by Dominic D.

Created on: December 09, 2010   Last Updated: December 10, 2010

Years ago when I was a student, we used to complain about teachers having eyes in the back of their heads, but  today,a New York University photography professor is going one step further by having a camera implanted in the back of his head.

It seems that Wafaa Bilal, an Iraqi assistant professor in the photography and imaging department of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, intends to undergo surgery in the coming weeks to install the camera, this coming from several people familiar with the project. The project is being commissioned by a museum in Qatar. The work, however, which would broadcast a live stream of images from the camera to museum visitors, is igniting a lively debate on campus over the competing values of creative expression and that of student privacy.

For a period of one year, Wafaa Bilal's camera will take still pictures at one-minute intervals, then feed these photos to monitors at the museum. Through a piercing like attachment, the camera (about the size of a thumbnail) will be affixed to his head.

For the sake of art, the project has been titled "The Third I," and is intended as a "comment on the inaccessibility of time, and the inability to capture memory and experience," as released from press materials from the museum.

The real problem, however, is that because Mr. Bilal is an active professor who teaches three courses this semester, and scheduled to teach this coming Spring, his unique implantation would capture not just his own personal activity, but any interactions that he may have with students.  Although in this country we have a right to artistic expression, we also have a right to privacy. The possibility of exposing private encounters without participant's consent has raised the eyebrows and concerns among NYU administrators and faculty.

Fred Ritchin, asscociate chairman of the department, is quoted as saying, "obviously you don't want students to be under the burden of constant surveillance: it's not a good teaching environment." After all, what if things were documented about the students that they don't want you to see?

A good deal of discussion was had by all those involved and some things were resolved such as Mr. Bilal agreeing to wear a lens cap to cover the camera while on university property.

Of course there is always wide speculation over his personal matters and what the camera uncovers. Imagine a romantic dinner encounter and what it will mean for the participants!

As a side note, perhaps crime will drop wherever Mr. Bilal goes. 

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