The Opportunity for Self Exploration in "Public Secrets"
Public Secrets not only explores the bounds of electronic literature, but it also forces the users to explore themselves in a way. Initially, the main menu presents the concept fo public secrets as what society is choosing to hide from itself. As a result, this definition is asking the users to understand what their personal biases are and how they contribute to the public secret which is this case is the prison industrial complex. In order to make self-discoveries, the users must feel a connection with those that are speaking. Through the live audio and varying voices, users are able to realize that prisoners are still humans fighting for basic rights and respect to be acknowledged. While the method that Daniels uses relies heavily of guilting the users, the raw emotions of the inmates serves as more than enough connection. The audio recordings describe being stripped of one's identity and poked and prodded to fit the mold of the state. Furthermore, the testimonials include personal pronouns such as "us" and "them" which blurs the lines of the users relationship with the recordings. In order to embed the concept of personal exploration, the exit video captures Sharon Daniel's own self-discovery after exiting the prison and realizing the freedom she has to do what she wants, when she wants, where she wants to do it. Throughout Public Secrets, Daniels drives the users into approaching the piece in a personal manner which they can then bring to a larger scale exploration of society and the world around them.
