[Leica] morality and subjects rights in photography

[Kyle Cassidy <cassidy@netaxs.com>]

to stop the flagelation of this well beaten horse, i can recommend that
anybody who's interested get

Image Ethics : The Moral Rights of Subjects in Photographs, Film, and
Television

which was written right here at the annenberg school, editied by our
beloved and most esteemd faculty member Dr. Larry Gross. all your
questions should be put to rest.

one review says:

"This invigorating book reminds me of that moment in geological time when
Earth shifted on its axis. . . Adjusting for proportions, Image Ethics
fundamentally alters the world of visual imagery. . . Image Ethics
approaches the issues from a fresh perspective that will make it a
landmark in the history of the field." (Journal of communication)

amazon describes it thusly:

This pathbreaking collection of thirteen original essays examines the
moral rights of the subjects of documentary film, photography, and
television. Image makers--photographers and filmmakers--are coming under
increasing criticism for presenting images of people that are considered
intrusive and embarrassing to the subject. Portraying subjects in a "false
light," appropriating their images, and failing to secure "informed
consent" are all practices that intensify the debate between advocates of
the right to privacy and the public's right to know. Discussing these
questions from a variety of perspectives, the authors here explore such
issues as informed consent, the "right" of individuals and minority groups
to be represented fairly and accurately, the right of individuals to
profit from their own image, and the peculiar moral obligations of
minorities who image themselves and the producers of autobiographical
documentaries. The book includes a series of provocative case studies on:
the documentaries of Frederick Wiseman, particularly Titicut Follies;
British documentaries of the 1930s; the libel suit of General Westmoreland
against CBS News; the film Witness and its portrayal of the Amish; the
film The Gods Must be Crazy and its portrayal of the San people of
southern Africa; and the treatment of Arabs and gays on television. The
first book to explore the moral issues peculiar to the production of
visual images, Image Ethics will interest a wide range of general readers
and students and specialists in film and television production,
photography, communications, media, and the social sciences. 

Ob leica content: we had a bunch of leica junk lying around from back when
the school used to teach photography which all got tossed sometime in the
80's after languishing in a basement for years. one of which was the M4
which was Mary Ellen Mark's first camera. sigh.

kc