Danielle Beatriz Go

Card at the ready, swipe, and go. Such a short set of steps seems monotonous, but when you think about it, these steps can take you places. The moment you swipe your Metrocard and go through the turnstiles, the possibilities of where you end up are endless. Entering through a turnstile is one of the many mundane things we encounter on a daily basis, whether we realize it or not. Such a practice finds itself crucial to people’s daily routines. This is especially evident in a city like New York, where many depend on the subway as their main form of transportation. As fast-paced as the city is, this tedious activity of swiping a card and going through a turnstile is most likely overlooked, as the traveler focuses on their agenda for the day, making sure to catch his or her train on time.

I wanted my project to capture this experience, as if the device itself is a witness of its own. The handle used to crank the cinematoscope imitates the rotation of an actual turnstile. As one turns the handle, each slide flips to display me going through the turnstile. Such an activity, passing through a turnstile, happens in varied speeds. Some people are in a hurry, swiping their card as fast as they can. Others only start taking their Metrocard out the moment they situate themselves at the turnstile. This occurrence mimics the variety of speeds at which one decides to crank  the cinematoscope. This device should be handled individually, as one might prefer to crank it fast, while another slow. Regardless of what speed the activity is done, both going through the turnstile and turning the cinematoscope, whoever deems witness ultimately goes through the whole motion. And just like that, one continues on with their day.