#art and ethics

[monstertsunami]

i spilled pasta in my backpack and got so mad that i made a traumacore edit about it

[zomb13s]

The Real Criminals: Power, Exploitation, and the Zombie Metaphor

Introduction The narrative of crime often centers on images of shadowy figures, masked burglars, or unshaven outcasts haunting the streets in the dead of night. But this narrow portrayal neglects a more pervasive form of criminality—one that takes place in the open, in broad daylight, committed not by individuals on the fringes of society but by those who sit atop its hierarchical structures.…

[warmer-gaze]

inspirational

[straycatj]

Recently, one of Oliver Clegg’s “works” came to my attention again.

It left me with deep pain and sadness.

I have no intention of blaming the person who posted it, nor those who informed me. But—

Please take a moment to imagine:

What if a photo you love—of something, someone, or some animal you hold dear—

was traced without permission, presented as someone else’s artwork, renamed, and

spread further by well-meaning people, ultimately generating income for someone else?

This is not just between me and him. It could happen to any of us, at any time, with someone like him.

I have consulted a lawyer specializing in international copyright through a project supported by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs.

I understand some people still say “it’s not a big deal.”

That is exactly why I’d like to share a few facts:

His actions are tracing, which is different from imitation or reference.

At least for my photo, this cannot be considered fair use.

His website is accessible from Japan, and therefore infringes upon Japanese copyright.

My rights are protected internationally under the Berne Convention.

I am not trying to stop anyone from appreciating his work.

But I do want the facts to be recognized.

Oliver Clegg is still clearly and deliberately violating both the law and the rights of individuals.

As those who follow my work may know, neither of my cats is named “Rocky.”

I have identified at least seven of his images as traced.

On April 30th (JST), I informed his gallery and requested an investigation.

I sent a follow-up on May 3rd, asking for a response by the end of business on May 6th (local time).

To date, I have received no reply.

Perhaps they believe the words of a Japanese blogger are not worth acknowledging.

So be it.

Let me be clear: I am not seeking compensation or an apology.

All I want is for people to understand that this is a repeated pattern of appropriation.

Among the seven traced works:

One is my own photo.

One is the work of Staice Shitanda, as shared with me.

One is a Getty-managed image. If that is the only image he sought permission for, it would suggest a disregard for individual rights.

One is a published book image.

One comes from a private blog, even if it later became a meme.

One appears across Pinterest and social media, but originates from an individual's SNS post.

One features a well-known Japanese cat, for which I personally contacted their official in 2023 and was told they had never been approached by Clegg.

These images all match in composition and linework, and cannot reasonably be considered imitation or reference.

While I will not repost the artwork or comparison images here, I am prepared to share my documentation with media or art professionals who wish to investigate further.

2025.5.7　straycatj

[whompthatsucker1981]

i think that gay sex cats is the new duchamp's fountain

[anbaisai]

Book 4 Mystery

The recent tweel cards got me wondering... just where did Yuu sit during the ride back to NRC in book 4?

And after analyzing the design I came to the conclusion that we must've been playing Floyd Leech Pro Surfer 3

(Continuation here)

[domesticatedmeatpig]

i live here

[blanc-ci]

Shirtless and bloodied Vulcan… any man would cave (I know I would)

Thinks and thinks about him

[melmedardaapologist]

i lied actually, put your clothes back on, let’s discuss how with the explosion of arcane’s fandom there’s simultaneously been a rise in the idea that there is a “right” and “wrong” way to ship characters and that shipping has to be “justified” with moral arguments

[aiweirdness]

Among the many downsides of AI-generated art: it's bad at revising. You know, the biggest part of the process when working on commissioned art.

Original "deer in a grocery store" request from chatgpt (which calls on dalle3 for image generation):

revision 5 (trying to give the fawn spots, trying to fix the shadows that were making it appear to hover):

I had it restore its own Jesus fresco.

Original:

Erased the face, asked it to restore the image to as good as when it was first painted:

Wait tumblr makes the image really low-res, let me zoom in on Jesus's face.

Original:

Restored:

One revision later:

Here's the full "restored" face in context:

Every time AI is asked to revise an image, it either wipes it and starts over or makes it more and more of a disaster. People who work with AI-generated imagery have to adapt their creative vision to what comes out of the system - or go in with a mentality that anything that fits the brief is good enough.

I'm not surprised that there are some places looking for cheap filler images that don't mind the problems with AI-generated imagery. But for everyone else I think it's quickly becoming clear that you need a real artist, not a knockoff.

more

[ravmycupine]

Ford and Stan resolve their shit in the background before this, Stan still doesnt buy that theyre twin brothers [Even with the hard evidence of their IDENTICAL FACES] Stan still thinks theyre both cool and go to introduce his new bros to the town!

Everyone doesnt seem to be as happy as he is about the newcomers tho....

First | Prev | Next Extra 1 | Extra 2 | Extra 3 | Extra 4

A bit of information on the townsfolk, they're all souls it 'collected' over the years consisting of individuals who were desperate enough to call upon Not-Cthulhu for a wish OR devotees who think Not-Cthulhu is true salvation

The town is basically purgatory as their souls are kind of chained to it now and they can't rest in peace. But could also be considered hell to some who REALLY REALLY hate it

And now theyre tasked with pretending to be some guys' friend for whatever reason....probably for eternity if Team FordSquared doesnt do anything about it

I mean its not like they hate Stan...but also they kind of do. On one-hand, Not-Cthulhu is not as attentive to watching the other townsfolk so they have more freedom now to do whateber because of the new-favorite, but on the other, theyre kinda forced to play pretend for some rando when they DO encounter the new-favorite

[zomb13s]

Essay Title: The Art of Being Right: A Journey Through Creation, Influence, and the Pursuit of Recognition

Introduction In the contemporary landscape of art and societal engagement, the journey of an artist often reflects broader cultural, economic, and political dynamics. This essay explores the unique position of Alfons Scholing, CEO of alfons.design and creator of the artist platform ikziezombies.com. Following his solicitation for the vice presidency of the Council of State of the Royal Household…

[novthirty]

Thinking about Fruit Vendor! Sylus who actually establishes a produce company to keep up the ruse — only to become way more invested and passionate about it than he initially expected. 

It starts off as an inside joke, a made-up background he spews bullshit about to MC’s friends and colleagues. But one day, he gets a text from one of your friends that he met at an engagement party, asking if he had connections to any wholesale suppliers. And he finds himself rather stumped (a feeling he doesn’t particularly like). 

Never let it be said that Sylus isn’t a good actor, but a little research never hurt anyone. It's all for the ruse, he thinks, as he begins researching the stock market and existing suppliers in Linkon. But you see, the moment he finished the first business article, the gears of his mind already started turning. A few hours later, he has an endless compilation of research and a whole business venture planned out. (Luke and Kieran are probably confused as hell as to why their boss is suddenly interested in selling fruits, but they're probably used to his random entrepreneurial ideas and investments. It's not as if it doesn't pay off.)

Onychinus has all sorts of business dealings, both legitimate and fronts for the organization’s… less than legal pursuits. A produce company would fit right in, he thinks, with the added benefit of maintaining his fake identity as “Skye.” Before he knows it, he has a whole operation underway — one that’s legal, at that — and it ends up being far more successful than he expects.

His first clients are contacts he made from being at your side in various events and gatherings. Spewing enough bullshit about seasonal fruit quality and the weather affecting shipments and growth had gained him quite a few connections over the months, and it paid off now that he had a legitimate business to back up his claims.

Eventually, the company expands enough to start harvesting rare and premium quality fruits. It turns a high profit during the holiday seasons, where the advertisements and special packaging entice people to buy it for occasions and gifts. With his draconic tendencies, it was only inevitable he’d expand into this area of business; it’s like another type of treasure for him, especially when he gets to bring you home the rarest and highest quality fruits.

Throughout this, he ends up investing in a farm for the business, one that exclusively supplies the company and his other business fronts. I can imagine that it becomes a passion of his, to run a sustainably-run farm that pays well and offers benefits to its farmers, slowly building up a rural community. With Onychinus being all bloodshed and crime, he’d take pride in contributing to something that truly helps people (and of course, to build something you would be proud of). 

He drives you out to the farm occasionally, when you both need a break from the city. Cue the mini Stardew Valley AU where you guys put on your overalls and tour the farm, the managers briefing Sylus on crop production while you’re chatting with the farmers, getting to know the people who make up the heart and soul of the place. 

i don’t know how to end this but tldr; sylus may be the criminal overlord of the n109 zone, but never let it be said he isn’t a damn good boss and business owner

[floplinda]

[straycatj]

Not Rocky, only sucky — A record of the unauthorized use of my photo in Oliver Clegg’s work

This article documents the events surrounding the unauthorized use of one of my photographs in a work named Rocky by Oliver Clegg, from the initial discovery through to the current situation.

Please consider this a formal report for those who have supported me.

September 7, 2021

I posted a photo of my cat Kofuku and Mr.J.

At the time, someone even made a pixel art version of it, and many people enjoyed it together.

January 2023

A kind follower sent me a mention to a post introducing a “work” by Oliver Clegg.

Clegg later claimed he had tagged my Instagram, but in fact he had created a brand-new tag called “straycatmrj.” This has also been documented.

By that point, someone had already annotated his work via Hypothesis, raising questions about his use of materials.

February 2025

The traced work resurfaced. I began an investigation.

That same month, I consulted a lawyer through an initiative supported by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs:

Bansou.Support – a legal support service for copyright infringement and similar issues on the internet.

I was informed that:

Because the image is viewable online from Japan, this constitutes copyright infringement under Japanese law.

In my case, this use clearly does not fall under fair use.

My rights are protected internationally under the Berne Convention, regardless of the creator residing in the United States.

April 2025

Once again, I saw another traced work posted.

The uploader promptly removed the post and even issued a follow-up to explain the situation. I deeply appreciate their response.

However, the traced image continued to be reblogged.

I decided to follow through on my prior consultation and contact the gallery representing Mr. Clegg.

April 30, 2025 (JST)

I contacted the gallery directly.

A lawyer had advised that “this kind of issue is often treated seriously as a matter of credibility by galleries, so it’s worth contacting them.”

However, I received no response—perhaps because I am merely a Japanese individual blogger.

May 3, 2025 (JST)

I sent a follow-up message, stating that unless I received a response by the close of business on May 6 (EDT), I would make the findings public.

May 7, 2025

With no reply, I published the facts and timeline on Tumblr.

Many people offered support. However, I also witnessed comments that ignored all legal context, and some individuals spread false assumptions and slander.

Such baseless speculation only reveals more about the mindset and behavior of those making it.

I would like to take this opportunity to again express my sincere gratitude to those who responded respectfully and supported me.

May 8, 2025

24 hours later, with more response than expected, I published a follow-up thank-you note in the form of a reblog.

May 9, 2025 (Night)

60 hours later, I discovered that the relevant Tumblr tags were no longer functioning.

I suspected a technical issue—or possibly a report by someone connected to the other party.

I contacted Tumblr Community Support, and they responded promptly, stating that the issue had been resolved and would be reflected within 24 hours.

Shortly thereafter, the tag search functionality returned to normal.

May 10, 2025

72 hours later: search results had shifted.

Tumblr Search When searching for the artist’s name, I noticed that the specific work featuring my cat no longer appears in search results.

Google Image Search The image now appears to be filtered under SafeSearch.

Once again, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who supported and stood with me.

Thanks again to everyone who helped clarify the origin of the image.

(This post may be useful to those researching digital appropriation or copyright boundaries in art.)