500 Days of Summer

Submissive Gaze (aligning with other people):

In my opinion, it is difficult for the spectator t align with any other character but Tom, excluding their gender and extra textual reasons. The spectator will mainly and most likely align with Tom as the film is told through his perspective throughout. We are also informed from the very beginning that the relationship ends with Tom being hurt, therefore the spectator is most likely going to view Summer negatively since being told this factor. As we know that Tom's feelings are the ones that are hurt, we are more likely to align and sympathise with this character.

The only point in the film where we begin to witness Summer's side of the story, her dialog is blocked out by the narrator speaking over the top of what she is saying. This therefore results in the spectator being less likely to align with Summer even more so as we do not relate what she is opening up about, as the audience cannot hear this.


Dominant Gaze (Women must suffer if they become the active gaze):

This film is told through the male's perspective only (Tom), therefore we are forced to align with this character. We do not see the narrative through Summer's perspective, therefore we do not see if she suffers. Instead, this theory is reversed, Tom is the dominant, active gaze and suffers as a result of this; through the torture of their break up.


Male Gaze:

One way that the male gaze is portrayed in this film is in the ikea scene. We see Tom and Summer acting out as a married, almost traditional 1950s couple. Where Summer is the housewife and Tom is served. This incorporated the traditional, patriarchal values of the male gaze into the film.



Another key aspect of the film that incorporates the male gaze is the dancing/victory scene. This scene is the mass celebration of Tom sleeping with Summer. As this is portrayed through the male's perspective and seen as a goal post, this coherently incorporates the male gaze. The scene also heavily induces masculine aspects of mise en scene. For example, at the beginning of the scene we see Tom walking past a water fountain which explodes; creating phallic imagery. We also see him hit a ball with a baseball bat which could also symbolise phallic imagery and the fact that sleeping wit Summer is seen almost as a sports achievement. Although it could be argued that the dancers are dressed in blue as this is the colour of Summer's eyes, one may believe this also incorporates the male gaze. In terms of colour psychology, the colour blue is deemed as masculine.