Comments on: Who controls the image of rural Kyrgyzstan? http://www.neweurasia.net/media-and-internet/who-controls-the-image-of-rural-kyrgyzstan/ Fri, 17 May 2013 18:30:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Rakhat http://www.neweurasia.net/media-and-internet/who-controls-the-image-of-rural-kyrgyzstan/comment-page-1/#comment-81958 Rakhat Sat, 08 Dec 2012 19:50:26 +0000 http://www.neweurasia.net/?p=20988#comment-81958 This argument - class and hierarchy of moral code - definitely brings out neo-orientalist perspectives of post-Soviet Russian media and scholarship. Poor Kyrgyz people's lives are robbed from their own contexts and contribute to the reproduction of cultural superiority. Ferghana ru is blocked in Kyrgyzstan, and partly I am glad about it, especially in the light of such representation of the Kyrgyz people. I guess, the journalists have to be 'educated' about their own social positions, and especially about consequences of their biased and one-sided reporting. Ferghana ru should then be more critical about their own reporting as freedom of speech and press should be combined with responsible and just reporting. The Kyrgyz society is struggling with new economic, political and social transformations partly because of global capitalist forces that fundamentally impose the ideal society images on individuals, communities and the nation. I feel like sending these reporters to lead the lives of these mountain people for a month and will see whether they can survive their harsh geographic conditions. Such reporting does not just demonstrate a lack of critical mind of the reporter, but also how the Russian media creates the image of its post-colonial societies. In the body of this reporter then lies a superior Russian cultural power and domination that sorts people (subjects) into immoral (dirty, poor) and moral. This argument – class and hierarchy of moral code – definitely brings out neo-orientalist perspectives of post-Soviet Russian media and scholarship. Poor Kyrgyz people’s lives are robbed from their own contexts and contribute to the reproduction of cultural superiority. Ferghana ru is blocked in Kyrgyzstan, and partly I am glad about it, especially in the light of such representation of the Kyrgyz people. I guess, the journalists have to be ‘educated’ about their own social positions, and especially about consequences of their biased and one-sided reporting. Ferghana ru should then be more critical about their own reporting as freedom of speech and press should be combined with responsible and just reporting. The Kyrgyz society is struggling with new economic, political and social transformations partly because of global capitalist forces that fundamentally impose the ideal society images on individuals, communities and the nation. I feel like sending these reporters to lead the lives of these mountain people for a month and will see whether they can survive their harsh geographic conditions. Such reporting does not just demonstrate a lack of critical mind of the reporter, but also how the Russian media creates the image of its post-colonial societies. In the body of this reporter then lies a superior Russian cultural power and domination that sorts people (subjects) into immoral (dirty, poor) and moral.

]]> By: Alyona Rasquinha http://www.neweurasia.net/media-and-internet/who-controls-the-image-of-rural-kyrgyzstan/comment-page-1/#comment-81768 Alyona Rasquinha Sat, 08 Dec 2012 08:06:39 +0000 http://www.neweurasia.net/?p=20988#comment-81768 I read the original article by Ekaterina Ivashenko that was published by Fergana news and then read her personal Facebook album publication and comments on the Narin Chronicles. The original publication in Russian was rather descriptive with several questions at the end of the report where she also states that people should not live in circumstances like they are in Narin villagers with no cash, no proper food, no work and very harsh living conditions. In Ekaterina's original photo-report in Fergana news I did not notice any racist comments that disrespect the people or belittle their dignity. I think the whole argument/discontentment arose from Ekaterina's personal Facebook account where she also placed her photo-report and exchanged comments, where she expressed more of her feelings and thoughts about the trip and its whole experience. But even there I did not find any racist or degrading comments. Rather, her personal comment "мне всегда было непонятно, почему эти люди живут в такой грязище?!....едят\спят\заводят детей....какое бы оно не было, это же твое жилище!... ("I never understood how these people can live in such dirty conditions?!… [They] eat, sleep, have children… after all it is your house!…”) leaves space for interpretation. Does the author mean that it was always hard for her to understand UNTIL she saw that there is actually no other way for them given the condition? Or does she pass on a judgement on the people that even in such a poverty they still have to maintain their homes? She DID NOT explain more in her comment. And so different interpretations are given and assumptions are taken place. The whole issue also raises few other points: professional and personal ethics. Should personal ethics also be guarded when we have such professions as anthropologists, journalists and other similar professions where we involve other people and their stories? How different can our professional opinion be from our personal opinion? I read the original article by Ekaterina Ivashenko that was published by Fergana news and then read her personal Facebook album publication and comments on the Narin Chronicles. The original publication in Russian was rather descriptive with several questions at the end of the report where she also states that people should not live in circumstances like they are in Narin villagers with no cash, no proper food, no work and very harsh living conditions.
In Ekaterina’s original photo-report in Fergana news I did not notice any racist comments that disrespect the people or belittle their dignity.

I think the whole argument/discontentment arose from Ekaterina’s personal Facebook account where she also placed her photo-report and exchanged comments, where she expressed more of her feelings and thoughts about the trip and its whole experience.
But even there I did not find any racist or degrading comments. Rather, her personal comment “мне всегда было непонятно, почему эти люди живут в такой грязище?!….едят\спят\заводят детей….какое бы оно не было, это же твое жилище!… (“I never understood how these people can live in such dirty conditions?!… [They] eat, sleep, have children… after all it is your house!…”) leaves space for interpretation. Does the author mean that it was always hard for her to understand UNTIL she saw that there is actually no other way for them given the condition? Or does she pass on a judgement on the people that even in such a poverty they still have to maintain their homes? She DID NOT explain more in her comment. And so different interpretations are given and assumptions are taken place.

The whole issue also raises few other points: professional and personal ethics. Should personal ethics also be guarded when we have such professions as anthropologists, journalists and other similar professions where we involve other people and their stories? How different can our professional opinion be from our personal opinion?

]]> By: Dr. Mary Schweitzer http://www.neweurasia.net/media-and-internet/who-controls-the-image-of-rural-kyrgyzstan/comment-page-1/#comment-81716 Dr. Mary Schweitzer Sat, 08 Dec 2012 01:07:50 +0000 http://www.neweurasia.net/?p=20988#comment-81716 <a href="#comment-81564" rel="nofollow">@Schwartz</a>, I certainly agree with Damira's analysis and with you that class and status perspectives have taken the upper hand over ethics. If these news agencies and journalists do have a code of ethics but they are not effective (no sanctions?), then of what use are they? It seems to me that in the face of this ineffictiveness, Damira has appealed to the sensibilities and ethics of the common people to voice their concerns about how these poor people have been "used". @Schwartz, I certainly agree with Damira’s analysis and with you that class and status perspectives have taken the upper hand over ethics. If these news agencies and journalists do have a code of ethics but they are not effective (no sanctions?), then of what use are they? It seems to me that in the face of this ineffictiveness, Damira has appealed to the sensibilities and ethics of the common people to voice their concerns about how these poor people have been “used”.

]]> By: Schwartz http://www.neweurasia.net/media-and-internet/who-controls-the-image-of-rural-kyrgyzstan/comment-page-1/#comment-81564 Schwartz Fri, 07 Dec 2012 14:45:11 +0000 http://www.neweurasia.net/?p=20988#comment-81564 <a href="#comment-81475" rel="nofollow">@Dr. Mary Schweitzer</a>, Thanks for the comment. Actually, my understanding is that Ferghana.ru and several other agencies *do* have codes of ethics. The problem is always the understanding and implementation of those codes. Damira's point here is that class and status clouded ethical judgement, not that there was no ethical judgement at all. @Dr. Mary Schweitzer, Thanks for the comment. Actually, my understanding is that Ferghana.ru and several other agencies *do* have codes of ethics. The problem is always the understanding and implementation of those codes. Damira’s point here is that class and status clouded ethical judgement, not that there was no ethical judgement at all.

]]> By: Schwartz http://www.neweurasia.net/media-and-internet/who-controls-the-image-of-rural-kyrgyzstan/comment-page-1/#comment-81562 Schwartz Fri, 07 Dec 2012 14:41:10 +0000 http://www.neweurasia.net/?p=20988#comment-81562 <a href="#comment-81430" rel="nofollow">@Steven</a>, I also agree that it's difficult. Poverty should neither be valorized nor villainized; the challenge for journalists is to find the truth in-between. My impression (that is, Damira's criticisms notwithstanding) is that the Ferghana.ru report was actually well-intentioned, if mishandled. But how many times has NewEurasia itself mishandled something? Many, many times. So I'm fundamentally sympathetic. @Steven, I also agree that it’s difficult. Poverty should neither be valorized nor villainized; the challenge for journalists is to find the truth in-between. My impression (that is, Damira’s criticisms notwithstanding) is that the Ferghana.ru report was actually well-intentioned, if mishandled. But how many times has NewEurasia itself mishandled something? Many, many times. So I’m fundamentally sympathetic.

]]> By: Schwartz http://www.neweurasia.net/media-and-internet/who-controls-the-image-of-rural-kyrgyzstan/comment-page-1/#comment-81559 Schwartz Fri, 07 Dec 2012 14:38:32 +0000 http://www.neweurasia.net/?p=20988#comment-81559 <a href="#comment-81275" rel="nofollow">@help</a>, Sorry about that! They're fixed now. @help, Sorry about that! They’re fixed now.

]]> By: Dr. Mary Schweitzer http://www.neweurasia.net/media-and-internet/who-controls-the-image-of-rural-kyrgyzstan/comment-page-1/#comment-81475 Dr. Mary Schweitzer Fri, 07 Dec 2012 09:45:29 +0000 http://www.neweurasia.net/?p=20988#comment-81475 Definitely, I agree that these people have been disempowered, and furthermore, that their basic right to have their human dignity upheld has been violated. How could this violation of ethics happen? Many countries in the world have a standard code of ethics for journalists, another but similar code for publishers, another but similar code for psychologists, etc. These codes of ethics are formulated by the professionals within the country or region and thus take into consideration the cultural sensibilities of the country. Why don't journalists of Kyrgyzstan have a code of ethics which ensures that their work will always uphold the dignity of their subjects. Why don't publishers of Kyrgyzstan have a code of ethics that they will not publish what robs people of their voice and of their dignity. Definitely, I agree that these people have been disempowered, and furthermore, that their basic right to have their human dignity upheld has been violated. How could this violation of ethics happen? Many countries in the world have a standard code of ethics for journalists, another but similar code for publishers, another but similar code for psychologists, etc. These codes of ethics are formulated by the professionals within the country or region and thus take into consideration the cultural sensibilities of the country.
Why don’t journalists of Kyrgyzstan have a code of ethics which ensures that their work will always uphold the dignity of their subjects. Why don’t publishers of Kyrgyzstan have a code of ethics that they will not publish what robs people of their voice and of their dignity.

]]> By: Steven http://www.neweurasia.net/media-and-internet/who-controls-the-image-of-rural-kyrgyzstan/comment-page-1/#comment-81430 Steven Fri, 07 Dec 2012 06:13:13 +0000 http://www.neweurasia.net/?p=20988#comment-81430 I think you make a great point, one that goes for all photo-journalism in poor countries. I once saw a great art documentary called Enjoy Poverty. The filmmaker goes with photojournalists from press agencies who are shooting a famine, refugees and civil war in Congo. It's difficult to watch how these men come inside houses without explanation and 'shoot' these poor people. They tell him they earn 50$ for a shot. He asks if they shouldn't give their subjects part of the money, since without them, there is no shot. They say "no, I am making the shot, I should get the money." He then meets some Congolese wedding photographers, and asks them how much they earn. 1$ for a roll of pictures, they say. He tells them to shoot poverty and despair instead of happiness, it is far more profitable, and they set out to do so. Enjoy poverty! To answer your question, I don't think there is a solution to this problem. I prefer to have these pictures shown. Some journalists will frame it correctly, others not, but in the end, it's always up to the viewer to make up her own mind. I am sure not everyone who saw these pictures in Russia had exactly the same idea as the writer. I think you make a great point, one that goes for all photo-journalism in poor countries.

I once saw a great art documentary called Enjoy Poverty. The filmmaker goes with photojournalists from press agencies who are shooting a famine, refugees and civil war in Congo. It’s difficult to watch how these men come inside houses without explanation and ‘shoot’ these poor people.

They tell him they earn 50$ for a shot. He asks if they shouldn’t give their subjects part of the money, since without them, there is no shot. They say “no, I am making the shot, I should get the money.”

He then meets some Congolese wedding photographers, and asks them how much they earn. 1$ for a roll of pictures, they say. He tells them to shoot poverty and despair instead of happiness, it is far more profitable, and they set out to do so. Enjoy poverty!

To answer your question, I don’t think there is a solution to this problem. I prefer to have these pictures shown. Some journalists will frame it correctly, others not, but in the end, it’s always up to the viewer to make up her own mind. I am sure not everyone who saw these pictures in Russia had exactly the same idea as the writer.

]]> By: help http://www.neweurasia.net/media-and-internet/who-controls-the-image-of-rural-kyrgyzstan/comment-page-1/#comment-81275 help Thu, 06 Dec 2012 16:29:16 +0000 http://www.neweurasia.net/?p=20988#comment-81275 the links in this article don't work. if we can't see what you're talking about how can we comment? the links in this article don’t work. if we can’t see what you’re talking about how can we comment?

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