Male Gaze (Nicki Minaj - Anaconda)

Jonathon Batson Media

Nicki Minaj - Anaconda

In retrospect, you cant find a Nicki Minaj song that doesn't have some aspect of male gaze involved.

Anaconda:

0:11 - 0:17



This scene emphasises the fact that the male gaze involves women being seen as man made and something purely for observation. This scene has numerous women acting as statues (some in a sexual position) reflecting the belief from the viewer that both Nicki Minaj and her performers are purely for observational purposes and in a way diminishes their natural beauty and relays a view of something false. By having numerous women in this scene, this may represent women in general meaning that this is supposed to attract all kinds of men, resorting in more sales which most likely is the main reason this vile creature does what she does.

0:54

This screenshot reflects the fact that sex sells. By having this artist closing her eyes with her teeth on show and having her full face on show, in some form of orgasmic state, it makes her seem very open and revealing besides her eyes. As the common phrase is 'eyes being windows to the soul', not to say she doesn't have a soul but it emphasises that the only thing both the cameraman and the audience only care about the physical appearance and not the feelings of this artist unless they are purely lustful.

1:08 - 1:09

In this 1 second, the video reflects a disrespectful view on women and the fact that their face isn't shown whatsoever exhibits that the only thing that needs to be looked at is their behind, denying them of identity. How they are seen In a different view with a raised camera shot, this may reflect how the male gaze often makes women look from a secondary perspective; viewing themselves only from a mans perspective.The fact that they are holding each other may try to display some form of lesbian innuendo which is stereotyped as something men enjoy or even deeper than that, may show how women end up objectifying women in the same way a man would. Or it may reflect how women are all seen as one and their is no individuality when it comes to the male gaze towards women.

1:33 - 1:58

In this scene, Nicki Minaj is in the gym. As the gym is very much stereotypically a place where men go, this creates some form of invitation for the audience. In the gym, there are numerous versions of the artist which reinforces my point on women being seen as a single object. With each of the back up dancers working out in some form of sexual manor, especially the woman in the background squatting.



3:10 - 3:21

In this aspect of the music video the use of whipped cream is a sexual innuendo for some kind of male ejaculation. By beginning the aspect with Nicki Minaj in some form of sexual position and thrusting into the air, this reflects the thought of sex to then link to the whipped cream reflecting male semen over numerous parts of her body. By being dressed in a maids outfit which is also stereotypically some form of prostitute or erotic dancer outfit, This creates a fantasy for the male audience that in a way is self explanatory. 



4:08 - 4:14








This scene is an ideal exhibition as to why the male gaze is so interesting. In the scene Nicki Minaj is dancing seductively on another artist called 'Drake'. However, in the background the shadows show something a lot more lustful as it looks as if they are having sex. By doing this and showing the scene in this way, it may reflect how men see women in a lustful way and see them as something sexual and inviting. However the truth of it is, it may still be lustful, but not as sexual as men would hope.