On 9/15/04 9:15 AM, "Theresa M. Senft" <tqs1450@nyu.edu> wrote:
Finally, those looking for video material for their classes might be interested in a forthcoming documentary entitled WEBCAM GIRLS, shot by Canadian director Aerlyn Weissman. Although I haven't seen the doc yet (and I'm in it!), I understand from AoIR'er Mary Bryson (who saw a preview in Canada) that the film is quite good.
Yes. Resoundingly. The video is excellent and would be a very appropriate and interesting documentary to show in any course dealing with media, gender, sexuality, culture and the like. There is a strong analytical line running throughout provided by the on-screen commentary of the engagingly eloquent (soon-to-be Dr.) Senft that draws together the snippets of various cam-grrls. And of course, just to make things even more intriguing and appropriately situated, the "expert" - Senft - is also represented in relation to her own webcam - a very productive inversion of the usual representation of expertise. Weissman is a brilliant director. She manages to craft a narrative concerning the cam grrls that insists on a telling of their stories that highlights the agency that accrues to these entrepreneurs and represents a whole different way of thinking about "women and technology", without being <rah rah!> about it.