Windows

Firstly, Isabel, thank you so much for the photos, I think that image really captured the concept of the camera as a weapon and its particular mode of display highlights not only the use of public space to spread messages through art (which is definitely an interesting thing to explore) but also the idea that the public seems to be becoming more and more aware of the power of the camera to influence reality.
I really enjoyed reading Windows of Vulnerability and felt that the image of the window was a very powerful one, especially as it connects to the idea of television. One would normally think of film and television as a kind of one-sided window (like the public bathroom Professor Chun brought up in lecture - how great was that?) and so I thought it was important that Keenan drew this parallel, because television is not entirely one-sided. This was one point that confused me about Benjamin's text, with his concept of the "passive" audience, as though there were no interaction between film and its audience. Because his very idea of the general public becoming the critic I felt emphasized the idea of the audience having feedback; because the public was given access to this art form it was no longer somehow exclusive or limited to the "educated" or the "experts." And because their opinion matters, their feedback and their responses greatly influence the film or television artists in turn.
Thus the "window" of the screen does go both ways, media certainly influences the public ("CNN effect") but the public, too, has great influence over the media; an effect which I feel, especially in our culture, is often overlook or underplayed. So often I hear about how the media "brainwashes" us, controlling what we think (i.e. commercials and magazines are the reason for eating disorders) rather than considering the other side: media reflects and is controlled by our culture too. I guess it's back to the old does life imitate art or art imitate life question. And I feel Keenan offers a great answer to that through the image of the window, one is not possible without the other.