Proposal :How can Molly Crabapple's artwork be analyzed through Laura Mulvey's theory of the male gaze?
Whether we’re aware of it or not, media has long shaped the way women are portrayed. There’s a certain look, aesthetic, and way of being that is often presented in media of women and it draws viewers in, subconsciously shaping how women are seen and understood. Molly Crabapple creates artwork that exposes and even challenges these portrayals. Her pieces encourage the viewers to question traditional portrayals and the assumptions behind them. This ties into the ideas of Laura Mulvey, whose theory of the male gaze describes how media often positions women as objects for a male audience. Through the perspective of Mulvey, Crabapple’s art can be both a reflection of and a challenge to these patterns we often see in media.
Laura Muley’s theory of the male gaze was introduced in her 1975 essay called ‘Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema’. Her theory describes how women are often presented in media as objects for the pleasure of a presumed male viewer. One thing she noted was that in movies and others forms of visual media, women are often shown as more promiscuous and appealing for male eye. A lot goes into how they emphasize this too. From framing, to lighting and the way the scene they are in is edited, these are all set up to make women look a certain way and to control how the viewer sees them. With this setup it also creates ideals for how women should look and behave, teaching the viewers to expect a certain type of female image. As Mulvey herself write, in her essay ‘Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema’, “Women are displayed as objects of desire”. In her essay, Mulvey talks about Vertigo, Rear window and Marnie. She used these examples from Hitchcock and Sternberg films, where women’s bodies are framed, lit and edited to have the viewer fully consumed and enthralled with the visual spectacle of their bodies, rather than focusing on the plot of the story, the characters or actions. These are just a few examples of the male gaze at play, positioning men as the active viewers while women remain passive objects of visual pleasure.
While Mulvey’s theory focuses on film, the male gaze shapes visual cultures far beyond the screen. Influencing how women are depicted in art, illustrations and media as a whole. Molly Crabapple’s work directly engages with these ideas, using her illustrations to essentially challenge and question traditional portrayals of women. Molly Crabapple is a contemporary artist who is known for her bold, detailed illustrations that often confront societal norms. Her work ranges from political commentary to personal reflections. One of the recurring themes in her work is power, control and the representation of women. Her works is very distinctive, blending realism with exaggerated elements. In her work she portrays women as these strong and complex, sometimes defiant figures. Instead of trying to accentuate features that could gain her a larger audience, albeit mostly male, she highlights the experiences, emotions and individuality of her subjects. As Crabapple say in ‘Photo Real: On Photoshop, Feminism, and Truth’, “Photos are lies because art is a lie”, reminding viewers that all images are constructed and that her illustrations purposefully challenge the simplified or idealized portrayals of women often seen in media.
So that begs the question: how does this theory appear in Crabapple’s work? In her ‘Annotated Muses’ series, she painted portraits of women that she then handed over to the subjects themselves to annotate, hence the title. By allowing them to comment, mark or adjust their own representations, Crabapple returns the control of the gaze to the subjects. This approach turns Mulvey’s concept of the male gaze on its head as women shift from being objects for someone else’s pleasure, they become active participants in shaping how they are viewed. Allowing them to define what is highlighted or emphasized in their own portraits. Even when her subjects are depicted nude, the focus is on self expression and how they want to be seen, rather than appealing for someone else’s eyes. Another example of how Crabapple’s work engages with and challenges the male gaze can be seen in her ‘Occupy Wall Street’ series, particularly pieces like ‘Our Lady Liberty Park’ and her piece ‘Debt and Her Debtors’ from her ‘Shell Game’ series. In both these works, Crabapple positions women as active and powerful figures rather than passive objects. In ‘Our Lady of Liberty Park’, the central figure is emphasized with lighting, presented like an icon. A lot of her work emphasizes takes back that control and makes women appear powerful and empowering. Her work challenges the traditional male gaze by focusing on the women’s perspective and experiences. Through her illustrations, Crabapple shows that women can reclaim how they are seen, turning the gaze back on itself and transforming these images that once depicted women as powerless and dainty into depictions of resilience and strength.
To conclude, Molly Crabapple’s work demonstrates how art can confront and reshape ideals formed by the media. Her illustrations highlight the power of perspective, reminding us that who controls the image can ultimately change the story that is being told. By giving subjects a voice, emphasizing individuality, and challenging these traditional visual norms media has created, her art has become an important catalyst for rethinking and redefining what we see and understand from women in visual culture. By challenging conventional expectations and inviting viewers to reconsider what they see, Crabapple’s work changes visual culture into a space that encourages critical thinking and reflection, where women’s experiences and identities are centered rather than dictated by outside forces. Ultimately, Molly Crabapple’s work reminds us that art is not just about what we see. It's about who holds the perspective and her illustrations shift that perspective, letting women take ownership of their own image on their own terms.
References
https://dn710700.ca.archive.org/0/items/mulvey-visualpleasure/mulvey-visualpleasure_text.pdf
https://www.perlego.com/knowledge/study-guides/what-is-laura-mulveys-male-gaze-theory
https://newrepublic.com/article/112903/molly-crabapple-and-occupy-wall-street-protest-art
https://www.mollycrabapple.com/fine-art/annotated-muses