Although the above hit the news cycles around a month ago, it has been in the back of my mind since the start of class. It seems as if the trope of “discovery” as spectacle is alive and well– and here there is not only an exoticization of these “uncontacted tribes” but an acknowledgment by the media of the unethical nature of publicizing imagery and video of subjects who did not give consent, and then the flagrant decision to do so anyway.
At the same time, the article cites an indigenous activist and officials from Brazil’s indigenous affairs agency who argue that awareness of uncontacted tribes is necessary for protection efforts for them and their lands. This is also the perspective of this month’s issue of National Geographic, the cover shown below. I am wondering, in today’s world, is it ethical to tie discovery with responsibility? How can we coexist with these populations in a respectful way? It is important to be an ally, but how does the “savior complex” come into play? In regards to the below, news releases around the cover maintain a focus on the publication of “rare” and “incredible” photos– there is an aspect of spectacle in it all and a staging of the “primitive” that, at least for me, causes a feeling of discomfort.
