The look
The theory of the look, or “gaze,”, “look of the Other”, describes how being observed by another person transforms an individual from a subject into an object, fundamentally changing their sense of self. Coined by existentialist philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre and later expanded by other theorists like Frantz Fanon and Simone de Beauvoir, the gaze creates an awareness of power dynamics and objectification. Key aspects include the feeling of vulnerability, the emotional response of shame, and the realization that one exists not just for oneself, but also “for others”.
Core concepts
Subject vs. Object: When we are not being looked at, we exist as subjects, centered in our own world, free to act. The “gaze” of another person forces us to see ourselves as an object, defined by the other’s perspective.Shame: The primary emotional response to the gaze is shame, which is the feeling of being reduced to an object in the eyes of another. This happens because the other person’s look reveals that our existence is not entirely within our own control.
Being-for-others: The gaze makes us aware of a fundamental aspect of our existence: that a part of us is always being perceived by others. We become an object for another’s subject.
Power dynamics: The gaze is inherently a power dynamic, as it gives the person doing the looking power over the person being looked at. This can create an unequal relationship and limit the subject’s freedom.
Beyond physical eyes: The “look” doesn’t have to be a literal stare. It can be the feeling of being watched or judged through subtle social cues, the presence of others, or even inanimate objects that suggest observation, such as a rustling tree or a moving curtain.
Film theory: In cinema, the concept of the “gaze” has been used to analyze power dynamics, particularly through Laura Mulvey’s concept of the “male gaze,” which examines how women are often objectified in film for a heterosexual male audience.
Social and critical theory: The theory is used to discuss how social and cultural norms can objectify groups of people, such as the unique way women or people of color are “fixed” or objectified by the gaze of others in society.
Psychoanalysis: The gaze is used to understand how an individual’s sense of self is shaped through an awareness of their external appearance, similar to how a child in a “mirror stage” sees themselves as a complete object for the first time.
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[2] https://bigthink.com/thinking/the-philosophy-of-objectification/
