Notes on Ethics
Some foundational concepts to keep in mind when engaging with the community
Vernacular culture
A distinct characteristic of vernacular culture is that it is informal. It is a culture organized and developed, often unwittingly and without sponsorship, by ordinary people.
A distinct characteristic of vernacular culture is that it is informal. It is a culture organized and developed, often unwittingly and without sponsorship, by ordinary people.
Responsible cultural discourse
We recognize that some of us do not belong to the socio-economic classes with a direct hand in the visual and material trends we seek to study. However, the cultural class is not flat. Tk encourages the community to keep everyone in check whenever the discussion teeters on the edges of misrepresentation, appropriation or fetishization. Diligent research combined with a sense of empathy is always a good place to start.
We recognize that some of us do not belong to the socio-economic classes with a direct hand in the visual and material trends we seek to study. However, the cultural class is not flat. Tk encourages the community to keep everyone in check whenever the discussion teeters on the edges of misrepresentation, appropriation or fetishization. Diligent research combined with a sense of empathy is always a good place to start.
Misrepresentation
Untrue or misleading statements of fact about a culture or sub-culture, especially one we do not directly take part in.
Untrue or misleading statements of fact about a culture or sub-culture, especially one we do not directly take part in.
Appropriation
The inappropriate use of cultural elements from a minority group by a dominant group. The imbalance of power at play often leads to gain for the latter and loss for the former.
Fetishization
The stereotyping and objectification of a group of people and their culture. It can manifest as an excessive fondness for a certain type of person or their practices that both idolizes and demonizes, reducing them to a colonized other.