Media Experiment: Group #2 Self-Surveilled

24 Hour Observations: Saturday, May 1 2010

I felt that I was being tracked/observed when:

~I woke up and turned on my computer, accessed the internet, and logged into my email.

~Inside of my apartment complex's office.

~On the bus going to campus.

~At the ARC, both in the front area and inside the gym.

~Driving by intersections.

~At the gas station.

~In the Safeway Parking lot and inside of the store.

~Paying for groceries with my debit card at the cash register.

Part 2: 48 Hour Observations- Pictures of Private Life Made Public

(Listed in the order shown on the left)

~Sleeping in bed and waking up in the morning.

~Washing up and brushing teeth.

~Potty.

~Getting dressed and ready to go out to school.

~Homework...

~Video games.

~Eating food at home.

~Practicing the ukulele.

A). In terms of privacy and my relationship to media, I learned that the only place where I can ever really have any sort of privacy is at my own home. The second I walk outside into the public I am susceptible to many forms of surveillance, ranging from the observation of other people to mechanical devices such as cameras that track space and time. Furthermore, in relation to media, I have concluded that socialization and privacy are the fundamental extremes by which I live my daily life. If I become open to social exposure, ie. the second I turn on my laptop and access the internet, I lose my privacy. On the other hand, if I maintain privacy and do whatever activities on my own, in my own home with nobody else around, I am most likely under no surveillance.

B). The act of being public changes my actions simply because it creates a certain level of self-consciousness, which can ironically be unconscious to my own psyche, as I become vulnerable to social judgement. Some mannerisms in my private life may be criticized or unacceptable within my organized civilization. Along with that, there is a certain drive to portray the most positive image of oneself as possible, especially when under the surveillance of peers. In today's media and technology, the potential to manipulate, reveal and conceal, is easier and more accessible than ever.

C). In my everyday life, media is essentially an outlet to be public. Media functions to reveal and display. Whether it be on my email or on social networking, media takes out any privacy as it is a tool for communication. My private life, then, is completely separate from media. Being public isn't all bad though. For example, when I want to share my stories and life with family and friends, media allows me that connection when face to face contact isn't possible.