The Male Gaze Definition and Vertigo

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Pioneered during the second wave feminist era of the 1970s, the Male gaze was a high influential theory in film spectatorship. The theory argues that female characters in film are treated as objects, with the function to merely satisfy the interests of men, rather than subjects of interest. This idea was supported by the rare occurrence of female protagonists.


In the 'flower shop' sequence in Vertigo, the filmmaker's use of slow editing highlights the dreamy sexual qualities of Madeleine. In the mise en scene, the visual lines created from objects including flower boxes and flower stems, collectively lead towards highlighting Madeleine's figure.


Additionally in the mise en scene in this sequence, the high saturation of colours used on the flowers are juxtaposed with the plainness of Madeleine's grey suit; making her character stand out as isolated in addition to capturing the spectator's focus.

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