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TELEPRESENCE IN POPULAR CULTURE
A study of portrayals of presence
The Twilight Zone: A Most Unusual Camera
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ABOUT THE WORK
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MEDIUM:
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TV episode |
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YEAR:
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1960 |
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WRITER(S):
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Rod Serling (creator)
Rod Serling (writer) |
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OWN COPY?
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No |
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ABOUT THE STORY
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SUMMARY:
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When three dum-dum crooks get ahold of a camera that takes pictures of the future, they set out to make a quick fortune with their new toy.
from imdb.com
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ERA/YEAR:
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Present day when produced |
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CHARACTERISTICS
OF WORLD:
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Present day 1960. |
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ABOUT THE
PRESENCE-EVOKING TECHNOLOGY
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NAME:
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Camera |
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DESCRIPTION:
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The camera resembles an old fashioned camera: it is quite large, about 1 foot by 1 foot, and shaped like an accordian. It has a circular view finder on one end, and what looks like a lens on the other. People use it as they would a regular camera. The photo pops out if the top when it is ready. |
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NATURE OF TASK OR ACTIVITY:
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Wnen taking a photo, gambling, determining the future. |
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PERFORMANCE OF THE TECHNOLOGY:
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works well. |
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ABOUT THE CREATORS OF
THE TECHNOLOGY
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DESCRIPTION:
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unknown. |
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MAJOR GOAL(S):
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unknown. |
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ABOUT THE PEOPLE
WHO EXPERIENCE PRESENCE
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DESCRIPTION:
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Two white men and one white woman, all in their 30s or 40s. They are all crooks - one man, Woodward, has escaped from prison. The other man, named Chet, and the woman are a couple, while Woodward and Paula are siblings. |
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ABOUT THE PRESENCE EXPERIENCE
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TYPE(S) OF PRESENCE:
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Spatial presence |
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DESCRIPTION:
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At first, it is unnerving and confusing. Then, it is thrilling and elating. Finally, it is frightening. |
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USER AWARENESS:
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yes. |
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VALENCE:
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most of the time, pleasant. When it shows negative thing, the experience is unpleasant. |
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SPECIFIC RESPONSES:
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enjoyment, involvement, greed, fear, happiness. |
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ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES
OF PRESENCE
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LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES:
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The long term effects are negative - everyone who uses the camera dies. But, everyone who uses the camera is greedy and uses the camera for ill gotten gains. So, they get what they deserve. |
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AND FINALLY...
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OTHER INFORMATION:
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CODER NAME:
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Amanda Scheiner |
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CODER E-MAIL:
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amandags@temple.edu |
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CODER AFFILIATION:
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Temple University |
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DATE CODED:
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6/28/2007 |
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