Week 4 

In week 4 our main focus was on the documentary, ‘Finding Vivian Maier’ (2013). The documentary followed a man who uncovered some magnificent photographs in an auction and made it his mission to discover more about the mysterious photographer, Vivian Maier and to publish her work to the world. Vivian Maier was a complicated woman, and it begged the question in class discussions about the ethical morals of publishing this private photographer’s work. In my own personal opinion, I do find it hard to say, her work was clearly at a professional level, and she was proud of it and thought it was good- it showed the world some outstanding art they may never have seen otherwise. On the opposing end, she never published it herself, and being a very private person, she may never have wanted it to be. As well as the complicated legality of who deserves the money made from her art after her death, the whole documentary formed so many questions. Vivian Maier also took a lot of street photography, which as discussed in class and in the reading, ‘Is it OK for people to take photos of you in public and publish them?’ (Lake, 2014), was another controversial conversation. I personally would not like for someone to publish a picture of me without my knowledge in public. It is argued that the art of street photography must be protected as it is their right to do so in public, but other sources claim, “A right to privacy has always been weighed against the competing right to freedom of expression and has been protected by courts only in certain circumstances.” (Lake, 2014). Street photography is amazing, and I love that it captures a culture or timeframe (e.g. NYC photos in the 1950s) but it does offer the question of whether people like Vivian Maier were creating ethical art.

REFERENCES

Lake, J 2014, Is it OK for people to take pictures of you in public and publish them?, The Conversation.

‌Finding Vivian Maier (2013)