DA9005 Media and Performance has allowed me to understand the depth of intimacy within the virtual world. Whether it be e-mail, Facebook, or texting, but especially through the cyberspace world of the webcam, the third space can be the perfect dimension to harvest emotion.
As an exchange student, Skype is an important network for me; it is one of the only ways for me to stay in contact with my family who are in Canada, over 14,000 km away and 13 hours behind me. Through the use of this webcam-based program, I am able to not only hear the voices of my loved ones, but I can also share a visual connection. With the use of Skype, I am able to tell jokes with my family, share stories, cry when I’m sad, or even yell at the computer to them when I’m angry. Although at first it may seem bizarre, the presence of the screen almost seems to disappear after the initial moments of interaction. It is then that the 14,000 km seems to melt away and I am once again sitting in the same room as my mother, father, brother, or friends. A similar idea was introduced with the installation of Hole-In-Space:
For my final project, I would like to tackle this idea of a shared connection and intimacy within a webcam interaction. The basis of my project will be shared moments through Skype. Despite the 13-hour time difference with most of my friends and family, I am still able to maintain the relationship with them while I am away. Even though I may be going to bed while they wake up, I continue to talk to them on a regular basis. I would like to record video of shared moments on Skype, such as eating a meal, brushing teeth, doing laundry, watching a movie, or laying in bed. These are intimate moments that are typically saved for the confines of a home with face-to-face interactions, however, due to the large physical separation between me and my loved ones, I am forced to share this intimacy over a webcam. Although there is a time difference, the 13-hours allows me to almost mirror the actions on the other side of the world: while I am going to bed in my pajamas, my mother is just waking up, also in her pajamas. While I’m eating an early breakfast, my best friend may be eating her late night dinner. By sharing these moments live on-camera, it appears to break down the barriers and strip the presence of the computer, allowing us to inhabit a similar time and a shared space due to this common action. Similarly, the idea of breaking barriers was discussed in the reading, “Welcome to ‘Electronic Café International’: A Nice Place for Hot Coffee, Iced Tea, & Virtual Space,” by Galloway and Rabinowitz.
A perfect example of this shared intimacy despite a distance is the work, The Big Kiss, by Annie Abrams. This incredibly personal action still holds its intimacy despite a physical separation.
Update 1:
Upon discussing with Randall, I have decided to alter the focus of my FYP. I will continue with the interaction of people from across the world in the cyberspace, however, it will be in a more cohesive fashion. Later this semester, I will host a Telematic Dinner Party. With a few of my friends from all over the world (England, Czech Republic, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore), we will all simulataneously take part in a dinner party over Adobe Connect. With all the telltale signs of a dinner party (invitations, music, hors d’oeuvres, courses, toasts, etc.), despite our time differences, we will partake in a gathering just like any other in the real world.
