Here is a concise summary of the provided text:
**Title:** The Absence of Male Gaze in Birds of Prey vs. Suicide Squad
**Summary:**
The author analyzes the difference in portrayal of Harley Quinn in DC's "Suicide Squad" (2016) and "Birds of Prey" (2020), focusing on the concept of the "male gaze" (coined by Laura Mulvey). The male gaze refers to the depiction of women from a heterosexual male perspective, objectifying them for the viewer's pleasure.
* **Suicide Squad:** Directed by a man, the film exemplifies the male gaze, objectifying Harley Quinn through:
+ Sexualized camera angles and movements
+ Costuming emphasizing sex appeal
+ Reducing her to an object of desire for male characters and viewers
* **Birds of Prey:** Directed by a woman, the film avoids the male gaze, presenting Harley Quinn as a person with:
+ Agency and humanity
+ Clothing choices driven by her personality, not to please men
+ A more nuanced, realistic character development
* The author concludes that the absence of the male gaze in **Birds of Prey** allows Harley Quinn to become a more well-rounded, relatable character, while also highlighting how the male gaze can influence viewers' perceptions of women.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text, without opinions, with each fact numbered and in short sentences:
1. **Definition of Male Gaze**: The term "male gaze" was coined by film critic Laura Mulvey in her 1975 essay "Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema".
2. **Description of Male Gaze**: It refers to portraying women from a heterosexual male point of view, presenting them as sexual objects for male pleasure.
3. **Components of Male Gaze**: According to Laura Mulvey, it involves three perspectives: the man behind the camera, the men in the scene, and the men watching the film.
4. **Effect of Male Gaze on Women's Portrayal**: Women are dehumanized, viewed as objects of desire, beauty, and sex appeal, losing agency and humanity.
5. **Suicide Squad (2016) and Birds of Prey (2020) Comparison**: Both films feature Harley Quinn, but with differing portrayals, attributed to their respective directors and writers.
6. **Directorship**:
* **Suicide Squad (2016)**: Directed by a man (note: the text doesn't specify the name, but it's publicly known to be David Ayer).
* **Birds of Prey (2020)**: Directed by a woman (note: the text doesn't specify the name, but it's publicly known to be Cathy Yan).
7. **Specific Shots Comparison**:
* **Suicide Squad Introduction**: Camera focuses on Harley's legs and high heels before showing her face.
* **Birds of Prey Introduction**: Similar camera angle, but with a different motive, moving up to emphasize action rather than sexiness.
8. **Costuming Differences**:
* **Suicide Squad**: Harley wears stilettos and a short dress, emphasizing legs.
* **Birds of Prey**: Harley wears unique, clunky heels and a long overcoat, not solely for male sexualization.
9. **Pole Dancing Scenes**:
* **Suicide Squad**: Harley dances for male pleasure, with a sexualized viewpoint.
* **Birds of Prey**: Harley dances for her own enjoyment, without a sexualized viewpoint.
10. **Audience Reaction**: Birds of Prey initially faced backlash from some male fans who felt Harley's "sexiness" was being taken away.
11. **Actress Portraying Harley Quinn**: Margot Robbie in both films.