Visual Epidemic

Let me start by saying, yes. I get it. I get this is supposed to be comic relief. BUT, it makes me question what we find is funny – and moreover, would we still find it funny if it were the other way around?

Now that I have piqued your curiosity, let me explain a bit more. I love the guild. I love their videos about the geeky, gaming community. But the video above really bothers me. The character Zaboo has his first girlfriend, and the incident here is a continuation of that storyline. Zaboo has always been portrayed as a ‘late blommer’ and with very low self-confidence (as have many of the Guild members). When he does get a girlfriend, described as a tall, hot violent-game player, he does and sacrifices everything for her wishes. While this is problematic in itself, at the end of this video you see Zaboo tied up in the closet after having forgotten to make breakfast for his girlfriend.

Codex is upset/angered by the situation, but still leaves without helping Zaboo. Yes, Zaboo’s situation is portrayed as ‘lucky’ – after all he is a geeky gamer who gets the hot girl. But if it were a woman tied up in the closet – no matter how hot the guy is – would this still be funny? Why is it funny that a man can be depicted as a victim of domestic violence as long as he is rewarded through kinky sex (this being part of the story line, as well)? Domestic violence is not funny – and the relationship as shown previously in this story is not funny. Yes, it is meant as comic relief to the Codex-enamored Zaboo, but the necessity falling into a bad relationship to get over unrequited love is not a healthy message.

1 Comment | In: Uncategorized | tags: 60posts, domestic violence, DVIS, YouTube. | #

I have an ethical dilemma in my research. I am looking at responses across platforms towards ‘secret sharers’ who share about domestic abuse on the Post Secret website. These postcards are anonymous, and are even published by only one person (although they are also often taken and put on facebook, other blogs and even flickr), so IP information and other identifying characteristics such as user names are hidden. The postcards are user-created, and often an analogue hodge-podge of images put together to create their desired message/secret. These secrets are often responded to in tweets, facebook comments, and on Post Secret’s own forum. What I am trying to work out is how to use (or not use) these images in my research – not least in future presentations of results. Permission to use the images is another matter, but what I am concerned with today is the potential harm that could come from using these pictures. You never know with these secrets if they are pictures of the abused, or stock photos, or download online, etc. There is, of course, a chance that these cards to depict the victim, and by using them in a presentation – even for the analysis of responses, not of the picture or secret itself – you may open the victim up to further abuse by ‘outing’ their secret. And yes, they are published online in a very popular weblog – but there is also a perception of anonymity, and by sending the card, the sender is agreeing to have them displayed on that site. So what is the ethically responsible thing to do? Describe the card, and do not use an image or screen capture (again, the permission to use the image is a different matter and must, of course, be received as well), or use the card as it is a published work? Difficult. I am leaning towards description, preferring to err on the side of caution – but would like to have a discussion about the ethics of this type of research.

1 Comment | In: Uncategorized | tags: 60posts, DVIS, ethics, postsecret. | #