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Vagabond

Mona for the most part escapes the male gaze by having attributes which are distinctly unfeminine. She is dirty, we are told she smells terrible, she smokes constantly (she cigarettes she rolls herself), she is vulgar and anti social. Cinematically she is unconventional which as Hayward suggests distracts from the male gaze. Her theme lacks melody and its harmony is abrasive, tracking shots will focus on objects other than her (trees, cars, etc). Still Mona does not completely escape being sexualized. Mona is looked at with the male gaze on occasion when we look at her though certain male characters. the young men on a motorcycle in the beginning of the film view Mona as a sexualized being as she emerges from the sea. This scene was related back to Botticelli's Birth of Venus, The male gaze is extended into the next shot when we see the young men looking at post cards and discussing women and robbery. The male gaze is also intentionally present when Mona washes the car at the gas station before being raped.

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