The crux of the reading to me is power imbalance, whether it be voyeurism or ‘flaneurism.’
Throughout history, voyeurs adapt to yet more advanced means to observe their subjects, from binoculars, one-way mirrors, surveillance cameras, to the smart devices everyone possesses nowadays. Distance between the observer and the observed increases, from a visible distance (binoculars) to thousands of miles away (smartphones); yet the monitoring and documentation of one’s private life become more comprehensive than ever. The observed, by enjoying a higher degree of convenience, gradually surrender their last bits of privacy and security. Voyeurs become gods and their subjects are powerless.
Interestingly though, the male-female power imbalance in flaneur relationships has seen changes, be it in real life or in films. Pulp Fiction, in which Mia uses her surveillance cameras to observe every move of Vincent like someone shopping for their new favorite toy, is a refreshing, seductive, and amusing display of a female-over-male dynamic in the new Feminist era.
Ka Hang, Liu 3035939781
You made clear points about the development of voyeurism over time, and I wonder if you have thoughts on how they manifest more concretely in a more familiar context, whether in terms of time or space. I also appreciated you bringing in another film outside of the reading to further explore the point on gender dynamics when it comes to the phenomenon of the flaneur. How do you compare the relationship and power dynamics between Mia and Vincent in Pulp Fiction to the one between Jeff and Lisa in Rear Window?