Beyoncé 1+1 - Male Gaze Analysis

Beyoncé 1+1 song analysis

Throughout the music video, Beyoncé’s character is presented as a subject that contradicts the aspects of Laura Mulvey’s ‘Male Gaze’ theory. These include the character acting flirtatious, erotic and possessed by a dominant figure. These aspects are all linked to and revolve around sexual encounters and intimacy.

The beginning of the clip begins with a black screen which creates a slow and intimate atmosphere with support of the slow tempo of the music. At 10 seconds of the clip, Beyoncé is presented to the audience in a close up and is captured as an erotic figure, moving slowly and covered in water which can be used to represent sweat. This refers to the idea of sexual intimacy in which her character looks like she has finished her sexual encounter with another male figure. Throughout the video, her lips remained parted which Marjorie Ferguson’s theory of male gaze facial expressions to continue with the sexual theme.

At 44 seconds, Beyoncé tilts her head backwards, closes her eyes with her lips still parted. This suggests that she is thinking of a reality that may not possibly happen. Her facial expressions when she tilts her head suggest this.

 

A few seconds later, Beyoncé is captured in another close up caressing herself to make her look vulnerable and inferior. She is wearing little or nothing at all which implies that her character is prepared to receive sex.

After this, a waterfall special effect is included to create an erotic sexual encounter. This scene opens with a fade-in transition and concludes with a fade-out transition. This extreme close-up shot is supported with slow movements to again refer to the erotic atmosphere.

At one minute, a mid shot is included which now gives the audience an insight into her clothing. Her clothing appears to be a thin night garment that promotes the male gaze theory that women are portrayed to be admired for their appearance. In which Beyoncé is presented to be a character that expresses sexiness. This scene is followed by her taking off her garment. This scene is repeated three times which is due to editing to an erotic sensation.

Following this is in which Beyoncé is wearing no clothes but continues the theme of sex by stroking herself, tilting her head back with her eyes closed. At this point, her lyrics say “Make love to me” which suggests vulnerability of her character. The glittery special effect adds to the sexual theme.

At 1:26, the audience can see a change in the background. This change is from a calm, erotic atmosphere to and creates colourful lively atmosphere. This suggests an advancement in sexual activity. Again her character is stroking herself to increase the intimacy between the character and the audience. She repeats the lyric “Make love to me” to further support the idea of her vulnerability. Her lips continue to be parted with her eyes firmly closed.

At 2:12, a long shot of Beyoncé is displayed wearing leopard print clothing and stockings. The specific types of clothing are resembled with sexiness and are admirable.  Her composition as well as her clothing place emphasis on her to draw in the audience.

At 2:42, a first faint glimpse of a male figure appears, holding Beyoncé. This refers to Laura Mulvey’s male gaze theory of men becoming dominant over women and possess them. So in the clip, the male can be interpreted as possessing Beyoncé. This figure is an element of mystery but can be interpreted as the character’s lover. Later she them tilts and rolls her head around the male figure with her eyes closed to create the intimate atmosphere once again.  

Just after three minutes, Beyoncé is viewed in what looks like to be in a sexual position with the mysterious male figure. These actions can be associated with sexual activity and intimacy. The effects begin to speed up which indicate an uplifting change in tempo and activity of the two characters.

Next follows an extreme close up that captures details of the region of her eyes. This could indicate that she is waking up into reality and was possibly dreaming about something that was not in fact reality. This being the sexual encounter. This shot reinforces the possibility of her character living in a fantasy.