Powers of the Anonymous: A Personal Essay about Plagiarism, Theft, and Hate Speech

Abstract

Social media has become an increasingly popular platform for artists all over the world to showcase their work on. Art-centered websites such as Deviantart, more general-use applications like Twitter, and even blogging sites like Tumblr are used to share artwork with the click of a mouse. But despite sharing work from the comfort of one’s own home, artists such as myself have become susceptible to ethical issues such as plagiarism, art theft, and hate speech. “Powers of the Anonymous: A Personal Essay about Plagiarism, Theft, and Hate Speech” is a personal account of my experiences as an artist exploring social media in an attempt to gain recognition for my work. What started off as a hobby evolved into a constant overcoming of ethical hurdles, which has taught me the importance of safeguarding my work and myself. While this piece is intended for artists who are interested in sharing their creations online, I hope that it helps anyone using social media to become more aware of these issues as well.