Final answer:
Laura Mulvey's concept of the male gaze in cinema suggests that film has the power to shape female identities by reinforcing or challenging traditional gender roles and influencing self-perception. Representation in cinema, as seen in films like 'Black Panther', can also empower marginalized groups and impact societal views.
Step-by-step explanation:
Laura Mulvey's theory introduces the concept of the male gaze as a central way in which film and media shape identities, particularly female identities. Cinema, according to Mulvey, often positions women as objects of visual pleasure to be looked at by a male audience, thus influencing not just how men perceive women, but crucially, how women come to see themselves. This process can contribute to a woman internalizing an external, male-centered perspective, which then shapes her self-image and identity.
Through the gaze, film can either reinforce traditional gender roles or, conversely, when filmmakers are conscious of these issues, can challenge and redefine them. Similarly, in diverse films such as Black Panther, authentic representation can help legitimize and empower previously marginalized groups, influencing both self-perception and societal views. Therefore, film not only reflects but also informs and shapes social identities, as posited by Mulvey and supported by theorists like Stuart Hall.