Media Ethics | Aesthetics, Art, & Ethics

Two people examining and splicing film reels under a desk lamp, focused on detailed editing work.

Bringing Dead Actors Back to Life

One of Hollywood’s most treasured actors may soon appear on the big screen again. James Dean –star of classic films like East of Eden, Rebel Without a Cause, and Giant– epitomized sexy youthful rebellion for many teens coming of age in the 1950s and beyond. While comeback roles are not… Read More
Bringing Dead Actors Back to Life
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My Murder, Your Entertainment

It’s no secret that true crime media, whether in podcast or film format, has skyrocketed in popularity in recent years. True crime is popular for reasons other than entertainment, as this genre has led to solving cold cases, bringing ignored issues to light, and educating audiences on how to avoid… Read More
My Murder, Your Entertainment
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Love Yourself or Just Your Selfie?

While Instagram used to be a casual platform to share quick snapshots with friends, it has turned into a perfectly curated stream of highlight reels. Like many young people, 21-year-old Sky Lane heavily edits her photos before posting them to social media. Lane’s main goal is to appear skinnier, but… Read More
Love Yourself or Just Your Selfie?
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The Ethics of AI Art

For thousands of years, art has been an endeavor of the human race. From Rembrandt to Basquiat, from the Benin Bronzes to the new wave cinema of Hong Kong, art has been recognized as creative expressions of human intelligence. With the public release of DALL-E 2, a neural network that… Read More
The Ethics of AI Art
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Historical Accuracy in Entertainment Media

How accurate do historical dramas like "The Crown" need to be? Read More
Historical Accuracy in Entertainment Media
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The Good, the Bad, and the Sticky

What are the tradeoffs associated with sticker art in public spaces? Read More
The Good, the Bad, and the Sticky
Three students in matching blazers and ties stand in a hallway, one wearing a light green hijab.

Sex, Drugs, and Hijabs on Netflix

Is Netflix's "Elite" a case of creative filmmaking or Muslim stereotyping? Read More
Sex, Drugs, and Hijabs on Netflix
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Picturing Justice for Kalief Browder

What ethical worries accompany Jay-Z's attempt to document injustices in the American prison system? Read More
Picturing Justice for Kalief Browder
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Written In Only to Be Excluded?

What are the ethics of screenwriting and diversity in hits like "Game of Thrones?" Read More
Written In Only to Be Excluded?
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Images of Death in the Media

What ethical challenges arise when the media uses images of the dead? Read More
Images of Death in the Media
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Powerful Art, Harmed Environments

What if great art has to harm the environment to make its point? Read More
Powerful Art, Harmed Environments
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The Different Species of the Online Catfish

What ethical complexities circle around catfishing and online deception? Read More
The Different Species of the Online Catfish
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Dramatization or Falsification?

How far can films about journalists push the truth for dramatic effects? Read More
Dramatization or Falsification?
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To Release or Not to Release

What are the ethics of films that portray political assassinations in India? Read More
To Release or Not to Release
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Cooperation and Compromise in the Artworld

When can artists work with repressive governments to create valuable art? Read More
Cooperation and Compromise in the Artworld
Halloween Hijinks and Internet Shaming

Halloween Hijinks and Internet Shaming

What ethical decisions await those dressing up for Halloween--and those reacting to racially insensitive costumes? Read More
Halloween Hijinks and Internet Shaming
Netflix tweet humorously reminding users about attractive men on their service, excluding criminals.

Netflix and Kill

What are the ethics of portraying heinous criminals in popular films? Read More
Netflix and Kill
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The Ethics of Computer-Generated Actors

What ethical concerns arise when filmmakers use CGI to resurrect dead actors? Read More
The Ethics of Computer-Generated Actors
Young girl in a dress holding a cigarette, with two children in the blurred background.

When Does Artistic Creativity Become the Exploitat...

What ethical concerns arise when a prominent photographic artist uses her children in her work? Read More
When Does Artistic Creativity Become the Exploitation of Children?
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“One Does Not Simply Create a Meme”

When does the creation and sharing of internet memes go too far? Read More
“One Does Not Simply Create a Meme”
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When Actors Become Characters

What are the ethics of fictional works created by fans that involve real people as characters? Read More
When Actors Become Characters
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Values Preserved in Stone

What are the ethical issues surrounding Confederate memorials? Read More
Values Preserved in Stone
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Boldly Going Where Studios Have Gone Before

When does fan fiction cross the line from inspired creativity to unethical stealing? Read More
Boldly Going Where Studios Have Gone Before
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#MeToo and the Arts

What happens when the #MeToo movement meets the artworld? Read More
#MeToo and the Arts
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When Comedic Stereotypes Cease to Be Funny

Do humorous - but stereotypical - characters like Apu from "The Simpsons" cross ethical lines? Read More
When Comedic Stereotypes Cease to Be Funny
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Fake News, Fake Porn, and AI

What are the ethical issues involved in the use of AI in creating fake video content? Read More
Fake News, Fake Porn, and AI
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Suicide, Fiction, and Ethics

What are the ethical issues raised by Netflix's "13 Reasons Why"? Read More
Suicide, Fiction, and Ethics