Inception - Male Gaze vs. The Dark Knight - Male Gaze

Attribute	Inception - Male Gaze	The Dark Knight - Male Gaze
Main Characters	Dominic Cobb, Arthur, Eames	Bruce Wayne, Joker, Harvey Dent
Director	Christopher Nolan	Christopher Nolan
Release Year	2010	2008
Genre	Sci-Fi, Thriller	Action, Crime, Drama
Setting	Dream world, Real world	Gotham City

Introduction

Both Inception and The Dark Knight are critically acclaimed films directed by Christopher Nolan. While these films belong to different genres - Inception being a science fiction thriller and The Dark Knight being a superhero action film - they both exhibit the concept of the male gaze. The male gaze refers to the way in which visual media is created from a masculine perspective, often objectifying women and reinforcing traditional gender roles. In this article, we will explore how the male gaze is portrayed in Inception and The Dark Knight, and compare the attributes of each film in this regard.

Male Gaze in Inception

In Inception, the male gaze is evident in the way the female characters are portrayed. The character of Ariadne, played by Ellen Page, is often seen through the eyes of the male protagonist, Dom Cobb, played by Leonardo DiCaprio. Ariadne is depicted as a young, attractive woman whose primary role in the film is to assist Cobb in navigating the dream world. Her character is often objectified, with the camera lingering on her body in a way that emphasizes her physical appearance rather than her intelligence or skills.

Furthermore, the male gaze in Inception is also present in the relationship between Cobb and his deceased wife, Mal, played by Marion Cotillard. Mal is portrayed as a mysterious and seductive figure who haunts Cobb throughout the film. Her character is defined by her relationship to Cobb, rather than having her own agency or motivations. This reinforces the idea of women being defined by their relationships to men, rather than as independent individuals.

Overall, the male gaze in Inception serves to reinforce traditional gender roles and objectify women, rather than portraying them as fully developed characters with agency and complexity.

Male Gaze in The Dark Knight

In The Dark Knight, the male gaze is also present, albeit in a different way than in Inception. The character of Rachel Dawes, played by Maggie Gyllenhaal, is the primary female character in the film. Rachel is depicted as a strong and independent woman who is a district attorney and a childhood friend of Bruce Wayne, aka Batman, played by Christian Bale.

While Rachel is portrayed as a capable and intelligent character, the male gaze in The Dark Knight is evident in the way she is often placed in perilous situations that require Batman to come to her rescue. This dynamic reinforces the idea of women needing to be saved by men, rather than being able to fend for themselves. Additionally, Rachel's character is defined by her relationships to the male characters in the film, rather than having her own storyline or motivations.

Despite Rachel being a more empowered character than the female characters in Inception, the male gaze in The Dark Knight still serves to objectify women and reinforce traditional gender roles, albeit in a slightly different manner.

Comparison of Attributes

• In both Inception and The Dark Knight, the male gaze is evident in the portrayal of female characters as objects of desire rather than fully developed individuals.
• While Inception focuses more on the physical appearance of its female characters, The Dark Knight portrays its female characters as strong and independent, but still in need of male protection.
• Both films reinforce traditional gender roles by defining female characters in relation to male characters, rather than allowing them to have their own agency and motivations.
• The male gaze in both films serves to objectify women and perpetuate stereotypes about gender, rather than challenging or subverting these norms.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both Inception and The Dark Knight exhibit the concept of the male gaze, albeit in slightly different ways. While Inception objectifies its female characters and reinforces traditional gender roles through their relationships with male characters, The Dark Knight portrays its female characters as strong and independent, but still in need of male protection. Despite these differences, both films ultimately fail to challenge or subvert the norms perpetuated by the male gaze, instead perpetuating stereotypes about gender and relationships. As viewers, it is important to be critical of the ways in which visual media portrays gender, and to advocate for more diverse and empowering representations of women in film.