Week 5 - Identity Futures. Krissi Limroglou, 'A camera with a view'

Hi Everyone

Sorry for the late posting. Had problems with my computer and logging onto the Internet.

In class this week I will be discussing the reading by Krissi Limroglou, A camera with a view.

Essentially, Krissi thesis focuses on gender identity, gender roles and what happens when the traditional western view of gender is challenged by using technology. Her article begins with explaining JenniCAM - a freelance writer who has a digital camera connected to her computer which films her apartment 24 hours a day. By doing this Jennifer is challenging the idea that the position of controller, traditionally masculine orientated, is taking on the role of object, traditionally feminine role, at the same time.

In rethinking binary oppositions of male/female and body/machine:

• Do you think the computer has becme part of her physical body?
• If the camera only ever showed her on the computer and she called it CAM instead of JenniCAM, do you think people would still havethe same interest?
• Is she objectifying her feminine body?

The filming only ever shows her inside her apartment, the camera never goes outside. By exposing her private world to the public, the internet, everyone can see inside.

• How do we now define what private and public is? e.g. Is private simply only what people can't see except for yourself?
• Is she challenging us by showing the private sphere of the feminine or just conforming to cultural norms by only showing us her inside the apartment not outside?
• Is she being "unwomanly" at all? Who has the right to determein what is and is not "womanly"?

I personally am not challenged by this because modern society has become saturated with reality shows like Big Brother and internet websites exposing all parts of their personal life. Facebook can be an example when taken to the extreme - people posting all day the activities they are doing and taking personal photos and posting it up online.

• Why do you think we have become desensitized with such images/filming that completly exposes every part of a persons life? e.g. like people having sex. (I just think that is gross - for me that is going a bit far but maybe I am just a prude).

Finally, Krissi explains that there is a web page dedicated to fragmente parts of Jennifers body. As she posts pictures she adds a message explaining the image which does not reveal her gender at all. Just for discussion, lets change her name to AlexCAM (a boy and girls name, gender neutral). What gender would you associate with the webpage now with no other indication of her gender other than AlexCAM?

Hopefully my discussion is not confusing. Please post questions on the blog for me to clarify anything that does make sense. I would love any constructive criticism to help with my presentation.

Thanks

Tess