IN LOVE WITH NIKO THE IKON:

STALKING HIS TUMBLR FOR "SELF-PORTRAITS"

DHARUN RAVI: STYLE ICON

A thought on Dharun Ravi, very much after the fact:

The recent conviction of Dharun Ravi for invasion of privacy against his freshman roommate Tyler Clementi elegantly dramatizes the misunderstood power of voyeurism. We know that Clementi jumped from the George Washington Bridge in New York three days after unwittingly exposing himself to Ravi via webcam, which Ravi had set up in order to spy on Clementi and a date (a date found online and ushered into corporeality). The date took a turn for the sexual, as they sometimes do. At said turn, Ravi remotely activated the camera from a neighboring room, caught sight of their amorous embrace and broadcasted it into cyperspace where it reached a limited yet briefly fascinated young audience. Clementi would have never have known, perhaps, until he sensed a green light from atop his roommate's monitor, a light that only shines while recording. 

The suicide had nothing to do with so-called “bias intimidation,” a hate-crime (although he was convicted of this too). I would argue it has everything to do with the thanatotic potential of engaging with another man’s curious gaze without benefit of erotic contract. For this critical reason, I relate to the crime because I often am asking (or not asking) men if they're cool with it if I photograph them in private. Thus, my interest has not wavered as the activists and media whip up semi-knowable facts into histrionic narratives suited to various political projects. These poor children. I wonder if it would be worthwhile to visit Ravi in jail.  

I've enjoyed reading the Times coverage, this interview on NJ.com, and Ian Parker's fantastic story at the New Yorker.

RIP THOMAS KINKADE

Thomas Kinkade

January 19, 1958 – April 6, 2012