All Knowing, All Seeing, Sound Familiar?

Cameras and computers have the ability to record and store an endless amount of information. Information is processed by the viewer and biases are taken into account while watching. Fiske explains that the use of cameras creates a greater amount of racial profiling that is already evident in western society. The viewers of the security cameras become more alert when a visible minority is in the frame and treat this person as if they are not the norm. What exactly is “the norm”? Could it be the beliefs of past generations? This article is based out of the United States and it is well known that racism was a large part of their nation’s culture until the 1960’s and still is entrenched within their society today. Fiske explained this by using many different examples such as the Rodney King incident and others that were featured on Oprah. Racism and discrimination should not be a value within a society dominated by surveillance.

A camera is impartial to its observers, and a security guard (viewer) should be as well. By not allowing their biases get in the way of fairness they are allowing justice to occur. I am talking about security as the form of surveillance here. A truly fair and just security system would be impartial to those that are being watched. As shown in examples by Fiske, acts of prejudice leading to violence were performed and videotaped in some cases. This shows that there are many flaws within the policing and security system due to bias..

The use of “videolow” appears to be beneficial for use of recording incidents. Lack of editing and effects of this low cost method creates an authentic feeling to it. “Videohigh” cost a great amount of money and is more commercially used. It is “videolow” that is mostly used by the “underdog” to prove guilt against those in power. This is an essential usage of surveillance because it is takes power from the authority and brings it to the powerless. In the cases described in Fiskes article the minority gains power against the white authority figure by using surveillance.

The first half of this course has described surveillance as being able to be used for good and bad purposes. I am unsure whether the good outweighs the bad or vice-versa. Our western civilization looks to be moving in a direction that depict surveillance as all powerful and the answer to many of society issues. It is up to the public to fight back against our right to privacy or lack thereof.