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“What is the use of a book without pictures?” thought the Kwoma woman: ethics in the research of material culture

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 June 2016

Fraiser McConnell
Fraiser McConnell*
Affiliation:
National Library Service of Papua New Guinea, P.O. Box 5770, Boroko
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Abstract

A book about Yena art and ceremony published in 1983 contained photographs of sculptures normally only seen by initiated Kwoma men. Art historical and anthropological publications which disregard cultural and ethical mores exploit the societies which they purport to study. Art librarians should protest against such practices, and may wish to boycott publications of this kind.

Type
Research Article
Information
Art Libraries Journal , Volume 13 , Issue 4 , 1988 , pp. 29 - 31
Copyright
Copyright © The Art Libraries Society 1988

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References

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