While going through Thomas reading, a question about ethics and morality came into my mind. Over the time we have changed, shaped and arrange our concept of ethics and morality based on our style of living, priorities and concerns. This is manifested on cooks voyage and the methods used in his expeditions to collect things. “The type of practical project which the voyages represented was not an interventionist one in any immediate sense; although various goods and supplies were demanded, there was no attempt to reshape local social relations, no attempt to draw on organized labor in any significant or extended manner. What was demanded of indigenous populations was thus limited, and a combination of ethical precepts and practical constrains largely precluded exploratory ships from forcing unwilling people to work or surrender goods”. Inevitably for me there is a doubt to believe this was as black and white as they describe it to be. I question the mindset that these explorers came in with into these cultures; did they respect their space and customs? Did they take the time and dedication to intervene into their society?. After a long journey I doubt they would go back without something they consider valuable and essential for their investigation. Morality and ethics at the time for these kinds of expeditions weren’t as strict and hardly judge on. There was no evidence but the word of mouth of these explorers about what was being done and how it was being done.
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ReplyDeleteAlthough we have talked extensively about how cultural objects are both literally and figuratively put on a pedestal when displayed in a museum I never really considered what patronage has to do with putting them there or making them culturally significant. In Ames’ chapter where he talks about, “Promotion and Legitimization of Indian Art and Arists through Patronage”, I was really given insight to not only the changes that are caused because of this but it really made me think about how patronage and pedestals effect our culture as a whole when people legitimize something on a much larger scale such as bottled water and processed foods making them not only the norm but some how special. In addition, it made me think of how commercials and advertisements could represent the pedestals of our conscious.
ReplyDeleteAside from this “Sensible Objects” was incredible and helped me understand material culture in relation to Ames writing. They were a really great pairing.