Ethical Confusion and Confusion of Ethics Unpacking the

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Ethical Confusion and Confusion of Ethics: Unpacking the Complexities of Tourist Photography Dr Caroline

Ethical Confusion and Confusion of Ethics: Unpacking the Complexities of Tourist Photography Dr Caroline Scarles University of Surrey

Photography in Tourism “work on (the) visualness of tourism but tourists accept no moral

Photography in Tourism “work on (the) visualness of tourism but tourists accept no moral or political responsibility for the people they visit or the accounts they produce” (Bruner, 2004)

Ethics of Confusion & Confusion of Ethics • Seemingly fleeting encounters • Web of

Ethics of Confusion & Confusion of Ethics • Seemingly fleeting encounters • Web of subjective reflections & actions • Underpinned by uncertainty & partial understanding • Anchor points (Cloke, 2003) • ‘Violence of ethics’ – Complex fusion of both predicted & reactionary practice “sometimes I break my own rules” (Greg)

Ethics of Confusion & Confusion of Ethics • Personal experiences of being photographed “its

Ethics of Confusion & Confusion of Ethics • Personal experiences of being photographed “its not a huge step to imagine yourself in that situation, you know…if I was sitting at work and someone wandered in with a camera, I think I would be a bit peeved, or if I was shopping or gardening or something” (Ruth) • Minimising intrusion & ensuring respect “If I believe I am intruding on those people then I wouldn’t take a photograph” (Cathy) “I just feel…we’ve not just intruded on those people’s worlds, we’ve actually changed it…and that’s what I really do not want to do and don’t want to feel I’ve been responsible for doing that” (Brenda)

Ethics of Confusion & Confusion of Ethics • Willingness to ask permission “I usually

Ethics of Confusion & Confusion of Ethics • Willingness to ask permission “I usually sort of raise the camera and if…there is an obvious reaction against it I wouldn’t take it, but if there isn’t then I (do)” (Alison) • Willingness to pay “someone…who’s made that effort, I think that’s a sort of…fair enough transaction really” (John) • Proximity & intrusion

Imposing Subjectivities & Understanding • Negotiating other by (not) photographing • Imposing personal opinion,

Imposing Subjectivities & Understanding • Negotiating other by (not) photographing • Imposing personal opinion, experience, reaction & preference “we must be picking up a bunch of clues really and analysing them, mustn’t we, in terms of our own value system” (Angela) • Sixth-sense “I suppose all I come back to think is. . its what I perceive the people to feel, not what I know them to feel, but their body language and everything else and that’s where you don’t need the language to know” (Cathy)

Imposing Subjectivities & Understanding • Facilitating dependency? – Perpetuating poverty & creating expectation –

Imposing Subjectivities & Understanding • Facilitating dependency? – Perpetuating poverty & creating expectation – Increased social polarisation – Staging and commodifying culture • or, Creating opportunities? : – empowerment, employment & entrepreneurship – Cultural preservation and sharing cultures – Increased self-worth & control • Entering Compromise & Justifying Actions

Complexities of Tourist Photography • Gaps in understanding & awkward performances • Confusion over

Complexities of Tourist Photography • Gaps in understanding & awkward performances • Confusion over ‘rules’ of photographing • Locals removed from decision making process • Tourists in state of constant flux: – Fleeting gestures – Transient encounters