Although this is not a situation that I am put in on a daily basis, I definitely feel “the gaze” when I am passing out fliers at the MU to anyone who walks by. I know what it is like to gaze on someone doing what I do, and it is awkward being the receiver of “the gaze.”
Setting: UC Davis Memorial Union, the sidewalk between the Memorial Union and the grassy Quad area. Camera will be used a typical student (first person) point of view. Camera scans around a bustling college campus with troves of people 18-22, with a few mature looking professors dispersed in the crowds, and tour de France style bicycles whizzing by. It is passing period in between classes. Camera stops, zooms in and focuses on one person in the crowd. Person of focus: Asian female, 5’2 in height and average weight, dressed in jeans, modest shoes, and a black hoodie with purple fraternity letters across the chest. She is gripping onto a stack of bright yellow fliers that are quarter of a page in size in one hand, and a single flier poised to pass it to any one willing to grab it.
Camera advances and moves closer to the girl. Girl tells strangers, “Come to our culture show this Sunday!” in a bubbly tone that is slightly forced. Alternating passersby are disgruntled and either decline, or avert their eyes and ignore the girl. The girl is discouraged, but purses her lips into a smile in attempts to be strong and move on to the next stranger.
Camera continues to advance towards girl. Girl makes eye contact with camera. Camera quickly breaks eye contact and focuses onto the cell phone or iPod the camera person is holding. Camera quickly looks up and eye contact is reestablished with girl. Girl smiles ear to ear, knowing that she reeled in the camera. Girl juts out a flier and happily says, “Come to our culture show this Sunday!”
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