Introduction
Ethics and values entail a set of principles that govern the conduct of an individual or a group of people. They determine what is desirable and undesirable, as well as what is right and wrong. Values define the character and attitude of an individual. Ethical behavior and value are major concerns in modern society. Erosion of culture is an everyday occurrence.
A case in point is a recent art exhibition in Hong Kong. In the gallery, the artists displayed sculptures of people in various stages of nakedness. One sculpture of a naked woman crouching on her knees caught the attention of Zoe Li, a CNN reporter. In this paper, the author will analyze how the article brings out the issue of ethical behavior and values in modern society.
Is She or Isn’t She?: The Key Concepts of the Article
The major concepts addressed in the article by Li touch on how ethics are portrayed in the art scene (4). The scenario reported occurred in Hong Kong. It portrayed a nude lady as a masterpiece and center of attraction. In the CNN article dated 18th March 2015, Li reports that the fair was designed to showcase regional representation of beauty and culture (5).
Erosion of culture through art is another concept addressed by Li (9). Apart from the naked lady, there was another sculpture that attracted the attention of art lovers. It was that of a man who was almost naked. The fact that people were attracted to these pieces shows that nudity is no longer respected. In traditional Chinese society, nudity, especially among women, was regarded as unethical conduct.
Another concept depicted is the change in ethics and values in a dynamic society. The two concepts are not static. On the contrary, they change over time. For example, in the past, people could not condone the depiction of nudity in public. However, as the article shows, modern society seems to be more tolerant. Things have changed, and now nudity is not viewed as a major aberration with regards to cultural values (Li 4).
How the Concepts are related to Ethics and Behavior
The first concept is about the presentation of ethics and values in the art scene. Art is a reflection of society. Consequently, the scene of the naked woman shows that societal values have changed. Art is one of the avenues through which this change is communicated (Li 9).
Erosion of cultural values occurs when two distinct cultures come together. An exchange occurs between the two. Erosion may be seen to occur when one of them is affected negatively. In the exhibition depicted in the article, the confluence between the western and Asian cultures is illustrated. Erosion has taken place given that traditional Asian communities appear to accommodate female nudity (Li 4).
Change in ethics and values, as depicted in the exhibition, shows that society is a dynamic concept. The changes are brought about by, among others, the interaction between people from different cultures. For example, the exhibition brought together people from different parts of the world (Li 2).
Critical Thinking
The article by Li is quite informative. It is an important reading in ethical behavior and values. The reason is that it illustrates how events in modern society reflect the changes that have taken place with regard to cultural values. Li shows how the art scene can be used to diagnose problems in the society’s ethical fabric (8).
Reading the article has affected this author’s thoughts and opinions towards ethics and behavior. For example, the author has confirmed that the two concepts are dynamic and change over time. A few years ago, it was hard to imagine such an exhibition taking place in conservative Asian cities. However, urbanization and globalization have affected ethics and behavior.
Works Cited
Li, Zoe. Is She or isn’t She?: Surreal Sculptures Captivate Crowds at Art Barsel HK. 2015. Web.