Aesthetics, Art, & Ethics
Controversies over the nature and value of various art forms and practices
Bringing Dead Actors Back to Life
October 2, 2024
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–…...
My Murder, Your Entertainment
May 15, 2023
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…...
Love Yourself or Just Your Selfie?
May 8, 2023
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…...
The Ethics of AI Art
February 24, 2023
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…...
Historical Accuracy in Entertainment Media
August 10, 2022
How accurate do historical dramas like "The Crown" need to be?...
The Good, the Bad, and the Sticky
May 24, 2022
What are the tradeoffs associated with sticker art in public spaces?...
Sex, Drugs, and Hijabs on Netflix
September 21, 2020
Is Netflix's "Elite" a case of creative filmmaking or Muslim stereotyping?...
Picturing Justice for Kalief Browder
August 17, 2020
What ethical worries accompany Jay-Z's attempt to document injustices in the American prison system?...
Written In Only to Be Excluded?
May 11, 2020
What are the ethics of screenwriting and diversity in hits like "Game of Thrones?"...
Images of Death in the Media
April 2, 2020
What ethical challenges arise when the media uses images of the dead?...
Powerful Art, Harmed Environments
March 29, 2020
What if great art has to harm the environment to make its point?...
The Different Species of the Online Catfish
March 24, 2020
What ethical complexities circle around catfishing and online deception?...
Dramatization or Falsification?
February 17, 2020
How far can films about journalists push the truth for dramatic effects?...
To Release or Not to Release
January 22, 2020
What are the ethics of films that portray political assassinations in India?...
Cooperation and Compromise in the Artworld
November 11, 2019
When can artists work with repressive governments to create valuable art?...
Halloween Hijinks and Internet Shaming
April 3, 2019
What ethical decisions await those dressing up for Halloween--and those reacting to racially insensitive costumes?...
Netflix and Kill
March 14, 2019
What are the ethics of portraying heinous criminals in popular films?...
The Ethics of Computer-Generated Actors
February 13, 2019
What ethical concerns arise when filmmakers use CGI to resurrect dead actors?...
When Does Artistic Creativity Become the Exploitat...
January 22, 2019
What ethical concerns arise when a prominent photographic artist uses her children in her work?...
“One Does Not Simply Create a Meme”
January 14, 2019
When does the creation and sharing of internet memes go too far?...
When Actors Become Characters
November 26, 2018
What are the ethics of fictional works created by fans that involve real people as characters?...
Values Preserved in Stone
November 7, 2018
What are the ethical issues surrounding Confederate memorials?...
Boldly Going Where Studios Have Gone Before
October 31, 2018
When does fan fiction cross the line from inspired creativity to unethical stealing?...
#MeToo and the Arts
July 18, 2018
What happens when the #MeToo movement meets the artworld?...
When Comedic Stereotypes Cease to Be Funny
July 8, 2018
Do humorous - but stereotypical - characters like Apu from "The Simpsons" cross ethical lines?...
Fake News, Fake Porn, and AI
March 29, 2018
What are the ethical issues involved in the use of AI in creating fake video content?...
Suicide, Fiction, and Ethics
March 21, 2018
What are the ethical issues raised by Netflix's "13 Reasons Why"?...