This is the first time I post a message to the list and I hope that I do it correctly. If not, please forgive me. Anyway, I'm interested in WebCams and their similarity to the movies both feature and documentary. WebCams use some technologies which are taken directly form film production. The most important are the Point of View phrase and Zooming. The chance of cutting is limited and concerns time ( you can save the pictures to your computer and then put them in your own order ). Though, WebCams are "slower" and it takes a while to download them. I guess that it is only a matter of time and soon this problem will be overcome. WebCams seem to be the ideal documentary if you take into consideration Flaherty's theory of this film genre. The camera is the key point to this new kind of picture. It just records what it sees and doesn't interfere. The "subject" creates itself and is taken from the real life. And here a problem arises. If the WebCam is placed at a private home and it's the owner's decision, it's only a matter of exhibitionism. The net voyeurs can make advantage of it but they are allowed to, the owners "gave" them their permission. Actually, it is another similarity to the cinema. Both on your computer screen and in the cinema you can observe somebody else's life and problems. The screen in these two cases is similar to the key hole... It is more problematic if the WebCam is placed in a public place like a park or a street. Now it is a matter of protecting your privacy. WebCam becomes a tool of Panopitcon... I'm curious to find out what is your opinion on WebCams. Do you think that WebCams may endanger our privacy? Do you know any publications which concern this problem? I've been also thinking of some particular films which use a camera as a peeping tool: "The Truman Show", "The End of Violence", "Peeping Tom", "Rear Window". Can you think of some other titles? What other than mentioned in here similarities and differences between WebCams and cinema can you notice? DaGa Romanowska e-mail: [log in to unmask] ---- To sign off Screen-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF Screen-L in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask]