MSU Professor Premieres Surveillance Documentary
The new experimental film Humanity (1984-2026) explores the intersection of camera technology and personal privacy.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Documentary
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Michigan State University professor Troy Hale debuted his documentary at a museum exhibition in East Lansing. The film, titled Humanity (1984-2026), analyzes the rapid expansion of mass surveillance and AI-powered tracking.
Why it matters
The filmmaker aims to challenge audiences to consider the normalization of constant observation in public and private spaces. The project seeks to provoke an uncomfortable dialogue about how camera proliferation impacts individual anonymity.
The production follows four years of intensive research into modern surveillance methods. During this period, the filmmaker documented 109 cameras within a single retail location to illustrate the density of current tracking networks.
The players
Troy Hale
He is a professor and filmmaker at Michigan State University who focuses on experimental documentary techniques.
Michigan State University
This is a public research university located in East Lansing, Michigan, where Hale serves on the faculty.
The details
Developed with student collaboration, the documentary utilizes rapid montages and online video compilations to emphasize the ubiquity of recording devices. It examines the timeline of surveillance technology from 1984 through 2026 to highlight how camera use has evolved.
Timeline
The documentary spans the years 1984 to 2026.
The filmmaker conducted research over the past four years.
The film premiered in October 2026.
Industry Dynamics
The film aligns with a growing body of work that utilizes digital archives to critique the technological landscape, mirroring the societal anxieties famously explored in George Orwell's 1984. It positions the documentary format as an active tool for questioning modern privacy standards.
Viewers can engage with the project as part of the Reality Check museum exhibition, which provides context for the documentary's experimental themes. The screening serves as an opportunity for the public to directly confront the scale of surveillance captured in the film.
The takeaway
The documentary encourages viewers to critically observe their own environments for pervasive monitoring tools. By identifying the sheer volume of cameras in everyday retail spaces, audience members may become more conscious of their personal digital footprints.
Further reading
Explore more films that challenge modern societal norms in our Documentary section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WLNS 6 Lansing.
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