The dark grey zone: ethics and power in documentary consent processes

Barry, Rebecca A.

The dark grey zone: ethics and power in documentary consent processes

Barry, Rebecca A.

Permalink

Publication Type:: Thesis
Issue Date:: 2021

Open Access

Copyright Clearance Process

Recently Added
In Progress
Open Access

This item is open access.

Adobe PDF

Download contents and abstractAdobe PDF (204.78 kB)

Adobe PDF

Download thesisAdobe PDF (982.48 kB)

View statistics

Full metadata record

Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Barry, Rebecca A.
dc.date.accessioned	2021-06-02T01:33:49Z
dc.date.available	2021-06-02T01:33:49Z
dc.date.issued	2021
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/149330
dc.description	University of Technology Sydney. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.	en_US.UTF-8
dc.description.abstract	In much contemporary documentary practice, ethical issues—particularly that of informed consent—fall into a dark grey zone. While some filmmakers have publicly reflected on their ethical decisions and academic research has explored the subject, filmmakers are often left to their own devices to navigate through challenging ethical dilemmas in an ad hoc way. Unlike other professional fields, documentary filmmakers often lack a process and insight into how best to solve ethical dilemmas. This is surprising given the often-high-stake situations and the very real risks to many documentary participants. This dissertation set out to answer the question: ‘What ethical processes can filmmakers implement to ensure they obtain the informed consent of documentary film participants, especially when there is a power disparity between filmmakers and participants?’ The thesis describes how I drew on practice-led research in the creation of the documentary film I am a Girl to develop an ethical process appropriate to the diverse and dynamic ethical challenges encountered during filming. The thesis argues that by engaging with academic literature, industry protocols and philosophical schools of thought, filmmakers can establish the framework for a personal ethical process, which can provide a path to ensuring informed consent and resolving ethical dilemmas as they arise during filming and in post-production. The exegesis offers recommendations aimed at supporting filmmakers to self-educate and reflect on their ethical practice. Recommendations also suggest that filmmakers establish an ethics brains trust to provide advice to resolve ethical dilemmas encountered during filming. Finally, while not recommending the development of an industry code of ethics, the thesis urges the profession to establish and participate in ethics discussion forums online and at conferences. I argue that by improving the consent and decision-making processes we follow, we will move closer to creating work that earns the trust of our participants and audiences, paving the way for a healthier sector and stronger stories.	en_US.UTF-8
dc.format	Thesis (PhD)
dc.language.iso	en	en_US.UTF-8
dc.relation	https://opus.lib.uts.edu.au/bitstream/10453/149330/2/02Whole.pdf
dc.rights	The author owns the copyright in this thesis including all reproduction and reuse rights for the work. The work may not be altered without the permission of the copyright owner. Attribution is essential when quoting or paraphrasing from this thesis.
dc.rights	au.edu.uts.lib/ppc
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.title	The dark grey zone: ethics and power in documentary consent processes	en_US.UTF-8
dc.type	Thesis
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*

Abstract:

In much contemporary documentary practice, ethical issues—particularly that of informed consent—fall into a dark grey zone. While some filmmakers have publicly reflected on their ethical decisions and academic research has explored the subject, filmmakers are often left to their own devices to navigate through challenging ethical dilemmas in an ad hoc way. Unlike other professional fields, documentary filmmakers often lack a process and insight into how best to solve ethical dilemmas. This is surprising given the often-high-stake situations and the very real risks to many documentary participants. This dissertation set out to answer the question: ‘What ethical processes can filmmakers implement to ensure they obtain the informed consent of documentary film participants, especially when there is a power disparity between filmmakers and participants?’ The thesis describes how I drew on practice-led research in the creation of the documentary film I am a Girl to develop an ethical process appropriate to the diverse and dynamic ethical challenges encountered during filming. The thesis argues that by engaging with academic literature, industry protocols and philosophical schools of thought, filmmakers can establish the framework for a personal ethical process, which can provide a path to ensuring informed consent and resolving ethical dilemmas as they arise during filming and in post-production. The exegesis offers recommendations aimed at supporting filmmakers to self-educate and reflect on their ethical practice. Recommendations also suggest that filmmakers establish an ethics brains trust to provide advice to resolve ethical dilemmas encountered during filming. Finally, while not recommending the development of an industry code of ethics, the thesis urges the profession to establish and participate in ethics discussion forums online and at conferences. I argue that by improving the consent and decision-making processes we follow, we will move closer to creating work that earns the trust of our participants and audiences, paving the way for a healthier sector and stronger stories.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/149330