Theory of Knowledge - Course Companion for Students Marija Uzunova Dang Arvin Singh Uzunov Dang

IV. Ethics
terms: Northrup
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true story of the
Disturbing
the linked video, YouTube vlogger Tony
In
examines the ethical issues involved
Northrup
the famous photograph of Sharbat Gula,
in
as Afghan Girl, that appeared on the June
known
cover of National Geographic. It is the most
1985
photograph and one of the most
recognized
prints of the photograph have been sold
Larger
up to $178,900 at auctions.
for
light of what we have encountered so far
In
the artistic and ethical implications of
about
poses her like an 80s glamour shot,”
“He
says (2019), “shoulder tilted towards
Northrup
camera, forehead forward a little bit, nice
the
to illuminate the eyes, and direct eye
light
[that] she would never
contact—something
do”. Northrup describes Sharbat Gula
ever
a little Pashtun girl facing a Western man.
as
has been guilty of awful
“Photojournalism
through history, often exploiting the
abuses
for profit and celebrity”, he says (2019).
poor
episode witnesses a collision of two
The
photography communities and
different
35 years apart: YouTube vloggers
practices
1980s photojournalists. It also reveals
and
of the key difficulties in separating
some
from art.
photojournalism
critique serves as an example of
Northrup’s
culture and is presented as furthering
“call-out”
ethical cause. However, his critique is
an
because he stands to benefit from
complicated
on his YouTube channel. Northrup has
views
been accused of doing a “hit piece” for
thus
gain. The renowned photographer
commercial
took Sharbat Gula’s portrait, Steve
who
is yet to personally respond but his
McCurry,
has responded to Northrup with
foundation
described in the video. The facts of
corrections
case may never be clearly established, and
the
Gula herself has described mixed
Sharbat
about the photograph.
feelings
Girl Follow-up:
Afghan
sources & answers
corrections
an April 2002 follow-up story by National
In
Sharbat Gula described feeling
Geographic,
when the photograph was taken. In 2017
angry
told the Pakistani newspaper The Express
she
that “the photo created more problems
Tribune
benefits. It made me famous but also led
than
my imprisonment”, but she also added “now
to
am very happy that it gave me honour and
I
me popular among people” (The Express
made
19 January 2017).
Tribune,
are individuals and communities
How
shaping artistic, journalistic and even
online
standards, and disrupting traditional
ethical
What would make this desirable or
platforms?
Is Northrup’s critique legitimized
undesirable?
his large following of over 1.3 million
by
on YouTube? Is it less credible because
people
stands to gain from his YouTube channel?
he
suggested ethical guidelines for
Northrup’s
are nothing new—ethical
photojournalists
exist in various forms for all professional
codes
organizations—but his
photojournalist
reach many more people precisely
guidelines
of his presence on YouTube. They
because
Don’t bend cultures to your aesthetics … or
•
stereotypes.
Proceeds from images of the poor
•
benefit the poor more than the
should
what extent are these ethical guidelines
To
or different to, for example, the NPPA’s
similar
terms: NPPA Code of
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ethics
10
For discussion
National Geographic,
Afghan Girl YouTube
YouTube
famous covers in the history of the magazine.
photography, consider the following.
include the following.
• Choose subjects based on their story, not looks.
• If a photo is … staged or posed, declare it.
photographer. (Northrup 2017)
code of ethics? (linked here).
320