Last week I discussed the artist as an archive, and more specifically, how Belén offered to use a selection of her personal journals to be used in the archive. During our discussion about including the journals, she shared that there was sensitive information within the pages, and the thought of releasing this information was her main hesitation for including them in the archive. To respect her privacy, I will not be divulging any of this information shared with me, but I use this antecedent as an example of the ethical dilemmas an archivist can face while working with a collection.
Image : One of the biggest ethical dilemmas facing archivists and museums is the subject of repatriation. Should institutions have to give back stolen work? Should culturally sensitive material be publically available? Keeping this in mind helped me in my approach to some of Belen's material.
As a working archivist, I often say I have three bosses: the public, the collector, and the subject. My job is to make sure that the organization of the archive and information provided is as complete and as accessible as all three allow. Working with Belén's journals brought to light the delicate balance an archivist must maintain. On one hand, there is the public’s right to access information, which allows for a broader understanding of her work and practice. On the other hand, there is the need to respect the privacy and wishes of the subject whose life and thoughts are being distributed. Next week, I’ll be looking at other ethical dilemas that I have previously faced in my work, and how they have strenghten my understanding of how to maintain the balance of information and privacy.
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