How are subject positions created and interpellated by the gaze, within the filmography of Steve McQueen?

Abstract

Academic research on the gaze has been widely criticised within visual art in recent years. This a reflection of film theory's tendency to view spectatorship as a predominantly socio-historical phenomena. This dissertation aims to challenge this stagnation by rejecting James Elkin's claim that it has become an "asked-and-answered question" (2009 p.3). Given the gaze's origins within film analysis, this dissertation will focus on theorists grounded in Lacanian discourse. In particular Laura Mulvey's use of the male gaze and Slavoj Zizek's focus on the gaze as a manifestation of desire, provide interesting readings of McQueen's work. Furthermore, this dissertation will explore how ideology is interpellated, and how this functions in creating certain subject positions for a contemporary spectator.