Thread by @alexdecampi

Fuck it, the thread nobody asked for: female sexuality and the male gaze, explained via “Twerk” vs “Pumps & A Bump”

So, when women say they don’t like how they’re portrayed (in a film, on a comic book cover, etc) the hetero male response is usually that we’re anti-sex or no fun.

This is almost never the case! It’s not about the sexy, it’s about how the sexy is shown. Let’s watch videos!

First, the stone-cold classic that is MC Hammer’s “Pumps & A Bump.” Scuse the lo-fi-ness:

Next, the brand new City Girls (feat Cardi B) “Twerk”:

I think we can agree that in both videos, women are portrayed in a very sexual / sexy manner, yes? And that a significant part of each video focuses on body parts, rather than expressing women as individuals.

So what makes Pumps & A Bump from the male gaze, while Twerk isn’t?

The male gaze is typically understood to occur in three ways in visual culture:

* that of the man creating the image (behind the camera, holding the pen, et cetera)

* that of the men within the fictional story presented

* that of the viewer / spectator watching the story

So a story or image where women are presented as sexy, but subservient to / accessories of male characters, and meant to turn het male viewers on? Peak male gaze.

*gestures at Pumps & A Bump*

*but yeah, dude has a remote control for his waterfall and that’s pretty great*

And women can create work that’s heavy with male gaze too, because patriarchy! Just because it’s made by a woman doesn’t mean it’s free from the urge to lessen / objectify ourselves so our work appeals to male producers & editors / the Boy’s Club

Here, for example, is Meredith Finch writing a kewpie doll Wonder Woman having a good old cry and hugging her teddy bear because she can’t hack it

Patriarchy is a hell of a drug

And ultimately understanding & reining in the worst excesses of male gaze it isn’t about Tone Police or Me Too or feminism

It’s about $$$

As in, we like to spend it, if you want us to spend it on your stuff maybe don’t portray us as sexy accessories

But it’s ok if u hate $$$

But! And, finally, back to “Twerk”, here’s the thing you’re going to have to get your head around: women do like to look at sexy women

So why does “Twerk” work for women, in the way “Pumps” probably doesn’t?

First, as has already been said by a hojillion commentators smarter and faster than me, “Twerk” has no men at that party. It’s all women, showing off for each other and having fun.

They’re not accessories to a male singer or performer, they are the main event, the main story

Second, the enjoyment of the (presumably male) viewer of the video clearly exists, but in the context of the video feels secondary to the girls impressing EACH OTHER.

The sexy isn’t being done for us, these women don’t need our approval

But it’s still sexy

And here’s an example of where male gaze can completely fuck your shit up. Let’s look at this comic book cover. It was already recoloured after complaints (she was previously wearing a low-cut bustier; her arms and chest were bare) but let’s go over what’s still wrong here

1) that pose is totally from porn. “oh stepdaddy give it to me harder, I love it in the ass”

2) but she’s dead

We’ve gone straight from “sexy accessory to male main characters” to “sexy corpse in a porn pose”. You could not objectify her more. It’s not possible.

Male artist: I like porn! Gonna trace some, mmm, love my job

Character’s relationship to male characters in story: well, she’s dead, so

Male viewer: oh look, porn pose

Male writer’s intent: actualise the suffering of male characters via killing female one

P E A K

Feel free to do this! It’s a free world. Have fun. But, my pals, there is a LOT of competition for the 40yo white het male dollar.

And literally you’re driving by money lying there in the street from female audiences, which you could have, if you’d just stop embarrassing urself

So for the two dudes out there who are now like I’M SCARED TO DRAW THE SEXY BECAUSE OF THE NASTY WOMENS, well, we’re scared to go on dates because sometimes people kill us, thanks to being portrayed as sexy accessories for men for so long that you don’t understand when we say no.

But here are some things to consider.

* Is the character one who likes to wear revealing clothing / act sexy? Like, if she were a real person, would she post a “what’s on your mind” thirst-trap selfie? If so, sure, portray her as flirting with the camera

* But don’t take, like, Sue Storm, and put her in a porn pose, because that’s just gross and super male gazey — taking a character who would not be comfortable with that sort of portrayal and objectifying them

* Is the character dead? I don’t mean to kinkshame if necrophilia is your thing, but it’s generally considered culturally unacceptable to pose dead bodies in porn poses. Just saying.

* Is the character portrayed as both aware they’re being looked at / perved on, and consenting to it? This is a big one, along with the previous “is it in character for this woman to be sexy”.

Consent is really great, guys. It makes it sexy for EVERYONE.

Yes, it’s hard to navigate gaze issues. Yes, there’s a lot of grey area. Yes, you get better with practice.

Think more about how you portray women in images and stories, if you’d like to make more money / have more fans. That’s it.

Oh and here’s a sticker by @ARTofCOOP that is sexy AF and in a very similar pose to Porn Corpse Poison Ivy from that cover, but lacking that cover’s male gaze issues. And guess what? Coop is a guy! You can do it, men, if you try.

Also argh, here’s “Twerk”, sorry about the double post of the MC Hammer video earlier, I am bad: