Response 3 – Farnham, E

Of the articles, videos and websites linked in the syllabus shooting back and Jennie cam stood out to me the most. Both play with the idea of privacy and documentation. New technologies provide them with a means to create and capture something unique in today’s world.

Shooting back was a protest of security cameras in public spaces and challenged what privacy really is. It was interesting to see how this project progressed along with technology. The tech started off as a backpack full of equipment and transformed with time to be a single pair of sunglasses.  The project was to wear your own personal security camera and film places that there were closed circuit security cameras. They challenged why it was ok for companies to film your every move but other people couldn’t. They wanted a completely handsfree method of capturing live around them as it happened without having to do anything. I’m curious how this would have changed oneself. Would you act different if you knew everything you said and did would be on your own personal file forever.

Jennie cam was interesting because it took all privacy away from being human. It’s human nature to want privacy and she tore down that wall by streaming 24/7 online. This was especially impressive considering the time period in which she did this. Streaming was just coming about in the 90’s and connection speeds were slow. Her webcam show made it possible to portray herself any way she wanted online to millions of people. This could be the same or different to how she acted offline. It also allowed you to view her at different emotional states unfiltered. I think culture defiantly influences the idea of new selves produced via technology. Some people may not be able to afford the technology to produce a “new self”. For example Jennie had to set up a premium version of her site to counteract the costs of streaming and domain fees.