsexsual complex in the crisis of gender. Diss. Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü, 2012.