The Politics of Vision: Feminist Film Theory and the Representation of Women's Desire in Thelma and Louise

This research investigates the role of feminist film theory in examining the representation of women’s desire in Ridley Scott’s 1991 film Thelma & Louise. Using a feminist lens, the study analyzes how the film challenges traditional patriarchal narratives through its depiction of female subjectivity, agency, and desire. In Thelma & Louise, the female protagonists navigate and subvert the male-dominated gaze, offering an alternative vision of female empowerment and sexual autonomy. By focusing on the visual elements of the film—camera angles, framing, and narrative structure—the study explores how these techniques work together to construct a feminist perspective. The analysis is grounded in feminist film theory, drawing primarily from Laura Mulvey’s concept of the "male gaze" and its critique by feminist scholars. The film’s reimagining of the road movie genre provides a platform for examining the representation of female sexuality as a form of resistance to male objectification. Ultimately, the research argues that Thelma & Louise offers a visual and narrative reclamation of women's desire, providing a profound commentary on gender, power, and identity in contemporary cinema.