What Even is The Male Gaze?

     The whole concept of the "male gaze" fascinates me. It's right in front of our faces, all of the time, but the vast majority of people cannot really see it until it's been pointed out to them - and even when it is pointed out, it takes some time to gradually process how this impacts not just society, but one's self-image. I started looking into this about 18 months ago, and it still puzzles me sometimes. I'm constantly learning how to detect and unlearn the harmful beliefs I held (and some I still do not realize I hold), and understand how one big monster of a concept could cause so much damage. It really is mind-boggling, and most of all, processing it is a personal experience - but in the end, all of this self-discovery and analysis is jumpstarted by bringing it to light, which in my opinion, is the first yet most important step.

    According to Oxford, the male gaze is the "the perspective of a notionally typical heterosexual man considered as embodied in the audience or intended audience for films and other visual media, characterized by a tendency to objectify or sexualize women." This is quite the definition to unpack, but basically, because a myriad of media is created through a man's point of view (or a woman or person that has grown accustomed to watching male-crafted narratives), certain stories, dialogue, costuming, production techniques (like types of shots, movement, framing, etc.), and characters are created in a way that portray women in a potentially harmful manner. For instance, an action movie may focus on a woman's curves in tight, leather costuming, using close-ups of her more intimate parts to make the audience focus on how "attractive" she is. The camera, in this situation, are the audience's (and director's) eyes, which rake through her body and focus mostly on the physical. It makes that woman seem like she is mostly there to pose as a sexual object, mainly for the audience's entertainment and arousal. This leads to the objectification of women, belittling them and making it seem as if their only purpose in stories is to look "sexy."

    Though it may not seem like a huge problem to some, this specific portrayal can cause extreme amounts of damage, especially since this has become a widespread practice among various genres of film (and of course, other visual media like photography, magazines, etc.). This makes viewers develop a very specific way of consuming content, enforcing constraining gender norms and ultimately affecting society's behavior towards certain groups, since many expect real life to match the reality they experience through the content they consume. Unfortunately, this is not even the most harmful aspect of the male gaze, at least in my opinion. Again, since specific groups of people are being showcased in a certain way and those on-screen characters ultimately represent the entire group, many viewers consume this visual media and feel the need to meet those unrealistic, clearly fabricated expectations. In terms of women, this leads to intense self-objectification, a decrease in self-esteem and interestingly, performative femininity. This is because many wish to be seen the way other women are viewed in movies or other forms of media because this is what they think womanhood should be like. Ultimately, this need for validation (either hidden or not) can lead to unhappiness, confusion, frustration, and overall dissatisfaction with one's life and image. Many women may also change their behavior to meet these expectations, straying further away from who they are at their core.

Sadly, that only scratches the surface.

    I've had countless conversations not just with myself but with others regarding this phenomena, and it is both extremely fascinating and terrifying how one concept can hold so much power. Many women say that the male gaze has affected even how they act when they are alone, or how they act towards other women. The male gaze can also affect people in terms of their sexuality and how they feel about women, in addition to how they feel about themselves, particularly in sexual situations.

    As you can see, this is so much to unpack... But it is extremely important to talk about. At least in my experience, learning about the male gaze (and female gaze, which is its own monster and equally as problematic) has allowed me to detect harmful beliefs about womanhood, femininity, etc. and unlearn them, brining me closer to myself and allowing me to become more comfortable with my own body. This self-discovery is priceless - and being able to consume media, detect the male gaze, and analyze things critically allows society to view things from a more realistic lens, preventing any additional emotional turmoil. This is why awareness is CRUCIAL! And I would love to create something that shines a light on this issue, brings people together, and promotes social change. 

    Creating a documentary about this would be quite the task... But I think that as long as I write clear, comprehensible questions with a goal in mind, it won't be impossible. I just have to be extremely aware of where the interview is going that way we don't get too off topic. Unfortunately we also will not be able to discuss every nook and cranny of this issue, because in reality, one could talk about the male gaze for days and still not be able to fully cover its effects. We need to pick some main points and stay focused.

    I think I would like to concentrate mainly on how the male gaze affects teenagers growing up in a technologically advanced world, since they have been exposed to it at a much younger age and therefore may have specific thoughts to add about that. I think narrowing it down to a certain age group will also make it easier to edit and put together, especially since both Kim and I are part of that age group and have also been affected by the male gaze. After all, it is best to write stories you know. I think this documentary would definitely be a challenge, but it could also be a very fruitful, much-needed documentary that sparks a conversation I think many women need to have.

Here are some resources I used to learn more about this:

Jill Soloway's Masterclass

Laura Mulvey and the Male Gaze Theory

Portrait of a Lady of Fire

Ideas, Ideas, Ideas...

 What's Next?

    Surprisingly, coming up with the concept for Counter Conformity was relatively easy. I had been learning more about fashion and how many models often bend gender norms (and of course how this relates to gender identity and expression). At the time, I was also trying to figure myself out and therefore was interested in the topic, since I was curious about gender non-conformity and whether or not I fit within that category. Making that documentary was a way for me to explore that through the lens of other people, their experiences, and their beliefs about fluidity in fashion. It was a very genuine project that I believe made me a better person, a better creator, and a better story teller. It was therapeutic for sure.

    Unfortunately, things aren't as smooth this time around. I have many projects and competitions I am doing all at the same time, leaving only a part of my brain to try to come up with a new (and achievable) idea. Despite the immense help I get from Pinterest for coming up with the overall "look" of my desired projects (thank god for Pinterest), it has been difficult to find interviewees that are interesting and have a unique story to tell. At this point, the topics I really want to cover are "too complex," and the stories that are more available and achievable seem a little... bland. The clock is ticking, and Kim and I are still struggling to decide. 

 Idea #1: Could Be Changing Bearings Part 2, Which Would Be... Interesting

    Over the course of the past few months, I have been following this girl (on Instagram) that lives nearby and skates at a local skate park. She is so talented and seems to be extremely dedicated to what she does, constantly posting videos and showcasing her journey in skateboarding. Basically, she's bad*ss. And a better skater than every other skater I know. 

    I thought it would be really interesting to obviously capture her story (as well as the stories of her friends that also skate) to talk about a much deeper issue - the whole "girl power" thing and how even though it started out as a way to empower women, it has caused even more separation and has, in a way, become slightly counter productive.

    Obviously my take on "girl power" is not shared by everyone and who knows, the skater I mentioned might not agree, but it would definitely be interesting to explore that and try to understand what people think. It also would be beneficial to interview someone that disagrees with me, that way the documentary goes over the entire topic and not just one side of things. I would also like to discuss the whole "___ like a girl" mindset and how that can be problematic as well.

    My only concern is: my best friends (two alumni from my TV club and AICE Media Studies) made a skating documentary named "Changing Bearings" about a year ago that won a bunch of awards and has been celebrated in both programs; and even though this documentary would be completely different in terms of style and content, I'm not sure making a skateboarding documentary is the best thing to do right now. This is pretty valid considering I'm not really a huge part of the skating community and I would not be as familiar with the topic (at least like I was with Counter Conformity and another documentary I made about a local band, which coincidentally I made with both creators of Changing Bearings). I like to know what I'm covering like the back of my hand, so doing a skate doc (especially covering such a particular topic) might be a little tricky. I don't want to completely shy away from the idea because it definitely is still an option, but I just don't really feel motivated to do it like I was with Counter Conformity. Making a documentary takes so much effort and time, and if I'm going to commit to an idea, I want to be excited about it.

    

Idea #2: SUCH a Good Topic, But Such a Hard One to Portray Properly...

    The male gaze is SCARY. It is so subtle, yet the damage it causes is anything but. I'll go more in depth in terms of what the male gaze is and why it is so problematic in my next post, but before I talk about my idea for a documentary, here is a quick definition: 

"The male gaze refers to how women are depicted in the world—specifically media—from a heterosexual male's point-of-view. This depiction is generally hypersexualized and treats female characters as objects for the male protagonists to use."

    This "lens" can have many negative effects on women and how they feel in a plethora of situations: how they behave when alone, towards other women, towards men, in sexual and non-sexual situations, etc. It's definitely a lot to cover. This is a flashcard I covered with some notes the other day: 

    This index card has a LOT of information on it, each bullet point being its own intricate, mature subtopic. I think that if I were to do a documentary on this, I would have to choose just a few points and really focus on those, making sure that they are fully explained and make sense together. For the most part, I would like to focus on how the male gaze affects people's view of themselves, and how individuals can reclaim their confidence and no longer let the male gaze have as big of an effect on them. I have been doing a lot of research on the topic (both through online resources and intimate conversations with those that are also aware of the male gaze), and I think that as long as I make a clear structure and focus on a specific aspect of this issue, this documentary will be doable. 

I have also thought about the execution of this documentary, and I think that in order to be successful, Kim and I will have to:

- Decide on who exactly we would like to interview. I think narrowing it down to a specific age range might make it easier to not only conduct interviews, but also put the entire documentary together and make sure that the piece is cohesive. Even though this issue affects all women, covering the problem with a very specific angle might facilitate the entire process. Also, much like Counter Conformity, I would like to get B-roll of the interviewees and highlight their individual features, which personally will be much easier if the interviewees were similar in age. Also, people write best when they write stories they know, so getting interviewees that have grown up in a similar environment (specifically when it comes to technology, children's access to it, etc.) will definitely allow us to empathize, write better questions and overall make a better documentary.

- Decide on a good structure and write REALLY good questions. Because this is a very complex topic, we have to find a way to ask questions about the male gaze without asking too much of the interviewee (or the viewer, since explaining the theory of the male gaze is time-consuming in itself). In my Television Production club, we make news stories and always keep this in mind: in the end, stories are about people. Obviously you can discuss what they are doing, where, and how they are doing it; but in the end, viewers are people too, so they will mainly care about how the subject feels, how they act, how they interact with others, etc. Because of this (and because of the very personal nature of the male gaze and how it can have extremely detrimental effects on women and society in general), I think it would be best interviewees about their experiences instead of asking them to define the male gaze or give overly specific examples. Like I mentioned earlier, stories are about people, so instead of making this doc super theoretical and informational, it should simply capture the essence of the issue and how it is impacting people. I think this would also make it easier for both Kim and I to make this doc, since we are used to getting that "human" aspect of stories. We just have to make sure that the questions are focused and that we don't stray away from the main topic, especially since there is so much to discuss.

- Be very smart about B-roll. Personally, I am a complete sucker for artistic, staged footage. Not "staged" in a way that is untruthful or manipulative, but more so in a way that is formalistic and captures the "feeling" of a topic. I have been building a Pinterest board for the past couple weeks that I absolutely love. It definitely requires much more than Counter Conformity and is even more stylistic than what we captured then, but I think that this is definitely a lot more "my style." Check the Pinterest board out here. Here are some of my favorite pictures from the board:

Obviously I would not be doing exactly what those pictures show (especially because I do not have access to a crazy amount of old-looking TVs), but I would simply take inspiration from it and use what I have (or what could be available to me) to make the most of everything. I was thinking of getting some used TVs from Craigslist like these for the b-roll, and if that is not available, I can use other screens like the TVs, computers, tablets, etc. in my house as well as security/CBTV/DSLR cameras to get the shots I want. I would also like to include examples of the male gaze (ex: excerpts from films playing on the old TVs, magazines, etc.) in the b-roll that way people can see real examples of where this issue is mostly found.

    I really like this idea. It's a great topic, I have a clear vision for the visuals and "feel" (which honestly, is always the hardest part to solidify since I always want it to be as stylistic as possible), and I feel like as long as I get the right interviewees (I have a few people in mind already), it's doable. I'm just worried about writing effective questions and choosing what exactly to focus on in the documentary.

    It's also quite the project to take on, but now that the biggest competition of the year for my TV club are coming to a close, I should have much more time to work on it. 

Idea #3? It's not even a full idea yet. 

    I don't really have a set topic in mind at all. I just think of the "idea" and think mainly of a feeling, maybe some scattered visuals (potential shot ideas) here and there but overall, nothing clear has come. I definitely think this idea could also be successful but considering it won't fully develop in my mind just yet, it just seems like a sign that it's a topic I'll have to leave for later. From what I can tell, it has to do with technology and discussing whether or not it has brought us together or even further apart than before, and whether all of this "connectedness" is just a big illusion. Here are some pictures of what I was somewhat thinking. Hopefully these capture the "feeling" I'm sensing, even though it's very similar to the look of the male gaze idea:

    But... Yeah. Coming up with ideas is HARD! Especially since I'm constantly having to create for my TV Production club, our weekly show, competitions, any additional stuff.... It's very difficult to be extremely creative all of the time. But I definitely want this project to be great, hopefully better than Kim and I's last project. I want to keep pushing myself, and hopefully come closer to my big goal, which is eventually creating a docu series that discusses taboo topics but showcases them in a mature, artistic way (formalism is YUMMY). When I think about it, I'm pretty much doing that now... I just want to go even further above and beyond and develop my own unique, easily recognizable style. I really love documentaries. I really want to see how I can make them in a way no one has before.

    I hope to decide on a topic by next week that way Kim and I can start doing pre-writing, which is really exciting. I really think that with Counter Conformity being done and already having that experience, we'll be able to get things done quicker and with less stress. We know the way we work now, so it should be smoother overall. Let's hope for the best!

So Far in A Level!

 Hello again!

    I know I mentioned some fo my latest projects in A level AICE Media Studies in my last blog post and how they have helped me evolve as a creator, so I wanted to take the time to talk about these projects in depth, particularly the documentary and film distribution project. Here I go!

DOCUMENTARY PROJECT - COUNTER CONFORMITY

    Before the end of 2021, myself and two other classmates got to create a documentary on the relationship between gender and clothing and why this ability to express oneself is so vital, especially for those that may be viewed differently for it. It consisted of three interviewees (Ana Echeverri, Jan Bourgmayer, and Florence Laurent) who talked about their experiences, both good and bad, regarding fluid fashion. Despite it being a relatively controversial project, I think the end result was effective in not only telling the interviewees' stories, but also starting a conversation about a topic that is often not discussed.

    In all honesty, this project was not an easy one. Again, finding a way to present the topic in an open, comprehensible way was quite the challenge, however fully worth the effort. I learned so much about writing a documentary, contacting interviewees, filming with SONY a7iis, properly using a Ronin, color grading, finding music, and so much more. Despite all this work, I really did think that all of my time was truly well-spent, especially since I had discovered a newfound confidence and motivation for creating, particularly for pieces that explore taboo subjects. I am very happy that my group and I chose an unusual topic and stuck with it to the end, even if I had to experience some uncomfortable conversations and be extremely vulnerable (since the topic itself was something I had and have been experimenting with). It allowed me to dive deeper into an unexplored part of myself and heal from experiences regarding the subject. This, by far, is the project I am most proud of. I definitely plan on making something similar in the near future.

DISTRIBUTION PROJECT - STILL IT RAINED

    Another significant project that has allowed me to expand my horizons was the most recent group assignment, the film distribution project. Here, my partners and I were responsible for not only developing key art, a teaser and trailer for a story written by a creative writing student, but we also had to create an entire marketing and distribution plan for the film. This was the first real time I had ever created a real teaser or trailer, since I am usually accustomed to creating either complete short films or short news stories. Not only did this allow me to gain more experience regarding that aspect of the project, but I also got to be on camera for the first time. Usually, I will anchor or appear in my own informational, entertainment, or news segments; however, this was the first time that I was fully acting. This was already a challenge considering I'm used to remaining on the other side of the lens, but pretending to be a ten-year-old boy definitely did not make acting any easier. Looking back, I don't necessarily like the accent or voice I used to represent the character, however I think I would enjoy being on camera a more often. Here is the trailer.

    Another really important aspect of this project was the development of the film's marketing and distribution techniques, as well as the key art. For our social commentary film, we decided to go relatively simple an design a simplistic "poster" with the main character's silhouette and the movie's title, "Still It Rained," in a clear font. Here is the key art my group created:

    Creating the marketing and distribution strategies was also quite enjoyable. I learned a TON about theatrical releases and their cost, film festivals, and the overall distribution timeline for different types of films. Not only that, but my group members and I were able to get very creative in terms of what we wanted to do for marketing. Of course we included the typical digital marketing methods such as social media presence, but we were also able to bring our rainy universe to life through podcast features (combined with sound design elements) and collaboration with the heads of Rapids Water Park. This is because we mentioned that hosting an interactive, in-person (hyperrealistic) attraction that merged family fun and our film's message/atmosphere would allow us to creatively gain more traction for our film. I think that of course besides getting to film something new, this project allowed me to dive deeper into marketing and distribution and their roles in a film's ultimate success.

This is one of our presentation slides regarding

 the distribution of our film.

    Overall, I will definitely be using all of this important information for not only future projects, but possibly real life as well. I am very grateful for all of these opportunities and hope to expand my skills and knowledge even more throughout the next few projects! I will definitely miss this class when I graduate, it has completely transformed the way I consume and create.

Taking a Look Back

 Hello everyone! It's been a while!

    I have been able to look back at some of my postings from AICE Media Studies AS Level and I must say, I really have come a long way since I began taking this course. 

    I got to see the music video and marketing project I made approximately a year ago, as well as the film opening project that I made as a part of my AICE portfolio. Though these are very different from my current style, I can definitely sense a bit of "myself" in these projects, particularly the music video. I think projects like these really helped me figure out what parts of the creation process I was attracted to, what I was strong at, and allowed me to start developing my personal taste. Over the course of a couple months, I went from a mere "TV kid" that knew how to handle a DSLR to a conscious, meticulous creator who thinks through every aspect of their projects, making it the best it can be. I really am proud of how far I have come and am excited to see what I have to say about this a year from now. I always feel like I am growing creatively in this class, and for that I am extremely grateful.

    Speaking of growth, I think this year's curriculum and projects have really allowed me to evolve. Not only did learning about post-modernism completely shift my view of the world and cause me to consume media with a more critical lens, but the documentary project back in October/November (as well as our most recent distribution project), have really allowed me to take that aesthetic awareness and storytelling to the next level. I really cannot wait to see what the rest of this year brings!

CCR - Creative Critical Reflection

 Time to Reflect

            After working on this project for eight weeks, I thought it would be a great idea to create a video explaining my group's process, some of the challenges we faced, and the things I personally took away from the creation of this film opening. I hope you guys enjoy watching it! Click this link to watch.

Final Film Opening!

The Final Export is Here!

            Hello! I am extremely excited to finally show everyone the film opening that my group and I have been working so hard on for the last eight weeks. If you want to watch, click here. Hope you enjoy! I will be posting a video reflecting on my group's progress, some of the challenges we faced, and things we could have executed differently. Stay on the lookout for that post, it will be up tomorrow by midnight! 

Final Reflection

I Guess This is Goodbye... For Now

  Man… Eight weeks! That is how long my group has been working on this project. I have to admit, certain moments throughout the creation of this film opening made me doubt whether or not my group and I would make it through, but I am very glad that we toughed it out and came out together in one piece.

Personally, I think the beginning of the project was the most difficult. I joined a group with three other people from my TV production class, meaning we all knew what we were doing and wanted to make sure we made something that was good quality. Because we wanted the end result to meet our high expectations, we struggled to come to a decision in terms of what genre we wanted to do, who our main character should be, and more. Not only was it difficult to decide, but all of us happen to be very opinionated and stubborn, causing the planning process much longer than it needed to be. What can I say? We are passionate about what we do!

Fortunately, we were able to agree on a topic and begin to create character profiles, shot lists, storyboards, and more. However, another large problem arose - we were unable to meet regularly due to our conflicting schedules. This meant that whenever we met up to plan, the calls would last for hours, since we did not want to risk not being able to meet another day. Despite these scheduling conflicts, we were able to finish planning and move into the production stage.

We met up one Saturday to drive to our selected location and start filming. Overall, the adjustment from storyboard to the actual location was not terrible, but there were many shots we had to rethink due to technical problems like exposure and composition. Because of this, we captured lots of extra footage to make sure we had plenty to work with, and ended up filming the entire project in a span of just a couple hours. We sacrificed breaks to get the entirety of the filming done, which was definitely time-efficient but extremely exhausting for all of us. Additionally, because we were tight on time, some of the solutions we had come up with for the technical problems I had mentioned earlier were not necessarily the best, simply just the easiest and quickest solutions possible. Looking back, I definitely wish we had somehow gotten more time to film the opening, since it felt very rushed and we even had to cut out a section due to technical errors.

Next came the editing. Because of our already conflicting schedules, finding a day to meet and edit all together was close to impossible. Consequently, we did most of the editing remotely, splitting up the work so that we were all involved in each step of the process. I ended up doing sound design and attempting to apply a volumetric light effect to the beginning of the opening. Unfortunately, there were some complications  that prevented After Effects from being able to track the footage, ultimately making it impossible for me to apply the effect. Regardless, I enjoyed playing with the settings and getting more familiar with the program. The rest of my group handled line editing, color grading, and the other tasks needed to complete the project. Even though I am glad we spit up the work, I really wish I could have mixed the sound since the final mix sounded a little imbalanced to me. I guess I am just being nit-picky, but that is another aspect of this project that I have been reflecting on recently!

Anyway, it has been a great (and very stressful) eight weeks, but I am really satisfied that this project has finally come to an end. I am very grateful for my group despite the complications we faced, and I am surprised at how we went from being completely undecided about the topic to creating a complete, professional-looking film opening. Thank you to everyone that has been keeping up with my blog, it has been a privilege to write to you guys! I hope you enjoy the film opening. As always, thanks for reading!