GAZE CHECK
What is the male gaze, and how does it typically frame women vs. men in film?
The male gaze refers to a voyeuristic, objectifying look where men are active agents and women are passive, exhibitionist, or sexualized objects of desire.
What does medium/media mean in communication theory?
Any form or device used to communicate meaning—like TV, podcasts, tweets, or paintings.
Define landscape in media theory terms—not just scenery.
Nature that has been privatized or commodified for economic value.
What’s the ancient version of anthropomorphism?
Humans transforming into animals to gain power or go beyond human limits.
What is imitation, and why did Europeans use it to criticize colonized artists?
A term used to dismiss non-European art as unoriginal or derivative, denying innovation.
What’s the name for the theory that says women watching film must take on a male viewing position to enjoy it?
Transvestivism.
Define paradigmatic structure. Give a Gen Z-related example.
Paradigmatic = the invisible set of choices behind what’s shown. Example: TikTok sounds you didn’t use still shape the video’s meaning.
What does colonialism mean in relation to representation?
The domination of the Other’s knowledge, voice, and identity by the European Same—imposing one worldview over others.
What’s the modern version of anthropomorphism? Where is it common?
Animals taking on human traits or emotions; common in animation like Zootopia or BoJack Horseman.
Why is calling something “just an imitation” a political act?
It reinforces colonial ideas that only Europeans create “true” art, denying creativity to others.
Mulvey says Hollywood films are structured around one dominant gaze. Hansen and Kanno disagree—how?
Mulvey says films center the male gaze; Hansen says women still found pleasure; Kanno says queer gazes can inhabit dominant texts.
How does paradigmatic differ from syntagmatic? Why do we still rely on the latter?
Paradigmatic = possible choices; syntagmatic = sequence. We still rely on syntagmatic forms because of familiar narrative structures (books, films, etc.).
Explain how Gainsborough challenged dominant landscape painting traditions.
He blurred the line between nature and culture, showing how the two are intertwined rather than separate.
How does modern anthropomorphism reduce animal diversity?
It flattens animals into one-dimensional human-like personalities, erasing their real behaviors and complexity.
How did Western artists benefit from “primitive” styles while others were punished for them?
Western artists were celebrated for borrowing “primitive” styles, while non-Western artists were called unoriginal or backward.
In your own words, describe how a queer gaze might change how we see a mainstream film.
It allows viewers to reframe or reinterpret characters and relationships, offering resistance to dominant heterosexual or gendered readings.
What is the “Perfect Mirror” in video game theory, and why is it unique to games?
It's when a player completely masters the game and plays it exactly as the designer intended — a full reflection that doesn’t exist outside of games.
How did Constable and Sullivan differ in how they represented nature?
Constable: nature as nostalgic and lost. Sullivan: nature as dangerous and threatening.
Define primitivism from both the Western and Rest perspectives.
Western: reducing cultures to exotic fantasies. Rest: reclaiming and celebrating heritage despite colonial framing.
Name a pop culture example where an artist of color was accused of “copying.”
Beyoncé’s African-inspired visuals being criticized, while white artists doing similar are praised — exposes racial bias in artistic evaluation.
Give an example of a film scene that centers the male gaze and one that challenges it.
Male gaze: slow camera pan of a woman’s body for male characters’ pleasure. Challenging: A female character looking directly at the camera, asserting her agency
Apply the idea of paradigmatic structure to how people use Instagram or TikTok.
Paradigmatic options are huge, but only some are visible due to algorithm or trends; the structure limits creativity while pretending to offer freedom.
Give a media example that shows nature as dangerous, lost, or commodified.
Instagram resorts showing untouched beaches as private experiences (commodified) or fashion ads exoticizing the jungle.
Give an example of primitivist imagery in media or fashion. Explain if it exoticizes or reclaims.
A fashion shoot using tribal patterns — if done by Western brands, it exoticizes; if by an Indigenous artist, it may reclaim identity.
Imagine an artist reclaims imitation or primitivism in their work — what does it look like?
A digital art project combining Indigenous tattoos with modern tech visuals — showing heritage as innovation, not mimicry.