The View From My Room

This is my room.  I live on the fourth floor of Mohn Hall, one of the two towers on campus.  I feel like it's a good height; I only have to climb three flights of stairs, and that's not enough for me to justify taking the elevator.  The room has only this one window/set of three windows that you see in the picture to the right.  I love the fact that my windows face southward because most of the time we get so much natural lighting that turning on the light makes absolutely no difference.  The plants in this picture are a result of this light; my roommate and I are attempting to grow some herbs (basil, oregano, and lavender).  It's working pretty well!

The view from this window is the most interesting part of this setup, in my opinion.  Here's a picture of that view:

This view reminds me of Thomas Jefferson's view from Monticello.  I can see everything that goes on below me.  I'm high up, removed from the community below and yet I can see it all.  At night when I stand at my window, I feel creepy.  If someone looked up at my room, the lights behind me would make me VERY visible.  I suppose this is true during the day as well.  I felt a little strange taking the pictures, to be honest.

This view is very similar to the "magesterial gaze" we've discussed in class.  I'm up high, away from the scene below me which is a panorama spread out.  I can see far, much farther than I could from the ground.  There are many places on campus with this sort of view, and it makes me think about whether this was intentional.  I'll continue thinking on that one; meanwhile, I'll make sure to stay away from my windows at night so I don't scare anyone.