The Twilight Zone: A Most Unusual Camera

Work Title: The Twilight Zone: A Most Unusual Camera
Medium: TV Episode
Episode Title: A Most Unusual Camera
Year: 1960
Writer(s): Rod Serling
"Original" Writer: Yes Own work?: No
Summary:

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

  • Self-Written?:
  • Source Name: IMDB
  • Source URL:
Era/Year of Portrayal: present_day
Distinctive characteristics of the world in portrayal:

Present day 1960.

Technology

  • Name of portrayed presence-evoking technology: Camera
  • Description of the technology: 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.
  • Nature of task or activity: Wnen taking a photo, gambling, determining the future.
  • Performance of the Technology: works well.
  • Description of creator(s): unknown.
  • Major goal(s) of creator(s): unknown.
  • Description of users of technology: 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.
  • Type(s) of presence experience in the portrayal: spatial_presence
  • Description of presence experience: At first, it is unnerving and confusing. Then, it is thrilling and elating. Finally, it is frightening.
  • User awareness of technology during experience: yes.
  • Valence of experience: most of the time, pleasant. When it shows negative thing, the experience is unpleasant.
  • Specific responses: enjoyment, involvement, greed, fear, happiness.
Long-term consequences:

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.

Other:

Coder name: Amanda Scheiner
Coder email: amandags@temple.edu
Coder affiliation: Temple University