An interesting mini-discussion towards the end of our notebook meeting on Wednesday about issues relating to privacy and art.
I’m familiar with the debates surrounding these issues in my own “home” context of archaeology and anthropology, and of the long and complex discourse that has evolved over the power dynamics and political/cultural implications of certain kinds of archaeological and anthropological imagery – particularly discourse involving questions of “ownership”.
I’m also familiar with various kinds of art – mostly performance and installation – which addresses various concerns about information, privacy, etc. I’m also aware of the debates surrounding the right to photograph in public places raised by interpretations of the UK Terrorism Acts (2000, 2006 and 2008).
However, I’m not aware that there’s much discussion about the ethics of privacy among artists themselves. In particular, some of the points our recent discussion centred on were to do with both photographing and sketching strangers in public places, as well as the photographing, drawing and referencing in artwork of friends and acquaintances. There’s an explanation on Wikipedia about privacy, photography and the law (although Wikipedia notes that it needs some expert attention), which touched on some of what we were discussing – but I wanted to know whether there were any guidelines, discussions or debates about the broader relationship between art and privacy out there.
Anyone know anything about this?
Dug this link up from my archives. I think it is fairly up to date and is a lengthy but easy read. Whether this applies to artists making sketches I have no idea but my guess is the subject should be similar. The article also has some good links to follow – hope it is of some help on this subject.
http://www.urban75.org/photos/photographers-rights-and-the-law.html
Geoff Armitage
“… general jobsworths” – like it, Geoff. Also liked the BBC article this linked to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-15236758
While I agree with some of the comments last week that privacy and consent are central issues, I think that these are inevitably linked to assaults by authority on the right to be creative in public spaces. Increasingly, the right to be creative – not limited to taking photographs, incidentally – is being whittled away by the corporate appropriation of public space. I know this has been an issue for a long time in the US, where there is very little left in the way of “public space” – much of it is now monitored and controlled by corporate entities such as shopping centres, etc., and governed by various unaccountable private security firms.
Ensuring that we can continue to be creative in public spaces is vital – indeed, ensuring that public spaces remain “public” is also vital.
Today they’re cracking down on photographers, but tomorrow they will crack down on people drawing and writing. When I was in Turkey I was stopped from sketching near a train station once by Jandarma (military police), and I have already been asked once by a US policeman what I thought I was doing while writing in my journal. Under the guise of various flavours of “protection”, the rights of individuals to a creative life are being eroded and – ultimately – denied.
Accepting that you are a public individual when in a public place may be part of ensuring that our creative freedoms are preserved.