Paper short abstract:

The presentation discusses South African musicians' prevalent suspicion that they have been taken advantage of by the music industry insiders. It provides an example of baffling moral reflection and studies the kind of moral language and understanding concerning exploitation that ensues from it.

Paper long abstract:

In the South African music industry, musicians' feelings of having been taken advantage of by the industry insiders are prevalent. Musicians' meager proceeds create or enhance their suspicion of the music producers cheating them a good part of their rightful returns. This is a phenomenon not unique to the South African music industry, although the historical legacies of racial inequality and the entangling of diverse modes of organizing and rewarding creative work bring some special features to it. Because it is often difficult to verify whether appropriation has taken place, musicians typically remain perplexed about the trustworthiness of their industry partners and whether they should continue working with them. Therefore, this presentation will focus on issues of suspicion, ambivalence and uncertainty that complicate musicians' feeling of "moral feelings" and hence, their making of economic and moral claims. Much of the recent anthropology of morality has highlighted reflection as an important part of ethical lives and moral systems (e.g., Laidlaw 2014; Robbins 2004; Zigon 2008). This presentation will contribute to the anthropology of morality (and economy) a view of baffling moral reflection, where the assessment of the validity of an experienced moral affect or emotion remains indeterminate. It will also discuss the kind of understanding and language concerning exploitation that ensues from this reflection.