Stealing is not cool. Neither is cultural appropriation. But ethical, moral and legal considerations in art and social media aren’t always clear. Time to find the line and stick to it.
Ethical, Moral and Legal Considerations
- Ethical considerations: Ethical considerations in art include issues related to the moral responsibility of the artist to society, and the impact of their work on different communities. For example, some artists may choose to address controversial topics such as racism, gender or religion, and must consider the potential impact of their work on different audiences. Artists may also need to consider the use of materials, the treatment of animals or humans and issues of appropriation and plagiarism.
- Moral considerations: Moral considerations in art often overlap with ethical considerations, but focus more on the individual’s personal sense of what is right and wrong. This can include personal beliefs about the role of art in society, the purpose of the artist’s work and the extent to which they should be responsible for the moral implications of their art.
- Legal considerations: Legal considerations in art include issues related to copyright, intellectual property and contracts. Artists must ensure that their work does not infringe on the rights of others, and that they have obtained the necessary permissions and licenses for the use of copyrighted materials or trademarks. Artists must also be aware of contractual obligations, such as commission agreements and exhibition contracts.
Cultural Appropriation
Cultural appropriation is an increasingly prominent issue. It refers to the adoption or use of elements of one culture by members of another culture. This often occurs when members of a dominant culture borrow or adopt elements of a marginalized culture without proper understanding or respect for the cultural history, meaning or significance.
What amounts to cultural appropriation is hotly debated. But what’s clear is that marginalized communities justly feel disrespected if actions perpetuate harmful stereotypes or undermine the cultural identity and heritage of the group being appropriated. Examples of harmful cultural appropriation include the formerly named sports franchises the Cleveland Indians and the Washington Redskins.
It’s important to note that cultural exchange, which involves a respectful and mutually beneficial sharing of cultural elements, is not the same as cultural appropriation. To avoid cultural appropriation, it is important to approach other cultures with respect and understanding, to educate oneself on the history and meaning of the elements being borrowed or adopted, and to seek permission and guidance from members of the culture being referenced.
Resources:
Cue the eye rolls: this is a piece about cultural appropriation
Social Media Best Practices
Social media has become an essential tool for individuals, organizations and businesses to connect with their audiences and promote their products, services and ideas.
Best practices for using social media effectively:
- Define your goals: Before you start using social media to advance an idea or product, define what you want to achieve through your efforts. This may include building brand awareness, increasing engagement with your audience, generating leads, driving sales, raising awareness or building support.
- Choose the right platforms: Each social media platform has its own unique features and audience demographics. Choose the platforms that are most relevant to your goals and target audience (images, video, text, audience age, audience location, etc).
- Develop a content strategy: Create a content strategy that aligns with your goals and target audience. This may include creating a content calendar, developing a brand voice and tone, and identifying the types of content that resonate with your audience.
- Engage with your audience: Social media is a two-way conversation. Engage with your audience by responding to comments and messages, and by actively seeking out opportunities to connect with your followers.
- Use visuals: Visuals, such as photos and videos, are more engaging than text alone. Incorporate high-quality visuals into your social media posts to increase engagement. Don’t forget legal considerations – see below.
- Measure your results: Use analytics tools to measure the success of your social media efforts. This can help you identify what is working and what is not, and adjust your strategy accordingly.
- Stay consistent: Consistency is key to building a strong social media presence. Develop a consistent posting schedule and brand voice, and stick to it.
- Be authentic: Be authentic in your social media efforts. This means being true to your values and personality.
Legality and Licensing
When a creator designs an original piece, whether it’s a video, photograph, work of art, song or graphic, they have legal ownership of that work and can prevent others from using it. When seeking to use someone’s copyrighted work in a project, it’s important to ask the owner for permission, purchase the rights and/or source the material. Every creator will have different requirements. If you use any type of creative piece without permission, you could be sued for copyright infringement.
Here’s the good news: many stock web sites offer music, sound effects, images, videos and graphics/vectors for creative use. Some web sites require subscriptions, some offer content à la carte and others even have free options! Just be sure to read the fine print to understand user obligations.
Journalistic Ethics & Standards
Good, trained journalists adhere to an ethical code of conduct that sets standards on truthfulness, accuracy, fairness and accountability. The code also ensures respect for news subjects, outlining how the names of victims can be released and when graphic material warnings need to be issued. Failure to follow this code can result in termination or a lawsuit.
Resources: Accountable Journalism | CBC Best Practices | The Globe and Mail Editorial Code | National News Media: Guides & Resources | Canadian Association of Journalists
Writing & Editing Guide
The Canadian Press has established a writing and editing guide that seeks to “provide authoritative advice on writing and editing from Canada’s national news agency.” The document offers guidance on styling, spelling and grammar and is an important component of the Canadian journalistic code of ethics.
Resource: The Canadian Press Writing Guide